Island of Læsø
The history of Læsø
The name Læsø – in English it would be Laesoe.
I will explain these Danish letters. Hundreds of years ago it was decided that every time the letters “ae” and “oe”, stood next to each other you didn’t need to write both, ae would be a new letter and that is the “æ“. And as you can see, it is a and e integrated into one letter.
The same goes with oe. Now an o with a line through o becomes “ø“.
And what is the meaning of the word Læsø. The word Læsø comes from the Old Norse Hlésey, where Hlér, is the name of a mythological sea giant living on Læsø.
The island is mentioned several times in the Norse mythology, among other things as the home of the giant Aegir and as a feast place for the Nors gods.
Even today we can find historical evidence of Læsø from as far back as around the year 1200. In the saga of the Orkney Islands (written 1214-1231) it is mentioned that the king’s son Gor passed by Læsø (Hleesø) during the search for his missing sister. He probably thought that Aegir had captured her.
Anyway, from about year 1000 and 600 years forward the island was a traffic hub.
Ships from the Baltic countries (Finland, Russia, Estonia, Poland, Sweden, and others) in order to get to and from the North Sea they had to pass Kattegat and therefore Læsø.
By the end of the 1600s, about 350 merchant ships had been registered with Læsø as their homebase.
Some shipped timber to the forest-poor areas of southern Sweden. At the same time, the development or production of salt increased, which affected the timber exports and had severe consequences for the island.
Why?
Læsø salt is developed by evaporating seawater in pans over an open fire. Læsø salt is still today in demand among food geeks.
It is often slightly damp and has a special taste due to many minerals and impurities it gets from the sea.
It was a big export thing in the 1600 but the need for trees to make the fire to make the salt was a disaster – slowly and long term.
Therefore, as Læsø’s salt became more and more popular, more of the island’s natural forests suffered. So much so, that at one point the island was almost cleared of trees, and when Denmark in 1659 lost a war against Sweden, the consequence was that the Swedish troops were ordered to burn the last forest remains and half of the 350 merchant ships.
After that, for a couple of 100 years Læsø was basically just a big sandy island.
Well, enough about that.
Today, Læsø is mostly forest, sandy beaches, and heather. Conditions that provide fertile ground for a fantastic golf course. No ships and no salt.
And now going to the island
First, we had a 2 hour drive north from our home to the harbour and a 2 hour boat trip to the island.
2 hours sailing and we see the Island of Læsø
Arriving at the “resort hotel” we quickly make ourselves ready for the first round.
Quick unloading and out on the golf course
Læsø Golf and Seaside resort – the club
Today, Læsø is inhabited by a little less than 2000 people, of which 385 are full-time paying members, (not all are living on the island).
385 members are not enough to run a golf club and an 18-hole golf course. And since it takes about 2 hours to sail to the island, it is limited how many green fee guests that “just” pass by to play a round of golf.
Therefore the club has been struggling to make ends meet.
Today the club is 33 years old. The first 6 holes were constructed around 1990. Few years later 3 more holes were added and finally in 1997 it was extended with 9 holes making it then a “real” 18-hole golf course.
Therefore it is not a surprise that the economy always has been tight. The last investor and owner had to give up on keeping the project alive in 2020.
But again, as with many other golf courses, there are always enthusiasts with visions who either see the business opportunities or are simply sad to loose a great golf course.
Therefore, at the end of 2021, a local group of investors bought the worn out Læsø Golf restaurant and hotel. All the investors are golfers with relations to Læsø. And naturally they don’t want a life on the island without golf and now after a thorough modernization Læsø golf hotel are offering holidays in hotel apartments with a unique location directly to the golf course and the seaside.
Hotel-houses at Læsø Golf
The Læsø municipality then bought the golf course and leases it to the investors on good terms.
As with so many other golf clubs, a very large part of the daily operations are handled by volunteer members.
Therefore, today, the future looks bright. Since it was taken over by the locals Læsø golf club have done a lot to upgrade all parts of the course. – I will say with a great success.
