zur Vahr Bremen (Garlstedt)

Nowadays, Club zur Vahr confines its sporting activities to hockey, tennis, skeet shooting and, of course, golf. The Bernhard von Limburger-designed Garlstedt course dates back to 1963.

According to The World Atlas of Golf, “the course occupies 220 acres in thickly forested, undulating countryside... It is dominated by pine trees, tall and dense, crowding in from tee to green, controlling play on holes which bend narrowly to generally small targets. The strategic effect of the forest was such that it was necessary to construct only twenty-four bunkers... Since its completion, the Garlstedter course has commanded respect from all who have played there and appreciated its disciplines.”

Unfortunately the club has always struggled with moisture in the fairways, which led to frequent delays in tournaments and ultimately cost Garlstedter Heide its status as a fixture on the professional circuit. A 2004 renovation by Christoph Städler improved the situation around the greens and bunkers, but the general nature of the sticky soil is obviously still a factor and tree management remains an on-going challenge.