Hamburg Oberalster 2014
Hamburg Oberalster 2014
Designing Golf Club Hamburg Oberalster was a test, primarily because the majority of the site was almost flat. My goal was to create strategic, enjoyable layout, shaping the land to give players a clear and rewarding challenge on every hole. We also focused on building high-quality practice facilities, some of the best in the north of Germany.
During the design phase of the WinstonLinks and the new practice facilities at WinstonGolf, we needed to change the 1st hole of the WinstonOpen course—a great layout by Holger Rengstorf that originally opened in 2000. I was able to move the hole, making it into a reachable par 5 playing toward an existing lake. To protect the green, we created a new water feature that sits about 3 meters higher than the lake itself, though from the fairway it gives the illusion of being one single body of water.
Deinste holds a special place in my career as my first solo project in Germany. I will always be grateful to the owners, Jan Steffens and Hinrich Hauschild, for trusting me with the opportunity to showcase my abilities. Together with the golf school, the 18 holes have become a true hidden gem in the northern German golf scene. I am proud to be an honorary member there and a 5- time Club Champion.