Karolinka Golf Park in Poland has reopened as an 18-hole course following a nine-hole extension designed by Grzegorz Marcinków,
“The club’s initial nine-hole layout had become a bustling hub of activity, drawing in a large number of enthusiastic golfers,” said Waldemar Szadny, founder of All Golf Services, which handled construction. “This growing popularity, combined with the opportunity to acquire adjacent land, motivated the club to expand. The primary goals were to provide a full 18-hole experience, thereby enabling the club to host tournaments, attract more tourists and enhance the overall prestige of the club.”
This expansion was approved in May 2022, with All Golf Services undertaking a year-long construction – including a renovation of the existing nine – that finished in spring 2024.
“The integration of the new holes with the existing course was approached with a forward-thinking mindset,” said Szadny. “The original nine, developed many years ago on a modest budget, stood in stark contrast to the contemporary standards envisioned for the new holes. The club’s plan was to first build the new nine to modern aesthetic and technological standards, and subsequently renovate the original holes to match this new level. This approach ensures that the entire course feels cohesive and offers a seamless golfing experience.
“The new nine has a parkland style. The dense woodland helps to present a distinctive challenge. The narrow fairways, constrained by the available land, require precise play. The holes were designed to challenge top-tier golfers while remaining accessible and enjoyable for recreational players. Strategic play is crucial, particularly in choosing the right club for the tee shot. Long and accurate shots offer significant rewards but also pose the risk of being overhit into the forest, making every shot a tactical decision between distance and safety.”
Karolinka’s terrain made construction a challenge for All Golf Services. “The shallow layer of workable soil, with solid rock just 20 centimetres below in some areas, demanded detailed earthwork solutions,” said Szadny. “The varied landscape, consisting of sand, clay, and sandstone, required a customised approach for each hole to achieve a uniform and high-quality finish.
“Moreover, the diverse soil composition posed significant drainage challenges. Each metre of the course required meticulous planning to ensure effective water flow and prevent waterlogging.
“Despite these obstacles, our team produced a seamless and playable course. Another significant obstacle was ensuring adequate aeration and sunlight for greens. This challenge required us to carefully plan the layout of each green to maximise exposure to natural elements. Situated amidst the forest surroundings, it was essential to position greens in areas where they could receive sufficient airflow and sunlight.”
The project included the installation of a new Rain Bird IC system, seeds from Semillas Fitó and the sod for the renovated practice green came from Trawniki Expert.
Karolinka has also incorporated All Golf Services’ ProBunker liner technology into the greenside bunkers. “The club decided to adopt this technology to enhance the quality and durability of the bunkers,” said Szadny. “Our ProBunker liner prevents sand from mixing with the ground, maintains a constant thickness of the sand layer, and eliminates the effect of water ponding. This technology ensures the consistency and playability of the bunkers, reduces maintenance efforts and costs.”