International opening of top new Moscow course
Published: Last updated:
Today’s Golfer Courses editor Kevin Brown has just returned from attending the official international opening of the brand new PGA National Russia course near Moscow.
And what an exciting and impressive venue it is – on and off the course – and don’t surprised to see it staging prestigious, and that includes the main European Tour, in the not-too-distant future.
The course, designed by European Golf Design and managed by St Andrews-based Braemar Golf, is a serious examination of golf depending on which of the handful of tees to pick to play from.
Admittedly, the fairways are fairly generous but if you do stray from them at any time it’s highly likely you’ll be hitting from knee high rough. However, the course’s biggest defence are the huge sloping – often wickedly – greens!
There are several stand-out holes and a particularly thrilling finish in the form of a tricky par-3 over water followed by a par-5 comprising a double fairway and a slippery green protected by water tight right.
The opening of the course at Zavidovo was marked by a fun Texas scramble tournament and an evening function, staged in the classy, striking clubhouse, and attended by guests from all corners of the golfing globe. Among them were course designer Dave Sansom and EGD’s Jeremy Slessor and a team from the PGA based at The Belfry.
It also boasts a 10 bedroom boutique hotel and excellent practice facilities with a new PGA Academy and a nine-hole course on the way.
There can be no doubt: the Russians are coming… and that PGA National Russia is a world-class venue which should benefit big-time from the opening of its nearby luxury 250-room hotel in 2014.
