Destination Golf Global (Spring 2020) * | Page 40

Esbjerg Golf Club's modern clubhouse before being slightly reduced in size by adding two greenside bunkers. Today, the Marbæk Course appears pretty much as it was when it first opened. Adjustments have been made over the years on some holes, however. Most noticeable is the reshaping of the greens on the 3rd, 4th and 5th holes. The lake by the green on the par-5 4th has also been added. On a few holes, bunkers have been added or removed. With its location near the coast and fairly open setting, the strong westerly wind has free rein, which can make the course a particularly tough challenge, especially from the back tees. When the number of members approached 1,000 in the late 1980s, it was decided to expand the layout with a further nine holes to prevent the course from being overcrowded. The additional course was also designed by Frederik Dreyer. When that course opened in June 1993, the original course was given the name Marbæk and the new course was named Myrtue. 40 Destination Golf .TRAVEL In 2008, the Myrtue Course was expanded with another nine holes, giving Esbjerg Golf Club two 18-hole, high quality golf courses. Esbjerg Golf Club’s six-hole, par-3 practice course was also designed as a true golf test. HISTORY OF ESBJERG GOLF CLUB A meeting was held on 2 March, 1921, at the Paladshotellet in Esbjerg, seeking to form a golf club. After it became apparent that a sufficient number of members had already put their names down, it was decided to found Esbjerg Golf Club. The first golf course was laid out with nine relatively-short holes on a leased field and meadow area in Måde, on the southern outskirts of the town near the beach. The course was traversed by numerous streams and, with very sparse vegetation, it was almost links-like in character. The fact that the course was largely maintained using grazing cattle gives a vivid impression of its conditions. The cattle made mowing machines almost unnecessary. The course was even characterised by unusually