Mikko Korhonen, formerly attached to Kytäjä Golf, talks us through the new venue for the Finnish Challenge, which takes place this week.
Hole 1, par 4, 449 yards
“This is one of the toughest holes on the course. It’s approach is uphill with water on the left for the tee shot. For pretty much the whole front nine there are a lot of approaches going upwards so the approaches are very tough. It’s a real feature of the front nine.”
Hole 2, par 5, 536 yards
“Water is on the left again for the drive here. It’s reachable in two if it’s not into the wind. It’s probably going to be a three wood or two iron into the green and there’s no trouble on the green.”
Hole 3, par 3, 177 yards
“This is a mid-iron par three, about 160 metres and requires nothing special, you should be getting a par here.”
Hole 4, par 5, 589 yards
“This is a little bit longer than the second. You have to hit over the bunkers from the tee to be able to reach in two and it’s about 300 yards over the bunkers so it’s risk and reward. If it’s not downwind, not many can reach in two because the approach is uphill. The greens on this course are undulated and fast and firm and this one is no different.”
Hole 5, par 4, 305 yards
“This is a reachable par four, around 260 metres to the front with a big bunker in front of the green and the green is very difficult. You can either drive the green or maybe a four iron and sand wedge. The left of the green is worse than the right. It can be tough to get close with the drive though because of the green being so hard and tough.”
Hole 6, par 3, 224 yards
“This is a little bit uphill so it requires a two or three iron and there’s nothing around the green apart from one bunker on the left but it’s just long.”
Hole 7, par 4, 414 yards
“This is a bit of a crazy hole. You’re driving from a tee high up, downhill, and then the approach is back up the hill to the green. The green is had a downward slope towards the back too so the approach is difficult, even though the hole isn’t very long. It’s hard to hit it close at this hole, even though there are no greenside bunkers.”
Hole 8, par 4, 471 yards
“This is one of the most beautiful holes on the course I think. There’s not a single bunker on the hole. It’s a slight dogleg right and the green is in the middle of a forest with trees all the way around so it’s a really nice hole.”
Hole 9, par 3, 196 yards
“From a seven to a five iron I would say depending on the wind. The course is inland but there is a big lake by the back nine and the wind can really come in here.”
Hole 10, par 3, 177 yards
“This is almost like a copy of the ninth. There are two par threes in a row, which is strange. It’s maybe a seven iron on to a flat green with bunkers in front.”
Hole 11, par 11, 460 yards
“This is a dogleg right par four, quite long. It’s a driver and a mid iron, although you can cut the corner a little bit with the driver if it’s not into the wind and that leaves you maybe a nine iron in. If it’s into the wind though, it could be a four iron. There’s a big bunker on the left of the green.”
Hole 12, par 4, 439 yards
“This is a straight par four with bunkers on the right, heavy rough on the right and it looks from the tee like there’s no room on the left but there is so it’s deceiving. The right is a no-go area. You’ll leave yourself with a seven iron in, then with a good drive, into a small elevated green with bunkers right and left so it’s pretty tough.”
Hole 13, par 4, 367 yards
“This is a short par four which could be drivable in some circumstances, if you have a lot of wind behind you. The lake now comes into play and it’s to the right the whole way. It’s pretty much a driver and sand wedge. There are no bunkers around the green and it’s elevated slightly.”
Hole 14, par 5, 557 yards
“Now come the really good holes. This goes around the lake to the right hand side almost 90 degrees. You can take the lake on with your drive to get a shorter second shot and the green is also reachable with the driver depending on the wind. It’s a tough drive though and a tough second shot into a big green with no bunkers and water on the right. It’s a good birdie opportunity.”
Hole 15, par 4, 480 yards
“This is a long straight par four. It’s just a driver and mid-iron to a long iron – if it’s into the wind.”
Hole 16, par 3, 226 yards
“This is a tough par three. It’s a little bit downhill and it’s usually downwind so it’s tough to stop the ball on the green because it’s 200 metres. There are bunkers on the left and heavy rough on the right so it’s a good hole. It’s very tough if it’s downwind and the green is firm.”
Hole 17, par 4, 379 yards
“This is a shortish par four with maybe a driver and wedge. There are bunkers right and left on the drive and there’s not much around the green so it’s quite easy.”
Hole 18, par 5, 517 yards
“This goes around the lake, which is to the left, and you can go a little bit over the lake to get a shorter approach. If the wind is good it can be a three iron but if you hit a safe driver you can probably reach it with a three wood. The water comes a little bit in front of the green so it’s much better to miss on the right. It could be interesting this week, it’s a really good finishing hole.”
