Nokia River Golf

Located about a 15-20 minute drive from Tampere outside the town of Nokia (where the mobile phone giant started life making tyres!) Nokia River Golf is a very pleasant introduction to golf in Finland.

The club has excellent practice facilities. A driving range, chipping and bunker area are at the entrance to the club and the large putting green is located in front of the very pleasant clubhouse. A small friendly pro shop offers any last minute supplies you may need and the first tee just a short stroll away.

Nokia River Golf is a gently undulating parkland type course, par 73 and 6506m from the White tees. There are plenty of bunkers, though few of them are especially punitive. The fairways are wide and the rough not too thick, though once you leave the maintained area's the meadow type areas are very pleasant to look at, will eat golf balls as will the water hazards that are situated around the course. Coming directly into play on seven holes and indirectly on another hole or two if tee or approach shots are wayward.

The largest hazard and the most scenic is the Nokia River itself, though would have to be quite a wayward shot for the river to come into play it does make for the framing of a couple of excellent holes of golf. It's a very pleasant surprise as from the Clubhouse and the opening nine holes you might be wondering how the club gets its name, only after the climb from the short par 4 13th to the 14th tee do you gain sight of the river for the club's signature hole, the 200 metre 14th, which is sharply downhill with the river immediately behind the hole.

The club also has a shorter nine hole course, 2747m from the back tees. Although we didn't unfortunately have time to play this nine too.

Nokia River Golf is certainly well worth a visit, set amongst the attractive Finnish countryside it really does offer an excellent round of golf, we were made to feel most welcome and whilst not the toughest challenge in Finland, that for many will be the attraction.

The 3rd - Water is a feature on many of the holes. A small stream protects this green.

The 7th - The same stream protects the green, an accurate approach shot is required to avoid water, trees and bunkers.

The 10th fairway

The 11th green overlooking the clubhouse and practice putting green.

The 13th is drivable, but heavy bunkering protects the green.

The 14th. An elevated tee with the River Nokia behind the hole, very scenic!

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