New golf course in the Czech Republic nears opening

A new golf course, designed by Jakub Cervenka of CZGDA, will open in May 2020 at Golf Resort Dobrouč in Czech Republic.

“My task was to design a golf course sensitively set in the landscape without disturbing the amazing character,” said Cervenka.

The course is situated in the foothills of the Orlické Mountains with dramatic steep slopes, ravines and valleys.

“For my design, the question was how to combine the scenery and character of the landscape with game strategy,” said Cervenka. “And, how to balance the unmistakable uniqueness of the landscape so that the golf course could fit into it. The layout has to be attractive for the players.”

Cervenka also considered how to design golf features so that they would fit into a site with a large amount of elevation change as well as the rugged terrain.

“I mainly used steep and high-faced bunkers as they are strong hazards and, at the same time, a constructional element that enabled us to overcome large elevations,” said Cervenka. “To be part of the strategy, they are all visible from the shot area. The best example of this is the system of bunkers on the seventeenth hole.”

Cervenka wanted to have greens large enough to offer as many interesting pin positions as possible. “Each green is different, one of them — the thirteenth — very significantly,” said Cervenka.

Another hole Cervenka highlights is the short par-three ninth. “Some of the best three pars in the world are the shortest,” he said. “Their uniqueness is due to what happens between the tee and the green. This hole is no exception! The hole was part of the course design from the very beginning. Its uniqueness lies in the difference in height between the tee and the green — the fact that the ball goes above the treetops during its flight makes it necessary to choose the right club. The green to the right side is protected by a bunker, while the left side is open and safe. The green itself has a rich interior modelling and is elevated compared to the surrounding terrain.”

Read: hole-by-hole descriptions by golf course architect Jakub Cervenka

“Creating a golf course in such an exceptional landscape led me to follow an internal vision and to perceive individual parts of the landscape with maximum sensitivity even in very small detail,” said Cervenka. “I have tried to create a unique course that emphasises the landscape as well as the strategically provocative game situations.

“It was important for me, when creating a routing plan and laying out individual holes during the construction process, to ensure that it fit into the landscape rather than just observing the conventional principles of golf architecture.”

Golf Resort Dobrouč also has a putting course, practice green and and a 250-metre driving range.

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

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