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Christoph Meister

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Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« on: April 17, 2009, 04:30:33 PM »
Some weeks ago I was lucky enough to play two rounds on a newly opened German links course by the name of Budersand. The course is to be found on the southern part of North Sea Island of Sylt in a small village called Hörnum.

Sylt is a 38km (23 miles) long Island currently covered by 4 golf courses. Given the fact that large parts of the island are protected nature land is scarce and expensive. Therefore we will most probably not see any new golf courses on the island within the near future, especially as two of the existing layouts have just been or are just being extended from 9 to 18 holes. The courses on the island are:

Marine-Golfclub Sylt. Used to be a rather simple 9-hole course reopened 1979 adjacent to Westerland airport using a stretch of land already occupied by a RAF golf course during the 1950s recently redesigned and extended to 18 holes by the Scottish architect Kenneth J. Moody introducing linksstyle features such as pot bunkers

Golfclub Morsum – a 1964 9-hole layout by Bernhard von Limburger which is just being extended to 18 holes by the German Architect practise Städler Golf Courses – construction started in 2008

Golf-Club Sylt – more than 20 years ago the Anglo-Swiss architect Donald Harradine designed a quite charming 18-hole golf course on an otherwise completely flat piece of land.

The latest addition to Golf on the island is called Budersand:

This course is the first true 18-holes Links golf course in Germany and it is also the first full course designed by Rolf-Stephan Hansen, an well experienced landscape architect born on the Island of Sylt. Rolf-Stephan is an associate member of the EIGCA holding an honours degree from the British Institute of Golf Course Architects

Budersand was just voted best new opened golf course 2009 in Germany by the German “Golf Magazin”.

I thought that some of you GCA’s might be interested to learn more about this newly opened gem and this is the reason for my post here. Most probably I was the first one to play the course with my pre-1930 hickory shafted golf clubs, but after having read that Lahinch Golf Course was more than an inspiration for Mr. Hansen while designing Budersand hickories seemed appropriate for this seaside links course.

Budersand does not have club members and is open to green fee players only – this is a completely new idea in Germany. The site of the Budersand course was previously occupied by the German Army and in order to make space for the golf course the investor started to demolish 28 concrete building and though creating space for a new golf course on the island without having to try to use otherwise protected land.

According to my opinion Rolf-Stephan Hansen very successfully managed to create a brilliant new golf course at the same time perfectly improving the balance of nature and compared to what the area looked like before even the strictest ecologist will have to admit that this is golf course is an improvement of the situation at Budersand compare to let’s say the year 2000 and before. The course looks as if it has been there for a long time already – isn’t that what the architect is dreaming about?

There was only 47ha of space available as aprox. 20ha had to be put aside for nature. Because of constant winds the greens are flat and very fast during summer.

Enough talk – here are my pictures:





Golf Courses on the Island of Sylt



Southern part of the Island with Budersand / Hörnum



German Golf painter Viktor Cleve has done some nice paintings - this one for fairway No.7 with the Clubhouse in the back on top of the hill



This is a painting of Fairway No.14 - also by Viktor Cleve



and here hole no.17 as seen by Viktor Cleve...



First Tee & Starter House (this picture and some others are a bid grey due to 4°C temperature in Mid-March and average weather conditions)



No. 1 - a 382m Par 4 slight dog-leg to the left



and this for the second shot on No.1...



An elevated second teeshot - 351m slight dogleg to the right....



second shot on No.2....



A 1920's golfbag on a 2008 built tee No.4 - a 134m par-3 eastward usually played with the wind in the back...



Green no.4 with a not so beautiful former army barrack in the back of the green...



A tough tee-shot on the 401m Par4 No.5 - the most difficult hole on the course where the tee shot needs a good carry in order to clear the heather...



No.7 from the ladies tee - a 480m Par5 from the championship tees...



I was glad to miss this one on the 7th fairway.....



3rd shot on the 7th fairway - at least when playing with 1920s equipment.....



No.8 - a nice but quite challenging Par 3 at 168m



Green No.8 - this picture was obviously taken on another day with better weather conditions....



Hole no.9 to finish the first half.....

« Last Edit: April 17, 2009, 04:46:39 PM by Christoph Meister »
Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
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German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Jimmy Muratt

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2009, 04:38:21 PM »
Stunning pictures and land for golf.....  This is the first that I've heard about the project but I certainly like what I see.  Thanks for posting the pictures and info about the course.

David_Tepper

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2009, 04:39:25 PM »
Thanks for the pics and the information. Looks very appealing!

