Sweden, Kallfors - fine-tuned golf concept

FACTS ABOUT KALLFORS
Number of holes: 27 (plus pay and play course next door).
Course architect: Sune Linde
Opened: 1999. New eighteen-hole course in 2003.
Length: Eighteen-hole course: 6,178, 5,848, 5,209, 4,817 m, par 72. Nine-hole course: 2,833, 2,650, 2,357, 2,159 m, par 35
Number of rooms at the hotel: 17
Conference rooms: 3
Other: Very nice golf course with beautiful clubhouse, year-round open restaurant, well-stocked golf shop and an inviting relaxation area. Perfect choice for friends or companies. The club has this year purchased golf carts, that were then sold to hole sponsors and personalised. Fun initiative that feels innovative. The golf course is well maintained and the area around the playing surface trimmed to minimize the search for balls.
Distance from Stockholm: 35 minutes
Current: Final course of the SAS Masters Tour in October 2008.
Address: Kallfors Gård 153 95 Järna
Tel: 08-551 70 000
Mail: info@kallfors.com
Homepage: www.kallfors.com

Full-fledged weekend concept

We visit the golfing facility which boasts a full-fledged weekend concept. Follow us to Kallfors just south of Södertälje.

A really early and radiant morning in May I steer the car south toward Kallfors, but I’m not sure what awaits me.

The last time I visited Kallfors’ golf was in the early days of the course, which in this case means around the turn of the millennium, and sadly, my memories from that period are not entirely positive. Of course, even then, it was a nice facility, and of course the 18-hole course had its merits. But overall the young, Sune Linde-designed course felt a bit too "curtsy" for my taste.

Since then the course has been enlarged with nine new holes and some of the old today form a separate nine hole course.

The first impression is the homogeneous feeling that the facility provides. The clubhouse, first tee, hotel facility - everything seems to lie within a pinch of a distance. Clearly, quite a bit has happened since the last time I was here.

Taking the bull by the horns, we tee off directly out onto the 'new' eighteen-hole course. The first hole (the old hole nine) and number two are fine opening holes, and thankfully Linde has offered generous fairways. Number three is newly laid, the hole fun sharp shooting.

On four we start to understand that something has happened with the course and then comes a string of fine golf holes that you’d gladly like to play again and again.

Hole five, par 4, has alternative playing paths, but with a good hit you place the tee-off over the fairway bunker and have a lovely little approach to a well-elevated green that has to be met. Hole six tempts you to a sidestep with water along the entire left edge of the dogleg. An ounce too much draw and you have to fight for your par.

Number ten is a real birdie hole from the yellow tee, par five, 429 metres, but from the white tee there are fairway obstacles such as a bunker and a large mound in the game and then it’s tougher. In addition, the greens are defended by water, so a certain measure of foolishness helps you who want t make it in on two from the back tee.

It continues like this every hole fun and challenging, rolling through the beautiful, Södermanland nature. Most of the holes have elevated tees and greens, which I appreciate.

For each hole we play, our smiles get broader and broader and I begin to realize that I feel greatly surprised. I had obviously hoped that the course would exceed my expectations and memories, but that it would completely erase them, I had not imagined.

After the round we get a quick view of the hotel, next door to the club house. It is one of the few "Hästen’s hotels", and each room has Hästen’s beds. The decor is a bit exotic with dark wood and leather, warm colours and Ralph Lauren wallpaper. I ‘m not surprised when I hear that people from Claerencegården in Båstad are responsible for the design.

Founder Lars Flynning had a background as golf pro when he began construction on the family farm property.

Today he has turned over the helm to his four children, the eldest of whom, John and Anna, are course manager and club director, respectively. Lisa is responsible for the hotel and youngest sister Elin beams to the guests in the reception. The family feeling also seems to rub off on the other employees, all of whom seem to be enjoying themselves.

Kallfors has fine-tuned the concept of "Golf Package" to perfection and I don’t have difficulty understanding why the hotel is often fully booked.

I myself would love to come back, but when I do, fully confident about what awaits me. And with anything but negative memories in my baggage.

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