I have been playing golf in Estonia every year now for about the last 20 years and witnessed its development. I spend my summers in Estonia and winters in Florida. There are now six high quality courses for you to enjoy and more are being built. These courses offer a wide variety of play and in general are more beautiful and challenging than most courses in the USA. I’m sending this information because I’m amazed that I seem to be the only “väliseestlane” who is aware of and taking advantage of what is there.
My home course is Niitvälja which is about a 30 minute drive from Tallinn. It is a beautiful layout and features an island green. A 45 minute train ride from central Tallinn will also get you there. Similarly, about 30 minutes away is the Estonian Golf and Country Club, located east of Tallinn in Jõelähtme. This is a hilly seaside course offering fantastic views of the Baltic Sea. About the same distance away on the road toward Tartu is Suuresta Golf. Pärnu offers its golf at White Beach. Otepää’s golf course displays southern Estonia’s nature at its finest. On the island of Saarema, you’ll find a beautiful golf course just 5 minutes outside of Kuresaare.
You can tour all the courses in a week but it would be better to allow two. There are many points of interest near each course. Every golf course has its oen webpage. Estonia’s golf is truly a hidden gem and highly kept secret!
Come mingle with the natives and tulge mängima!
Carl Orav
PS Some of you may recognize me as the author of We were Estonian Soldiers and Me Olime Eesti Sõdurid.