Jamie Barber

Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2009, 04:52:45 PM »
Looks very nice.

Brent Carlson

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2009, 05:11:37 PM »
Kann fast nicht glauben dass so eine Golf landschaft in Dland existierst.  Gut gemacht!

Hat da jemand gespielt?  Ein echter Links oder nicht?

Christoph Meister

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2009, 05:25:57 PM »
and here are the pictures for the second nine holes:



Number 10 - a dog left to the left - this picture shows more or less from where the second shot has to be played...
one need a very exact iron shot as the fairway is quite narrow between the dunes...



Green no.11 - on the left hand side you can see one of more than 95 (I stopped counting then) pot bunkers on the course...



Green No.12 again well protected by yet another pot bunker....



walking towards tee no.13...



No.13 - one of the most controversial holes on the course - a 158m par 3 usually playing into the North Sea wind - usually
a blind par 3! The two days I played the hole you couldn't see the flag as the green is almost competely surrounded by elevated dunes (this photo is taken from a more elevated position and therefore does not show the dificulty of the hole correctly)...



The second most difficult hole on the course, a 397m par 4 with a nature reserve out of bounds area to the left...



And this for the second shot on 14....



Green No.14 with the nature reserve and a public path on a catwalk (more dogs than cats on it though) behind the green...



A nice elevated tee for the 101m Par3 No.15 - this hole plays southwards, so sidely winds make it dificult to hit the target..



A two-some putting on No. 15 just next to the leeward side of the island and the North Sea



and this is a view backwards looking over the 15th green back onto the 15th Tee.



No.16 - a 463m Par5 with a ditch crossing the fairway at 180 - 200m distance from the tee making a birdie almost impossible for the average golfer - Nevertheless a nicely built ditch crossing the fairway...one can see the experienced landscape architect designing... unfortunately the ditch which again comes into play on 17 consumed some of my golf balls...



Green No.16 lies nicely in the nature....



The 17th fairway - a 467m Par 5 from the men's tees but playing as a 444m par4 for the professionals....



Green No.17 again protected by a pot bunker (more or less the 90th pot bunker I counted on the course)



another picture of green no.17....again with the Scottish Greenkeeper playing...



and a third picture of green no.17 showing the nice postion of the green near to the North See (leeward side)



Tee no.18 - a 361m par4 dogleg to the left...



Only four more bunkers to go - this is the fairway bunker on the left hand side where a good tee shot might end.
No picture of the 18th green yet - as they are still building the hotel behind...

I hope you enjoyed this little tour - a 6.020m Par 72 for the Amateurs and a 6.055m Par 70 for the professionals (no.3 and nbo.17
are being played as par 4 instead of par5 at 441m resp. 444m).

A very tough course for the average golfer on a normal windy day, but a also a nice experience of links golf certainly to be enjoyed
by any single handicapper....


« Last Edit: April 18, 2009, 06:27:11 PM by Christoph Meister »
Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Christoph Meister

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2009, 05:31:22 PM »
Kann fast nicht glauben dass so eine Golf landschaft in Dland existierst.  Gut gemacht!

Hat da jemand gespielt?  Ein echter Links oder nicht?

I have played the course if that is enough for you - the last seaside links I played was Hoylake and this one doesn't compare too badly against it - für mich ist es ein echter Links!

Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Christoph Meister

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2009, 05:37:26 PM »
And here are some more pictures which might be of interest for you:



This is what the area looked like during the 1960s - you can see the former radio communication house "See Casino" on top of the hill where today the clubhouse stands - and then there is a lot of concrete....



Another picture showing the area during the 1990s....



This is a photo of the big clean-up that was done in order to make space for the golf course - more than 28 concrete building
were demolished and the remains were shipped to the continent directly from the pier which you can see on the previous picture.



And this is how the area looks like today - not a bad change isn't it?
« Last Edit: April 17, 2009, 05:39:57 PM by Christoph Meister »
Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

David_Tepper

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2009, 05:39:31 PM »
The 2nd nine looks even better than the 1st! How much play do the courses on this island get. How easy is it to reach this place?

Christoph Meister

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2009, 05:49:11 PM »
The 2nd nine looks even better than the 1st! How much play do the courses on this island get. How easy is it to reach this place?

Yes the second nine holes are also landscapewise nicer! During the summer the Golf Courses on the island used to be very crowded, as the Marine-Golf Club only had 9 holes and Morsum used to be a very private course not even being a member of the German Golf Association...
Morsum is currently extending to 18-holes and will be accepting green-fee players on a broader base. One will have to see this summer how
much play the 4 courses are getting, but Sylt is a very popular Island sometimes even called the German Hamptons...

