Top 4 golf courses in Russia - The Glenmuir Journal

With football being the main focus in Russia, why not take a break from the beautiful game and check out some of the country’s best golf courses?

With this summer’s festival of football well underway, the eyes of the world are on Russia as it hosts one of the planet’s greatest sporting events. As golf fans watching the action unfold, we couldn’t help but think about the country’s golf offering.

Russia isn’t known for its golfing heritage, but the sport’s popularity is on the rise and there are some excellent courses throughout the country. We take a look at four of Russia’s best courses.

1. Moscow Country Club, Moscow
One of the first golf courses to be created in Russia, the Moscow Country Club was founded back in 1993 by a government department. Located about 25km north-west of Moscow, the Country Club sprawls over 300 acres and includes a 131-room hotel and all the sports, leisure, and beauty offerings you’d expect from a high-class destination.

The course itself is routed through a birch tree forest and was designed by architect Robert Trent Jones Jr to be a “very traditional parkland course”. Almost half of the holes on the course have water features, including the signature 5th hole, a 576-yard par five.

2. Don Golf & Country Club, Rostov-on-Don
Located near the southern port city of Rostov-on-Don, this course is unique for this part of the country in that it has 18 holes. The Don Golf and Country Club is one of the most well-equipped clubs around, and even has a golf academy if you fancy polishing your game.

The course itself is set in stunning scenery near the banks of the River Don, which runs down through the city to the Black Sea beyond. Bunkers and water abound, but with the picturesque setting it will be hard not to enjoy a round on this course.

3. Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club, Moscow
Set in a resort that covers a whopping 1,000 acres and includes a polo club, luxury spa, and a private ski-slope, Tseleevo lives up to its billing as an “ultra-luxury country club”. Located 50km north of Red Square, this exclusive course is well worth the drive out.

Russia’s first Jack Nicklaus Signature course, Tseleevo opened in 2008 and is set in mature woodland. The course’s signature hole is the 7th, a visually stunning 455-yard par four. The green is guarded by water to the front and bunkers on either side, making it an enjoyable challenge.

4. Skolkovo Golf Club, Moscow
Another excellent course in the beautiful countryside surrounding the capital, Skolkovo is just 20km south west of St Basil’s Cathedral. This was the second Russian Jack Nicklaus Signature course and hosted the Russian Open Championship back in 2015.

The course lies within the Skolkovo Innovation Centre, making it the perfect place for an afternoon off for any visiting techies. The course has over a hundred bunkers and six lakes squeezed over its leafy 18 holes.

Have you vivisred any other great Russian golf courses? Let us know in the comments!