Task: Inspection and report with proposals for improving hazards, routing, and more.
Inspection and Report
Here's a brief excerpt from my report after the inspection:
How should we approach this?
The club has been a part of the 50/50 project for a few years, but only 28% of the club's members are women. One reason for this might be that the course is simply too challenging for many women. Women, in general, have lower swing speeds than men and play the ball with a low trajectory. Most of the greens at Sjöbo are elevated, making it more difficult for players with a low ball flight in their arsenal.
I'm not suggesting that you should lower a number of greens but merely stating the facts.
Bunkers
Bunker shots are also a challenge for many, both for women and men who do not have high swing speeds or do not know how to play a bunker shot.
The course has 74 bunkers, with 39 of them being considered green-side bunkers. This is excessive. You could reduce the number of bunkers, especially around the green areas. This would provide more variety on the course, which is something the club desires.
Below is a green area completely without bunkers. Many different shots can be played if you miss the green. Most importantly, players are not forced to play a bunker shot.
You can read about courses entirely without bunkers on the following link: Bunkerless Golf Courses.
Next year, the fifth course at Bandon Dunes Resort, Sheep Ranch in Oregon, USA, will open. It's designed by Bill Core and Ben Crenshaw and features a course completely without bunkers. Yes, you read that correctly. Not a single one. None!