And thank you dear folks. Because it is a great place with a fantastic golf course, which (despite a 2 hours’ drive from my home and a 2 hours´ boat trip), it won’t be the last time that we will play here
Now let’s take a look at the golf course.
The course was designed in 2 stages, first by Lars Andreasson and the last 9 holes by Henrik Jacobsen and opened in 1995 and 1999.
The club also offers a 5 hole par 3 course (pitch & put), driving range and putting green.
And most recently, an exceptional approach green for chips and pitch in the middle of the facility. In a fantastic nature.
The heart of it all is a great 18-hole golf course. On this course you get everything a golf enthusiast could ever want, whether you play from scratch or from handicap 54.
Some holes and fairways are most reminiscent of the links courses in Scotland and Ireland, others is like playing some of the best holes on a course like Sunningdale in the southwest of England. Sunningdale is often referred to as an inland links course. This means that the soil conditions are the same as with a links course, but instead of water and wind, the fairways are surrounded by trees.
See the next pictures for a comparison.
Sunningdale – links in the forest
Læsø – links in the forest
Læsø – links in the forest
Læsø – inland links
Læsø – seaside links – hole 18
Læsø – seaside links
On the course you will not find 2 holes alike. You get doglegs left and right and a few more or less straight fairways from tee to green, but then you will find a tree in the middle forcing you to land the ball on the side of the tree and to avoid the water on your right-hand side or the forest on your left hand side.
On many fairways you will also find humps strategically placed to catch your ball. For example, 20 or 30 meters on one or the other side of the green.
Exciting, a layup is not “just” a layup. You must know you distance and control the direction. And then you got several small pot bunkers. Just like in St. Andrews. Fascinating stuff.
The first 9 holes are mostly in the forest. Here you are sheltered from the wind – at least a little, but 5 or 6 holes on the last nine are played alongside or close to the sea with few trees. Here you can feel the wind.
Then there is a par 3 hole – 150 meters that requires a 170 meters shot when the wind is from the front and if you get the wind from behind it’s only a 110 meter shot.
And you will find water hazards on many holes. They can be avoided as long as you don’t try to be a hero.
As said, a fantastic golf course. And the nature is beautiful. And there is no noise, only the sound of the nature.
It is possible to avoid the water, as long your skills are level with your expectation and ambition.
Water hazards that enhances your creativity
From the yellow tee the distance is 6060 meters. Course rating is 74, slope is 134 and par is 74. These figures tell you that this is not the easiest course in the world.
On our last round – the third round – Eza made 38 points and I made 33.
If you ever get close to the ferry harbor, take the ferry, and stay a couple of days. You will never regret it.
What did I learn – the mental part of the game
Basically: just enjoy, don’t play smart with capital S. Just smart.
A Pipe story
I will conclude this with a story or experience that has only a little to do with golf.
As many as you know, I am a pipe smoker nerd and on the island one of the most famous pipe makers in the world lives here.
Her name is Anne Julie.
I have read about her in books about pipes and pipe makers. She is also a painter and got her art studio and pipe workshop not far from the golf course.
So, of course I needed to go there.
A fantastic woman, a real artist also when it comes to pipe making.
She is selling pipes all over the world. From Japan and China to Europe and the US., and very few for less than 4.000 €.
Some are sold, not for smoking, but for collection. When you have seen one of her paintings you will easily recognize her style the next time you see one, that that is Anne Julie who created it.
The same goes for her pipes. If you have seen a picture of one, you know next time you see one if she has made it. A very fascinating personality.
And yes, you guessed right, I did purchase one. To what we in Danish would call a “modest number” of Danish kroner.
Anne Julie the pipe maker and Finn in serious talks about pipe making.
And yes – he bought a pipe. Like buying a Savador Dali to less than half the price.
The famous pipe for a “modest number of Danish kroner”
And you know what? Her father was a farmer, and the owner of the land where the golf course is now. He sold the land to the company who build the golf course.
So for me “a two-in-one” – that’s golf and a pipe.
We are debating which island will be next – ?? a few to choose from .
Where to go next?
