A place for golf enthusiasts
Bro Hof is probably the golf course that has fulfilled every quality criterion, both large and small, with the greatest passion and perfection.
“Bro Hof will be a course for golf enthusiasts. The aim is to have Sweden’s best course and really high quality. The result is even better than we expected and I’m proud through and through – but I’m most proud of us managing to build the course so close to the water. That’s pretty much unbeatable,” says Björn Örås, founder and owner of Bro Hof Slott AB.
“Bro Hof will be a course for golf enthusiasts. The aim is to have Sweden’s best course and really high quality. The result is even better than we expected and I’m proud through and through – but I’m most proud of us managing to build the course so close to the water. That’s pretty much unbeatable,” says Björn Örås, founder and owner of Bro Hof Slott AB.
Björn Örås has played golf for almost 40 years. During that time the game and the courses haven’t always improved.
“People have got fed up with bad courses, bad accessibility and 6-hour rounds.”
Besides which, Stockholm lacked a really good championships course.
“We wanted to create a course that is perfect, but not only when it’s prepared for a major competition. It was natural to connect these two ideas, because the one helps the other. A really good competition course demands the highest quality!”
“People have got fed up with bad courses, bad accessibility and 6-hour rounds.”
Besides which, Stockholm lacked a really good championships course.
“We wanted to create a course that is perfect, but not only when it’s prepared for a major competition. It was natural to connect these two ideas, because the one helps the other. A really good competition course demands the highest quality!”
Three areas of improvement
To be able to construct the perfect course Björn discovered why some courses are better than others and found three main areas with potential for improvement:
- course quality
- length of season
- round times and accessibility
A common factor for the really good courses is the substrate. The majority, like Barsebäck, Halmstad and Falsterbo, are built on sand. Sand isn’t found as naturally in the ground around Stockholm, which is why it had to be transported here.
“Covering the course with a 20 cm deeep layer of sand meant an additional cost of SEK 15-20 million. But it was a necessary prerequisite
- length of season
- round times and accessibility
A common factor for the really good courses is the substrate. The majority, like Barsebäck, Halmstad and Falsterbo, are built on sand. Sand isn’t found as naturally in the ground around Stockholm, which is why it had to be transported here.
“Covering the course with a 20 cm deeep layer of sand meant an additional cost of SEK 15-20 million. But it was a necessary prerequisite
Mastering the climate
Due to the climate courses in southern Sweden – not to mention abroad – were generally of considerably higher quality than those in the Stockholm area. Longer, more severe winters mean a shorter playing season. The reality is that the majority of the courses in Stockholm are only really good between midsummer and the middle of September.
“Times have changed. Plant breeding has resulted in hardier grasses that are better able to cope with rain, cold, disease and damage. Now it’s possible to build courses in Stockholm that are at least as good as those in the south,” says
In total, 3000 lorry-loads of sand have been laid on
top of the clay, because sand is not naturally found in
the land around Stockholm.Björn, who believes that no course before Bro Hof has made full use of modern technology in order to master the Swedish climate. Another problem was the short season in Stockholm. With a SubAir system on the greens the season can be extended. By supplying warm air to the grass’s root system, the greens can be playable much earlier, even in this climate.
“Times have changed. Plant breeding has resulted in hardier grasses that are better able to cope with rain, cold, disease and damage. Now it’s possible to build courses in Stockholm that are at least as good as those in the south,” says
In total, 3000 lorry-loads of sand have been laid on
top of the clay, because sand is not naturally found in
the land around Stockholm.
Castle Course 2009
Long playing times, with round times of up to 6 hours and the requirement for booking several days in advance are problems for most people. Limiting the number of members is a necessity; Bro Hof’s target group is people who love golf, who are willing to spend lots of time on the golf course and have high standards.
“Fulfilling these requirements demands a significant investment, which results in playing rights that command a high price – but they are good value for the golfer who demands high quality, and hopefully their value will increase with time,” says Björn Örås.
The second loop, Castle Course, will have 9 holes finished in 2008, and be completely ready for play in 2009. It will have the same quality throughout, but an entirely different character: less wind and water, but more trees and tougher bunkers. No black tees will be built here, so the course won’t be anything like as long.
The second loop, Castle Course, will have 9 holes finished in 2008, and be completely ready for play in 2009. It will have the same quality throughout, but an entirely different character: less wind and water, but more trees and tougher bunkers. No black tees will be built here, so the course won’t be anything like as long.
Fully-financed
Björn Örås owns the land and the buildings, and leases out the course to the golf club. The course is fully-financed with no loans, the range is built, roads, water and sewerage systems are paid, as is the entire machine park. There is also SEK 40 million on the balance sheet for the building of the “Castle Course” and the operational loss is guaranteed for four years.
There will a maximum of 550 members
per 18-hole loop.
“Bro Hof cannot go bankrupt. The flow of members isn’t critical for the company’s wellbing, just for how healthy my finances are, or not…”
There will a maximum of 550 members
per 18-hole loop.
“Bro Hof cannot go bankrupt. The flow of members isn’t critical for the company’s wellbing, just for how healthy my finances are, or not…”
Reduced round times
Because the members make investments in the course, accessibility will be maximised for them. There will be a maximum of 550 members per 18-hole loop. In addition, green fee players are not permitted before 2 pm at the weekends. With 36 holes there is always an 18-hole loop available for play.
“As a member you shouldn’t need to be met by the news that the course is closed for corporate golf.”
To reduce round times there are start times every tenth minute, and each group starting at a given tee time may have a total maximum handicap of 72.
“As a member you shouldn’t need to be met by the news that the course is closed for corporate golf.”
To reduce round times there are start times every tenth minute, and each group starting at a given tee time may have a total maximum handicap of 72.
“Searching is to be avoided. The roughs will be 5 cm high at the most, so that the balls can be found but are difficult to play. The water hazards are kept clean, so that you can easily see whether the ball is in or out of the water. As well as that, the course is less dangerous and has no blind hazards.”
A 36-hole facility also provides a better basis för the golf club restaurant. It will be a good one, with a well-renowned restauranteur.
“It is important that all the club’s staff enjoy, and are capable of, providing excellent service. Without that we won’t have the ultimate in quality,” rounds off Björn Örås.
A 36-hole facility also provides a better basis för the golf club restaurant. It will be a good one, with a well-renowned restauranteur.
“It is important that all the club’s staff enjoy, and are capable of, providing excellent service. Without that we won’t have the ultimate in quality,” rounds off Björn Örås.