Kytäjä South-East

When I began my golf pilgrimage in 2020, Kytäjä’s South-East course held the 65th spot on top100golfcourses.com’s list for Continental Europe.

It was also ranked number one in Finland, surpassing its friendly rival, Linna, located less than an hour up the E12 motorway.

Yet, when the rankings were updated two years ago, it vanished from Europe’s top 100 and even slipped to fourth in its home country, trailing its sister course, Kytäjä North-West.

I'm truly perplexed by its decline in popularity with raters because our visit revealed an outstanding course.

The captivating blend of holes winding through woods and around the lake, coupled with wonderfully true greens, was exceptional.

While the fairways weren't in perfect condition, this was understandable; Linna faced similar challenges due to Finland's dismal, cold spring.

The South-East is undeniably a tough course, but Mrs. W and I savoured many moments in a battle that came down to the final putt of the last hole (she won).

Kytäjä, despite being two years older, feels distinctly more modern than traditional Linna.

Its impressive clubhouse, boasting an extensive pro shop and large dining area, is markedly 21st-century, as is its adjacent accommodation with digital entrance codes.

Playing much of our round in bright sunshine further enhanced the experience, as rays dappled through the trees and reflected off the water.

From the first tee, situated alongside the lake, our surroundings inspired us.

The opening drive requires avoiding the water on the left and bunkers down the right, with the fairway then rising to a perched target.

A recurring feature here is the bank in front of the greens; success hinges on attacking flags, as there's typically little trouble beyond the expansive putting surfaces on most holes. The fairways also prove wider than they initially appear from the tee.

On the par-five second hole, both Mrs. W and I played centrally, just inside right-side bunkers.

However, the rough just off the fairways proved thick, often preventing clean connections, as we both discovered on subsequent hits.

Among my favourite holes on the front nine was the 252-yard par-four fifth, which filters in from the right with a large bunker ready to catch those opting for a more direct line to the flag.

This is followed by a challenging par-three exceeding 200 yards that dips and rises through the forest. Its difficulty is reflected in its stroke index three, and I was thrilled with a par.

The drive from the seventh tee is one of the most exciting on the South-East, passing between an avenue of trees to a fairway that widens and then rises to a perched green with fall-offs on either side.

The picturesque lake provides a stunning backdrop to the lovely ninth – a downhill par-three framed by forest, with a green that filters right to left into a deep sand trap. It's a breathtaking hole, looking even better under the blessing of blue skies.

One of the largest bunkers I've ever seen runs down the left-hand side of the 11th , a par-four where the lake comes back into full view.

Indeed, most of the back-nine holes are played alongside this expansive body of water, dotted with small boats, where people enjoy what must be one of the world's most tranquil environments.

A drive aimed towards a distant bunker on the left is the key to avoiding the reeds at the water's edge on the short par-four 13th, as the stretch of holes around the lake truly takes shape.

One of the highlights is the par-five 14th – or it would have been, had I not tried to cut the corner of this par-five that hugs the shoreline.

I struck the drive about as well as I could, again aiming for a distant bunker, but it landed about five yards short of the fairway and disappeared into thick reeds.

Mrs. W had the full experience, playing the hole properly (conservatively) down the left, where a tree needs to be avoided before going for the green, which has the water to the right.

Our match reached a critical point as we took on the par-four 17th. It meanders uphill,

inside right-hand bunkers, before turning towards a green that seems infinite due to the water behind it.

Thus, Mrs. W was one up and had a shot on the 18th – one of the finest closing holes I've played.

This is a bending par-five on a sliver of land, tight against the lake. Water threatens every shot, especially the drive and the approach to a green perilously close to the drink.

We thought Mrs. W had squandered her chance, but her third shot stopped, six feet from being wet, and she closed out the job admirably.

Despite my defeat, I was buzzing. Kytäjä South-East was fabulous, and I truly hope it rises in the rankings again. Its greenkeeping team certainly deserves that recognition.