61 In the most recent phase of work, Althaus has completed some rerouting in the rather tight north-east corner of the site (198 acres) and for the holes not to feel squeezed together at any point. Althaus has made some very clever design decisions. A small lake built to the left of the par-three second on the Blue nine achieves separation very well. In 2014, Althaus entirely rerouted the Yellow nine, the Harradine holes, which occupy the lowest lying property on the site – from mostly running north-south to mostly east-west. Two holes on the Yellow nine – the first and seventh, occupy a large and wild double green. Some more rerouting took place in the most recent phase of work, in the rather tight north-east corner of the site. The results are extremely good: the walk is seamless, and the holes fit in to their environment as if they had always been there. Since first coming to the attention of golf design aficionados after the initial phase of work at Föhr 15 years ago, Christian Althaus has done quite a bit of quality work in Germany. His Hofgut Georgenthal course near Frankfurt is fun, and his nine holes at Herzogswalde near Dresden (also built with Mick McShane) are outstanding on some rather poor soil, including a unique and brilliant par three. But it is at Föhr that Althaus’s evolution as a designer is most obvious. He has been travelling to the island for many years; it is not mere poetic licence to suggest that he has invested a part of his heart into the golf course. For an architect to get three bites at a cherry, and consequently to reshape a course so entirely, is very unusual, and for this Althaus owes the Föhr club a debt of gratitude. But what the club owes to the architect is not insignificant either. Adjacent to Föhr is the island of Sylt, another popular German holiday destination, where some years ago, architect Rolf-Stefan Hansen built the Budersand course, a remarkable achievement involving the recreation of a dunescape on what had previously been a military airbase. If it were easier to travel the few miles between it and Föhr, the two would make for a really fabulous golfing weekend away. But I am not the only judge who has seen both courses and thinks that Föhr is better. From what was formerly a rather insignificant little holiday course on a small, out of the way island off the coast of northern Germany, Christian Althaus has fashioned something really special. Harry Colt and John Morrison’s Falkenstein club in Hamburg is, by everyone that counts, reckoned to be Germany’s best course, but the battle for second place is fought between a number of different venues. Föhr might well win it. GOLF CLUB FÖHR Image: Althaus Golf Design
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