On Sunday 17th August 2003 we took a trip to the "City of Smiles" (Aarhus) which is actually equiped with three very good golfcourses: Aarhus Golf Club, Aarhus Aadal Golf Club and the perhaps less known Mollerup Golf Club. The latter is situated in the northeastern part of Aarhus on the edge of "Risskov" close to "Egåen". In the wintertime this location can cause some problems with too much water on some of the holes. It is worth to mention that the Club has put a lot of work with drainage of these wet areas over the years. When you enter the Club there are two roads you can use. Because a few of the holes are placed close to the roads, you must be causious when approaching the clubhouse. As usual the weather was very good on this day in August with the temperature in the mid 20's and with a light breeze that might tease us a little bit. Our expectations to the course was very high because we had heard that it was in an eminent state. And really - the rumours were 100 percent true but - there is always a little but - the pylons on the course are actually quite a lot in play. But still, if you play the holes in the right way they will not really bother you.
The trainingfacilities are quite good. The drivingrange is placed perfectly as you only have to walk about 50 paces from the parkinglot before you can step up on one of the mats on the range. These are of a good quality and there are plenty of them. There is a fine view over the range and a lot of distance indicators so there is nothing to point our fingers at here. The chipping area is placed on the left of the drivingrange, right behind the 10th tee and the 18th green. Here it is possible to practice all kinds of short game shots, from bunker shots to longer pitch shots. It is a really good area, which we would probably use quite a lot if it was in our home club. Puttinggreen is placed right next to the 1st tee, so it is easy to see when your turn to tee off. The puttinggreen was REALLY fast and absolutely true. If you hit the ball on the right line, it went in. At the time we visited the course, it must have been among the very best in the country!! The same goes for the greens out on the course and they were the best we had played in Denmark all year.
The 1st hole can be quite a teaser for both the low- and high-handicapper. It is a very good par 3 (164y/150m). Folks with the low handicap has no strokes here but for the ones with a higher handicap it is possible to take it easy. If you are forced to hit the green in your first shot, you must be aware that this is very much a hole that calls for precision and a good shot with a middle iron to a tricky green. If you have a higher handicap it is possible to roll the ball on to the green. The teeshot can be a thrilling matter as there often are spectators who will watch you from the puttinggreen or the people behind you who are waiting to tee off. Furthermore the holes has the regular challenges, that is the road on the right, out of bounds on the left and finally a big hungry bunker on the left side of the green. Because the green is tilting to the left the bunker is very much in play if your shot is too flat or rolling the wrong way. If you hit the green in regulation it can be tough enough to two putt for par, because the green is sloping from right to left. A par is a good beginning but a birdie is of course not out of reach.
The 3rd hole is a short par 4 (313y/286m). Here it is possible to wack a big drive out on the fairway but we're not quite sure, if we would recommend it. There is a real danger that it will end up with a big number on the scorecard instead. We would rather advise you to keep the driver in the bag and hit a long iron or a 5-wood from the tee. Then you will be able to carry the fairwaybunker (183y/167m) from the tee without risking to reach the place where the fairway is narrowing somewhat in (208y/190m). If you should choose to hit your ball with a big hook or slice - then please - don't do it on this hole. On the left there are some trees that you don't wish to struggle with and the same goes for the right side along with some heavy rough under the trees. Furthermore the "Egå" (water) is also in play here and this is not good because it is out of bounds!! If you have hit the middle of the fairway, you have a good chance to reach the green in regulation and you are probably able to do so with a short iron. The green is more or less surrounded by trees to the right, left and behind it. Two bunkers - one about (33y/30m) from the green and one close to on the right protects the green well. The green is slightly sloped, but if you have hit it in regulation, you should be able to get a par or perhaps even a birdie.
