Sweden may not be the first destination that you think of if you are a golf enthusiast and golf may not be the first thing on your mind when you plan to visit Sweden. Florida transplant and Swedish golf expert, Gene Oberto, tells us more about why playing golf in Sweden is an experience for everyone, serious and casual golfers alike, and introduces us to his new site, Swedish Golf On-line.
NW.com: What is Swedish Golf Online and why did you create it?
GO:
I felt that there was a hole in the golf information world. People knew a lot about Swedish golfers but were not familiar with how they came to be who they are. English is the international language of golf but it doesn't necessarily provide a direct route into understanding the Swedish golfing scene. I thought that I could help to shed some light into this fascinating world – open the door to have people take a look inside at Swedish golf.
NW.com: Sweden may not be the first destination that golf enthusiasts think of. Why do you think that Sweden is a unique golfing destination?
GO:
During my first visit in Sweden I fell in love with Swedish golf and its facilities. Its scenic naturalness makes for a game that is very different from the golf being played in Florida. There you are playing mostly in drained swampland reformed into garden-type golf courses; very few actually follow a natural terrain and most plantings come from somewhere else. These courses are basically designed for tourists who want to escape the cold of the North. In Sweden, on the other hand, ice snow and wind created the golf course terrain thousands of years ago. You can play in a diverse range of environments, from the flats of Skåne to north of the Arctic Circle. No two golf courses are alike even if the same architect designed them. In Sweden strict environmental legislation has certainly played a role in the preservation of natural environments on golf courses. Many of them are open to bird watchers and nature lovers who are not golfers. The sport is secondary to other uses.
During the mid-eighties Sweden devised a system of open golf. This made Swedish golf courses available to anyone who wanted to play on them. Everyone was to be treated equally. Even private courses are open to the public. Everyone in Sweden plays golf according to their handicap; there are no professional or amateur golfers. Sweden cannot understand why more countries don't adopt this sort of system to increase the interest in golf.
NW.com:How is it that Sweden has become the second largest golfing nation in Europe?
GO:
Everyone has a chance to play golf here and there is a great deal of focus on teaching juniors. During the 1960s Sven Tumba, one of Sweden's most prominent ice hockey players, picked up a golf club as a part of a charity event. This gave ordinary people 'permission' to pick up golf clubs. Swedes like it because it is an outdoor activity and something that you can do during their five weeks off during the summer. Golf is a sport that you can play your entire life and Swedes have for some time enjoyed the longest healthy life expectancy in the world. Golfing is a walking sport here (not driving in golf carts) and this fits well with Sweden’s national habit of outdoor activity.
NW.com: Golf has sometimes being seen as an environmentally harmful sport. Is this true?
GO:
Environmental impact is the number one discussion among golf clubs after how to get more members. Abiding by environmental laws is a major issue, as it is for many other sports, for instance, football, with its need for well-manicured fields. Golf courses are waking up and taking measures like not using chemicals and, by not over-manicuring the grass and using excess irrigation, sustainability can actually save money, improve the environment and create better golf. A A recent study in Stockholm showed that the water exiting golf courses was cleaner than the water that entered the courses. Then you have to acknowledge the fact that golf courses are reserves for wildlife in or near sprawling urban centers. Sweden continues to be a leader in environmental standards, including golf courses, because this is the way that Swedish people run their lives.
NW.com: Golf is seen as a sport requiring money and time. Are there ways that golf can in fact be a good sport for meeting the modern wellbeing needs of ordinary people?
GO:
Granted, golf takes time, but in a society where we do so much multi-tasking, it can provide a much-needed break. The idea that golf costs more money than other activities is a misnomer. Skiing can be equally, if not more, expensive. Golf in Sweden is an equal opportunity sport where you can put in as much or as little time, effort and money as you want. Equipment and clothing are not such a big issue here in Sweden. Golf courses here are not like the very exclusive private clubs we think of in the States. There isn't a great deal of social life around the club. In Sweden, the golf club is like the soccer club or hockey club. You join to play golf. The social activity happens on the golf course itself.
NW.com: What is your most memorable golfing experience in Sweden?
GO:
I have two that I think of, on opposite sides of Sweden’s geographic conditions. One is teeing off under the bright sunshine of the midnight sun. The magic of the Arctic landscape and golf at the Björklidens Golf Club 250 km (155 miles) above the Arctic Circle is something that every golfer should experience, at least, once.
The second one is down in Falsterbo, at the southern tip of Sweden. This club is over 100 years old and is the oldest links golf club in Sweden. We were playing on a sunny and humid summer's day and we were frequently stopping to let the bird watchers walk past. We met a guy, who wandering up from the beach, was picking up golf balls as he waded in the water hazards. He gave about a dozen to us. During the round, the weather went from being a hot summer's day to a rainy summer day and, over the last few holes, it was an absolute gale, turning our umbrellas inside out, making them useless. As we were shaking hands at the end of the game, the sun came back out. Whatever weather conditions could be offered at Falsterbo, we got them all on one single day! What kind of weather can you expect at Falsterbo? Be prepared, you might get five different kinds in one round!
Would you like to visit Sweden on a golfing holiday or just visit Sweden for a holiday and play a bit of golf? Contact us and Gene will be glad to help you. Visit Swedish Golf Online and order Gene's book, The Swedish Golf Experience, which includes stunning images of diverse Swedish golf destinations.
Swedish Golf Expert Gene Oberto
Björklidens Golf Club, 250 km above the Arctic Circle