You can reach the island with scheduled flights from Berlin, Cologne and Munich. Hamburg-Airport is a two hour drive by car plus a 40min. ride on a train (you drive your car on the train and the train brings you to the island - the island is connected to the continent only by a train embankment..) very exciting, not only for the children....

Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Ulrich Mayring

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2009, 06:30:24 PM »
Sylt isn't the cheapest place, though. Thanks a lot for the informative posting, Christoph. Must be the most spectacular before-after photo ever :)

Did the course play firm & fast? It certainly looks like a true links.

Ulrich
Golf Course Exposé (300+ courses reviewed), Golf CV (how I keep track of 'em)

Tom Dunne

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2009, 10:42:09 PM »
Pretty cool. Back when I was in college I went on a cycling/camping trip in the Dutch Frisians--Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling. There is some serious linksland out there, too. Those islands are dead ringers for Sylt, which I guess makes sense as they're part of the same chain. Incredible beaches, too. This archipelago is a lovely little corner of the world that you don't hear about very often.

As for Hansen's influences, I don't see a whole lot of Lahinch--the bunkering's more Birkdale-like to my eye--but they seem to be pretty uniform circles in most places and uniform in depth as well. I'm not sure I like the stonework perimeters on the tee boxes...seems a bit fussy. But it looks like an interesting course, and if I found myself in Hamburg I'd make the journey to see it.   

Norbert P

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #12 on: April 18, 2009, 01:06:44 AM »
Groovy.   13th Dell inspired?   Very ambitious with the sodwall bunkering. 
Glad to hear that it is a publicly accessible course.  I have a dull story to tell about how I didn't get to play a course over there.  I will spare you all.

Thanks for the great presentation Christoph; and kudos for playing the hickories.
"Golf is only meant to be a small part of one’s life, centering around health, relaxation and having fun with friends/family." R"C"M

Christoph Meister

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #13 on: April 18, 2009, 03:47:35 AM »
Yes the 13th seems inspired by the Dell at Lahinch - I haven't played Lahinch but from the pictures the Dell looks more extreme - I leave it up for you to judge:

Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Mark_Rowlinson

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #14 on: April 18, 2009, 06:07:44 AM »
Fascinating! Thanks, Christoph.

Steve Okula

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #15 on: April 18, 2009, 07:45:32 AM »
The course looks to be very well maintained, true to links fashion. Do you know if the greenkeeping expertise was sourced in Germany or was a foreigner brought in?
The small wheel turns by the fire and rod,
the big wheel turns by the grace of God.

Joel_Stewart

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #16 on: April 18, 2009, 04:11:54 PM »
The course looks to be very well maintained, true to links fashion. Do you know if the greenkeeping expertise was sourced in Germany or was a foreigner brought in?

Good question and I would like to know who this architect Rolf-Stephan Hansen is?   It's his first golf course, or at least 18 holer I find it amazing.   I did search and find the construction company which should deserve some credit.

Golftech GmbH managing director Andrew Jeffery has over 25 years construction experience in both England and mainland Europe. This included working at Golf Club München Nord Eichenried, a P.G.A. ( BMW Open) Tournament venue, where he spent 6 years from 1997 – 2003 working as a greenkeeper rising to the position of Course Manager in 2002 after gaining his diploma in Golf Course Management.

Golftech GmbH was formed in 2004 and since its inception has been awarded projects spanning the entire construction field.

Our philosophy is simple: „Provide the appropriate service for the project inhand, supply only qualified and experienced personnel to guarantee quality and client satisfaction and deliver precisely what both customer and architect are looking for!“

Christoph Meister

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #17 on: April 18, 2009, 05:45:19 PM »
The course looks to be very well maintained, true to links fashion. Do you know if the greenkeeping expertise was sourced in Germany or was a foreigner brought in?

Jim Ellis is the Scotish Head Greenkeeper at Budersand....
« Last Edit: April 18, 2009, 06:20:48 PM by Christoph Meister »
Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Christoph Meister

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #18 on: April 18, 2009, 05:49:08 PM »
The course looks to be very well maintained, true to links fashion. Do you know if the greenkeeping expertise was sourced in Germany or was a foreigner brought in?

Good question and I would like to know who this architect Rolf-Stephan Hansen is?   It's his first golf course, or at least 18 holer I find it amazing.   I did search and find the construction company which should deserve some credit.

