The players at the 2015 Swedish Hickory Championship
Report courtesy of Jonas Fack
The 18th Swedish Hickory Championship was held Aug. 1-2 on the links of Flommen Golf Club. Flommen, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, was started by the caddies at neighboring Falsterbo Golf Club (1909), as they were not allowed to play on the course which they worked.
The course is on waterfront wetlands with a lake and creeks that provide numerous water hazards on all 18 holes. The links-style course is close to the sea and sand dunes.
This year’s championship attracted about 130 players from Sweden, and international players from Scotland, England, and Ireland. The championship was played in three different classes:
Gentlemen – played over 36 holes with a cut after 18.
Ladies – played over 36 holes with a cut after 18.
Seniors (+65) played over 18 holes.
The course measured 6,200 yards for the gentlemen’s class with greens running very fast and difficult to hold approach shots. The weekend of competition provided beautiful weather, with plenty of sun and wind that kept the course very dry. Flommen proved to be a very stern test of hickory golf, with greens well protected by deep bunkers, undulating greens, and the aforementioned water hazards.
Even the professionals in the field found Flommen to be a tough test. Former European Tour players Magnus Sunesson and Persson Atlevi finished +7 and +9 respectively.
The 2015 Swedish Champions are:
Gentlemen – Magnus Sunesson (+7)
Low Amateur – Emil Norelius (+11) 3rd place overall
Seniors – Martin Mueller (+11)
Ladies – Christina Elmer (+14) won on 1st playoff hole.
Competitors reported that the course and club were immaculate and all had a wonderful time engaging with this seaside links course.
The 2016 Swedish Hickory Championship will be held at Borås Golf Club in Västra Götaland. This is a parkland course built in 1933.
A view of the Flommen Golf Club near Falsterbo.
An age-old dilemma for golfers – the bunker shot.
The overall results.