Two European Tour Properties – Linna Golf in Finland and Estonian Golf & Country Club – recently provided one lucky My European Tour fan with a unique golfing experience thanks to the 2013 Shot of the Year competition.
Italian Paolo Sabadini was drawn out of the hat after voting for the successful Henrik Stenson effort which was chosen as the 2013 European Tour Shot of the Year.
Sabadini, and his partner Annarita, won a stunning trip to play golf in the summer midnight sun in Finland and Estonia with all their travel, accommodation plus, of course, a round of golf at each of the two European Tour Properties.
“I would like to thank The European Tour again for this amazing experience,” said Paolo. “For an amateur golfer, playing golf on these special European Tour Courses had a special charm and I think it was a really special prize and definitely exceeded all my expectations.
“Obviously a prize like this pushes me to play all the other great competitions on europeantour.com!”
But what better way to look back at the unique trip than in the words of Paolo himself in his ‘Midnight Golf Diary’…
A trip to remember, by Paolo Sabadini
Arrival
We arrived in Helsinki and were greeted very generously by Maja, who works at Linna Golf. She kindly accompanied us and provided all the information we needed along the way to get to Linna Golf and Estonian Golf & Country Club.
When we got to Linna, we were amazed at the clubhouse and the suite – spread over two floors – which were both really nice and with a classical structure to the architecture.
We did not stop to admire for too long, however, and immediately left for the first round.
It was 730 in the evening but with the sun high in the sky it felt more like it was still early afternoon!
Unfortunately, our first adventure was only brief. In fact, after the tee shot on the fourth hole we were caught by a sudden storm of strong intensity and heard the club officials ring the trumpets of security for the closure of the course.
But we were not disappointed for long with a great dinner at the restaurant in the castle next to the golf club.
Take Two
After a night when the bright sky peeked through the window of the suite (at all times!), we took the opportunity in the morning to get back on the courses with a perfect climate for golf.
It was an immense pleasure to play on a golf course like this, set in a forest of conifers as I've rarely seen and the conditioning was very good.
The design is a lot of fun and not at all obvious meaning that all the shots on every hole are as important as the next.
Travels
The next morning we left, accompanied by Maja, for our transfer in Estonia and even the short boat trip was fun and a great adventure.
We arrived at the Estonian Golf & Country Club where the staff once again greeted us very warmly.
After some photographs we teed off on the second course of the trip which was very different from the previous one.
We played on the championship Sea Course, which is accompanied by the nine-hole Stone Course.
Set next to the Baltic Sea, the first part of the course is undulating until you get to the middle of the round where most holes overlook the ocean.
As a links course, of course, the land was harder than Finnish which added its own test but the maintenance and the condition of the holes was impeccable. The aspect that impressed me the most was the great waste areas which accompany some of the central holes – even if they did seem to attract our unfortunate balls.
Toasting a great trip
After the end of the play we headed into Tallinn where we found, to our great pleasure, in a very luxurious hotel in the old town.
We took to the capital before and after dinner and very much enjoyed the playful spirit of the people of Estonia and its magnificent palaces and churches.
Unfortunately, like all good adventures, the visit came to an end, but surely this trip will long remain in my memories and those of my partner.
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While there could only one winner of this special prize, every single entrant to the 2013 Shot of the Year competition is still eligible to take advantage of a special “Shot of the Year Competition Golf Package” being offered by Linna Golf and Estonian G&CC for the excellent price of €330 and to include:
· 1 night accommodation at Vanajanlinna, Finland, and one night in the centre of Tallinn, Estonia, in a 4 star hotel
· 1 round at Estonian Golf and Country Club and 1 round at Linna Golf
· Ferry tickets from Helsinki to Tallinn and back*
* The price for the package per person is €330 (in a twin or double room) and the offer does not include flights or transfers from airport to the courses.
To vote in the June Shot of the Month competition and be in with a chance of winning a year’s supply of Titleist golf balls,CLICK HERE
To find out more about European Tour Properties,CLICK HERE
To find out more about Linna Golf,CLICK HERE
To find out more about Estonian Golf & Country Club,CLICK HERE