Golftech GmbH managing director Andrew Jeffery has over 25 years construction experience in both England and mainland Europe. This included working at Golf Club München Nord Eichenried, a P.G.A. ( BMW Open) Tournament venue, where he spent 6 years from 1997 – 2003 working as a greenkeeper rising to the position of Course Manager in 2002 after gaining his diploma in Golf Course Management.

Golftech GmbH was formed in 2004 and since its inception has been awarded projects spanning the entire construction field.

Our philosophy is simple: „Provide the appropriate service for the project inhand, supply only qualified and experienced personnel to guarantee quality and client satisfaction and deliver precisely what both customer and architect are looking for!“


I was in contact with Mr. Hansen, and yes that is his first 18-hole design! I wonder what his next one will look like, but one must also say there is not much land like this available for golf courses in Germany mainly because of Ecological or nature protection legislation....

You made a good point mentionning the construction firm, that certainly is also a most important factor! Well done!



Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Jim Nugent

Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #19 on: April 19, 2009, 12:10:35 AM »

Budersand does not have club members and is open to green fee players only – this is a completely new idea in Germany. The site of the Budersand course was previously occupied by the German Army and in order to make space for the golf course the investor started to demolish 28 concrete building and though creating space for a new golf course on the island without having to try to use otherwise protected land.

According to my opinion Rolf-Stephan Hansen very successfully managed to create a brilliant new golf course at the same time perfectly improving the balance of nature and compared to what the area looked like before even the strictest ecologist will have to admit that this is golf course is an improvement of the situation at Budersand compare to let’s say the year 2000 and before. The course looks as if it has been there for a long time already – isn’t that what the architect is dreaming about?


Does this mean they didn't move much dirt when they built the course? 

Christoph Meister

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #20 on: April 19, 2009, 04:27:17 AM »


Does this mean they didn't move much dirt when they built the course? 
[/quote]

They did move a lot of dirt and brought it to the continent by ship...
Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Marty Bonnar

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #21 on: April 19, 2009, 05:57:37 PM »
Pretty nice, Christoph,
maybe a side trip from the madness of Oktoberfest might be in order! ;D

I also want to congratulate you on your marvellous golf bag. That is a beauty! Classic shape, colour, materials. Everything the perfect GCAers bag should be. I had one very like it all through the 70s. Boy, I miss brown leather!

cheers,
FBD.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Christoph Meister

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #22 on: April 20, 2009, 04:20:04 AM »
Pretty nice, Christoph,
maybe a side trip from the madness of Oktoberfest might be in order! ;D

I also want to congratulate you on your marvellous golf bag. That is a beauty! Classic shape, colour, materials. Everything the perfect GCAers bag should be. I had one very like it all through the 70s. Boy, I miss brown leather!

cheers,
FBD.

Marty,

I knew you would like this bag, that's why I put it on the photo. :)..I allways dreamed to own such a leather bag since I took up golf some twenty years ago and finally I got this one from Northern Ireland ..I am currently restoring a second leather bag I found in England recently...the carrying straps are allways the weak part, especially when you have a bottle of Highland Park in your bag (obviously the botlle get's lighter as the number of holes to play decreases, but still....)

Oktoberfest and Sylt sound like a good idea!

Cheers,

Christoph


Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com

Scott Warren

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Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #23 on: April 20, 2009, 04:44:24 AM »
Thanks Christoph. Great pics.

I know you commended further up about accessibility from mainland Germany, but I don't suppose you could tell me how easy/expensive it is to get to from Copenhagen?

Christoph Meister

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Budersand - Germany's first 18 holes seaside links course
« Reply #24 on: April 20, 2009, 05:17:10 AM »
Thanks Christoph. Great pics.

I know you commended further up about accessibility from mainland Germany, but I don't suppose you could tell me how easy/expensive it is to get to from Copenhagen?

On a saturday (f.e.) there are 5 connections by train from Copenhagen to Westerland/Sylt. The trip takes 5 hours and can cost approx as much as EUR 112,00 oneway (depends on how early you book).

By car the trip is also around 5 hours (355km) as there is a ferry connection ROMO-Island(DK) Sylt. Here you pay
allready as much as 80 EUR for Bridge Toll in Denmark ( EUR 30, but very impressive! http://www.storebaelt.dk/english) and the Ferryboat from Denmark to Sylt (around EUR 50).

It is easier and more convenient to travel to Sylt coming out of Hamburg. I hope you find this information helpful, otherwise please don't hesitate to contact me (also when you are in the area).

Regards

Christoph



Golf's Missing Links - Continental Europe
 https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/wales-2
EAGHC European Association of
Golf Historians & Collectors
http://www.golfika.com
German Hickory Golf Society e.V.
http://www.german-hickory.com