Zavidovo PGA National Russia has got off to a flying start in their first full season, in what are exciting times for the game of golf in Russia. The magnificent European Golf Design course opened for local market play at the end of last season and since then “The Manor”, the luxurious 10 bedroom clubhouse has been completed and is now accepting in house guests.
The club is managed by Braemar Golf and have in place an extremely experienced management team to lead the facility and deliver the targets this summer. Phil Jones is the Director of Golf, following his successful assignment to open the club last summer. Phil is joined by Nick Solski, who has assumed the role as Head Professional. Nick has previously spent two seasons in both Ukraine and Lithuania and so is well equipped for the challenge. Both of them have joined Paul Avison, the club’s Golf Course Superintendent, who is now in his fourth season at Zavidovo. Paul was originally brought in as the grow in superintendent and has remained with the facility to see the ongoing development of the course during its first full season and this continuity is showing in the great condition of the golf course.
The season commenced with a tournament for 60 avid golfers on 8th May, which was significant as Zavidovo PGA National Russia was the first course in the Moscow region to open after the long winter. Following on from that, the Club hosted the “Tour 10” match play championships which saw Russia’s golfing elite descend on Zavidovo for 3 days of round robin match play played over a series of 12 holes. Closely following that event was the hosting of Russia’s most prestigious Charity Golf event the “McDonalds Charity Cup”.
“We have had an extremely busy start to the season, which has been very rewarding for us” said Director of Golf, Phil Jones. “You don’t get much time to prepare here, one day it is winter and then all of a sudden the snow melts and the season starts. It is hard to believe that we had over a metre of snow lying on the course on the 18th April and we then stage our season opener on the 8th May! Quite unbelievable” he added.
Still to come is the much anticipated International Opening on 23rd June which will see a number of guests attending from around the world.
Elsewhere in Russia we will see the European Tour return in July to Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club, while the European Seniors Tour will be at Moscow Country Club in September. Commenting on whether Zavidovo is targeting a big event in the future, Club President Alexander Yarunin said “yes, definitely it is on our radar. The course has been built to tour specifications, however we are waiting for more of our infrastructure to develop around the club before we make our approach. Our 250 key Radisson Hotel will open next spring and at this time we will be better suited to hosting major golfing events.”
Since its opening in September 2012, Zavidovo PGA National Russia has fast gained a reputation within the Russia golfing fraternity for the quality and condition of the golf course. The club’s relationship with the Professional Golfers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland is a unique one for Russia. It is the one and only club in Russia carrying the prestigious PGA brand and in doing so joins an exclusive band of PGA National facilities around the World, from the PGA National at the Belfry in England, to the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles in Scotland (the venue of the 2014 Ryder Cup). The facility is managed by St Andrews based Braemar Golf and is open to non-members. It is situated 90KM from Moscow just off the Moscow to St Petersburg highway.
Braemar Golf is a leading golf management and advisory firm with its head quarters at the home of golf in St Andrews. They currently have projects in Oman, Russia, Bulgaria, Morocco, Montenegro, Portugal and the UK.
Image: The Braemar Golf Management team at Zavidovo (left to right): Phil Jones, Director of Golf; Nick Solski, Head Professional; Paul Avison, Golf Course Superintendent