The 5th hole is a short par 5 (476y/435m). For the longhitters it's almost a must to reach the green in two, but be careful - this hole offers many difficulties. The drive is quite exiting because of the bunkers in each side of the fairway (225y/206m) from the tee. The one on the left is not so big, while the one on the right is quite different because a bunker that is (77y/70m) long is NOT normal on golfcourses in Denmark!! Here you can get as much bunker practice as you can ever wish for. You also need to be careful not to hit the pylons that are placed in the middle of the fairway but that is normally not a problem. If you have hit a good drive and have the length, it might be worth it to go for the green in two shots. If you decide to go for the green, it is best if you can reach it by hitting a middle iron, because the green is very well protected by trees, bunkers and heavy rough. If you have missed your tee shot or just don't have the length, you must place the ball in your favorite distance from the green. Remember not to go closer than (44y/40m) because of the two bunkers that are just laying there - waiting for your layup shot. If you layup the ball, it is a must to get close to the pin as this is probably the best birdie chance among the 18 holes. The green is quite sloped so a sharp approach is essentual, if you want to get your hands on a birdie. Should you miss, you can settle for a par - that is good, too.
The 15th hole is a long and very difficult par 4 (411y/376m) and it is also the toughest hole on the scorecard. It is hard to determine whether it is the drive or the approach shot which is the more diffucult shot on this hole - one thing is for sure, they are both very demanding and call for precision. From the tee there is more than one thing to consider - on the left runs the Egå, and it is not to be recommended to play with water here, (right, Peter!!). Furthermore a little drainage ditch runs in the middel and in the right side of the fairway. It is possible to play from this ditch in dry periods, but when the weather is rainy, it can give you some problems. The good thing on this hole is that the fairway is wide, and there is room for a big slice or hook. If you have hit a bad drive, it will be a good idea to layup short of the green because it is protected by waterhazards in front, on the right and on the left side. Furthermore the green is garded by trees on the right side, behind and on the left side, which means, that a halfbad shot to the green just wont do. The only possitiv thing is, that there are no bunkers and that the green is almost flat. You've got a fair chance to make at net par on this hole - a hole that all in all forces you to show all your golfskills.
 The 18th hole is a very challenging finishhole. A par 4 (320y/293m) where you really can create problems for yourself, if you DO NOT play the hole right. This hole is short and playing downhill and these factors will lure the weak at heart to try to go for the green from the tee. DON'T DO IT. It is not worth the risk, and the chance of failing is far to great. Instead choose a middel iron that will place your ball just short of the bunker on the left side (205y/187m) from the tee. This shot is really quite simple and straight forward, but still you need to focus 100% because of the pond, that is placed in the rigth side of the fairway. It begins (170y/155m) from the tee and runs all the way to the bunker (205y/187m) from the tee. If you have placed the ball in a good position short of the bunker, you're probably able to reach the green with a short iron. A green that is protected by a world of obsticals - a big bunker placed from the left side and around to the middel of the green. On the right side a little pain of a pond is situated, and this is very much in play. Behind the green there is out of bounds, so you need to produce nothing less than the perfect approach shot. If you have reached the green in regulation the next problem is, that it slopes from the front towards the back. Still - two putts shold suffice and give you a par on the scorecard. A really good finising hole which challenges you to the final shot.
After a good and very exiting round a visit in the bar is well deserved, and we are sure, that you now need a little something to drink and perhaps some goodies for the stomach. In the clubhouse they can take care of that, too. The proshop is a small and intens, but they have almost everything, that you can wish for. All together Mollerup Golf Club is a very pleasent club with a nice and friendly staff and with future plans to expand the club, it could be among the very best in the country in a few years. But in the present it is also worth a visit or two. The condition of the course was very good - the greens were nice and fast, the fairways ok despite the long and warm dry summer. The bunkers were good in our opinion, but that is very much up to the different tastes of people. The only thing that brings this course "down" is the pylons on some of the holes, they are not pretty. We strongly recommend all golfers to visit this course, if YOU dare!!
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