Atlungstad

Ottestad, Innlandet

Rankings

AddressSandvikavegen 222, 2312 Ottestad, Norway

Located on the shore of the largest lake in Norway, Atlungstad started out as the idea of a local goldsmith. He used the fields as his practice area, and one day he had a bit of an epiphany, wouldn’t this area make a great golf course? This premier piece of land allowed the renowned architects of Dave Thomas Ltd. to create a course that retains a consistent feel while offering variation, including forest holes, classic heathland and a few seaside-like holes. As one might expect with a Thomas design, there are some fairly long par fours at Atlungstad, undulating greens with some well placed runoffs and of course cavernous bunkers guarding the greens.

Atlungstad starts out with a long heathland par five, first and second shots are pretty straightforward, but the green is slightly elevated and guarded by solid bunkering in typical Thomas style. The stretch from hole 2 through to 8 makes up the forest part of the course with the 5th as the most memorable in my opinion, fairly short par four dogleg right with the tee shot challenged by a well bunkered landing area. If you are too aggressive, those bunkers will leave you with a very challenging second, too conservative and you are left with a blind approach to a long narrow green guarded by water to the right.

The 6th is a gorgeous par three laying claim to the title of signature hole. It’s not overly long, but it has a nice little pond in front and a cavernous bunker guarding the left side adding a fair challenge. Combine a wonderful view of the heathland holes with lake Mjøsa in the background and a wee bit of distraction is to be expected.

The 8th is the monster of the course, par four at 400 meters from the club tees. Two proper belts are needed to make it in regulation, however if your shots aren’t quite perfect be wary of the cunningly placed fairway bunker around 70 meters from the green. The course turns to the heathland stretch at the 9th, the yellow wispy grass contrasting the green fairways and some barely visible bunkers lurking make you look around a bit, half expecting the soft burr of a Scot greeting you. The 11th is the finest of the heathland holes in my opinion; a medium long par four with beautiful bunkering, lumpy fairway and a very tricky green demands a clear plan and crisp execution.

The 16th is a very fine par three, and also a challenger for the signature hole. It’s medium long at 160 meters from the club tees, with the green guarded by a single tall fir to the front. The putting surface is quite undulating with a runoff area to the back feeding into trouble.

Even with so many fine holes to choose from, the 17th is undoubtedly the signature hole, a short par four located on the lakeside where the tee shot must carry over 150 meters of lake Mjøsa. Played conservatively a well-placed tee shot of about 200 meters should leave you with a short approach of just 100 meters but the green is quite long and difficult so be precise on the approach.

The course closes with a very fine par five that is quite generous from the tee, but you need a tee shot of at least 240 meters to avoid a blind second which would be challenged by water before reaching the large well bunkered green. Walking off with a regulation par should conclude an enjoyable round on a very fine course.

Article courtesy of Jan Nordstrom