The King's course at Kungsängen Golf Club in Sweden is being transformed with remodelling of specific holes designed to ensure another enthralling edition of the Volvo Scandinavian Masters on August 3-6. The Volvo Scandinavian Masters, first played in 1991, was held at Kungsängen in 1998 when Jesper Parnevik triumphed.
Kungsängen Golf Club, located 25 minutes from the centre of Stockholm and only a 20 minute drive from Arlanda Airport, is set in picturesque mature pine forests. The King's course was designed by Anders Forsbrand, winner of no fewer than six European Tour titles, and the remodelling is being undertaken by European Golf Design with advice from Ove Sellberg. In 1986 Sellberg became the first Swedish golfer to win on the European Tour when he defeated Nick Faldo, Stephen Bennett, David J Russell, Howard Clark and, coincidentally, Forsbrand in winning the Epson Grand Prix.
Jeremy Slessor, Managing Director of European Golf Design, said: "We took a serious look at the King's course following the Volvo Scandinavian Masters in 1998 when we received constructive comments from many of the European Tour Members. There were a number of holes which it was generally considered would benefit from alterations, and all these changes will be completed by early spring. We believe all competitors at the 2000 Volvo Scandinavian Masters will find the course not only examining but also extremely fair."
The 15th hole has been extensively changed following discussions with many of the players who competed in the 1998 Volvo Scandinavian Masters. The width of the landing area has been increased by more than ten metres in places. This has been achieved by filling part of the lake on the right side, which has also allowed the slope to the lake to be softened, and by removing rock in order to clear the left side of the fairway. The small pond to the left and rear of the green has also been substantially filled in.
The 15th hole will measure 295 yards (270 metres) as it did in 1998. Slessor explained: "We seriously discussed the building of a new tee, lengthening the hole by more that 15 metres, but this would have nullified our objective to balance the risk-reward equation so as to encourage more players to reach the green from the tee."
Numerous changes have been made starting at the first hole where the size of the green has been increased to its original dimensions with the back right area levelled to provide additional options for pin positions.
The third green has been levelled to the right side so as to give the player a better view with their approach shots. The fifth fairway has been reshaped, and at the seventh the rock short of the green on the left side has been removed providing an enhanced view of the green.
The hollow at the front of the tenth green has been filled to make for a fairer approach shot. A rock in the middle of the 11th fairway has been removed, and at the 13th, bunkers to the right of the landing area have also been removed.
Trees have been removed 80 metres to the right of the tee shot at the 14th where the fairway will be cut further to the left side at the landing area, and the mound on the left of the green reduced with the back right area levelled.
The rear right and middle of the green at the 16th has been raised slightly, so as to make the surface more receptive and increase pin positions. A new tee has been constructed on the 18th - 30 yards from the original tee so reducing the hole for the tournament to 440 yards (402 meters) but bringing the fairway bunkers into play.
Kungsängen Golf Club is one of the flagship courses of PGA European Tour Courses PLC, along with PGA Golf de Catalunya in Spain, Quinta do Lago in Portugal and Woburn Golf and Country Club in England.
Parnevik won the 1998 Volvo Scandinavian Masters with an 11 under par total of 273 over the then 6791 yards, par 71 layout. He won the title by three shots from Darren Clarke. Colin Montgomerie is the defending champion for the 2000 Volvo Scandinavian Masters following his win last year.
