Golf in Estonia

The smallest, both in area and population, and the northernmost of the Baltic States, Estonia is a small republic of less than two millions inhabitants with strong similarities with its northern neighbour, Finland. Lying on the shores of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the country is formed by lowlands covered with dense woods and numerous lakes, while the Baltic coast boasts more than 800 islands.

The first and currently only 18 hole golf course in Estonia, Tallinn Niitvalja Golf Centre is located some thirty kilometres Southwest of the capital Tallinn, near the reputed Niitvalja Equestrian Centre. The idea to found the golf club originated when Estonia was starting to get its independence from the former Soviet Union. The beautiful landscape at Niitvalja had plenty of sand and water, providing the ideal terrain to build a golf course and a "Floridian" style design was commissioned to Swedish architect Ake Persson. The first nine holes were opened in 1993 and the full 18 hole course was inaugurated one year later. As golf facilities are still scarce in the country, a golf holiday in Estonia is best combined with a tour of the three Baltic Sates or a stay in Helsinki (Finland) on the Gulf of Finland. Tallinn lies a short ninety minute crossing by fast ferry across the gulf from Helsinki .

There are eight other nine hole courses and all plan to be expanded in the near future, for further info click here.