Ålands Golf Club: Slottsbanan (Castle)

Ålands Golf Club was founded in 1975 and sits on the former hunting estate of King Gustav Vasa bordering the Slottssundet Bay in the Baltic Sea. The club is home to two 18-hole layouts aptly titled Slottsbanan (Castle) and Kungsbanan (King’s), as well as a short course, the Princess. The Slottsbanan course is routed alongside the edge of the bay, while the Kungsbanan course occupies a tighter, more forested section of the property. Originally designed by Jan Sederholm, the Slottsbanan course was finished in two phases with the front nine debuting in 1983 and the second nine following in 1988. More recently, Phillip Spogard led a 2020 renovation that rerouted many of the Slottsbanan holes closer to Slottssundet Bay with the goal of including views to the historic Kastleholm Castle across the bay. The renovation was successful as now all 18 holes have views to the Baltic Sea. The fairways at Slottsbanan rise and fall over undulating terrain surrounded by natural snaking water hazards and outcroppings of rocks and native plants. The pure rolling greens are guarded by strategic deep bunkering as well as large contours that funnel approaches into tricky runoff areas. After the 2020 renovation, Slottsbanan's highlight hole is now the stunning par-4 10th with a tee shot over the bay and an approach played straight toward the Kastleholm Castle in the distance.