Golf in a rural setting

"Yes, it’s nice in the countryside”. So goes the title of a song by a Finnish folk group, Finntrio. Playing golf is particularly nice in the countryside.

Iitti Golf is situated in an idyllic rural setting close to Iitti church village. One side of the course is bordered by Urajärvi Lake and the other by Kymijoki River, which widens into Kirkkojärvi Lake at the location of the golf course.

The eyes of the golfer see a field, a forest and old farm buildings, a traditional landscape of Northern Kymenlaakso. There is no great danger of the golf ball flying into the lake, but the water hazard can of course present a problem if the player devotes too much attention to admiring the scenery.

Clubhouse in a listed barn

Village dwellers once obtained their milk from the barn at Niskaportti Farm. Now the building serves as the clubhouse. Both the barn and the former farmhouse are buildings listed by the National Board of Antiquities.

Iitti Golf is praised not only for its courses, but also its relaxed atmosphere and the changing room and shower facilities in the clubhouse. The clubhouse provides caddy master services, light snacks and meals can also be ordered. Golf buggies can of course be rented.

Puimala at Iitti Golf is a former grain-threshing barn (the meaning of its name in Finnish). During Iitti Music Festival, the musicians go there to jam together. When the festival begins, a nine-hole golf competition is held at Niskaportti, which is crowned with a brunch.

A relaxed atmosphere

The 18-hole course at Iitti Golf is suitable for players of all levels. On the fairways of the full-length course are tees for the par-3 course.

Beginners can try out golf in the evenings in the company of golfers who possess a green card. Juniors can practise for free on Fridays. You can also come to play without booking a tee-off time, but it’s advisable to do so just to be safe.

Iitti Golf Club has about 800 members. Players come not only from local municipalities but also from the Helsinki region, which is just an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Iitti.

The relaxed rural atmosphere is also attributable to a reasonable price level, which is quite competitive. The more you play, the cheaper it gets. And you can always play only nine holes if you want.