Miles Bennett
Golf is played in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, but Russia has only recently joined the list. The sport was introduced to the country about 30 years ago, and the country's first golf course, Moscow City Golf Club, was established in 1987. Since then, Russia has seen the development of several other golf courses, with a total of 24 golf courses currently in or near the country. Despite the growth of golf infrastructure in Russia, the country faces challenges in developing a golf culture due to its long winters, short summers, and soil conditions that are not ideal for course construction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golf courses in Russia | 24 |
| First golf course in Russia | Built in 1891 in the village of Murino, Saint Petersburg Governorate |
| First 18-hole golf course in Russia | Moscow Country Club, built in 1994 |
| Golf courses near big cities | Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Tver, Yekaterinburg, and more |
| Investment in golf industry | Over $1 billion USD in 2009 |
| Top investors | Oleg Deripaska, Vlamidir Potanin, and Roman Abramovich |
| Cost of memberships and fees | Moscow club memberships: $75,000 plus $5,000 annual fees |
| Krasnodar area memberships: 50,000 RUR ($2,000) plus 15,000 RUR ($300) annual fees | |
| Golf cart costs | German JuCard: 4,000 Euros; E-Way cart: $8,000; Russian "Might" cart: $10,800 |
| Best golf course in Russia | Gorki Golf Club |
| Golf course design companies | RMJM, Hills & Forest International Golf Course Architects, Nicklaus Design |
| Golf course architects | Tobalevsky, Mazurin, Steve Forest, Arthur Hill, Jack Nicklaus, John Flynn, Ross McMurray |
| Golf tournaments | Roscongress Cup, M2M RUSSIAN OPEN |
| Russian golfers | Maria Verchenova, Nina Pegova |
| Golf associations | Russian Golf Association, International Golf Federation, European Golf Association |
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What You'll Learn
Golf in Russia has a short history
The Moscow Country Club, Russia's first 18-hole golf course, opened in 1994. The course was designed by English company RMJM, known for its work on golf courses in the USA and Europe. The second golf course in Russia, also with 18 holes, was the Tseleevo Golf and Polo Club, which opened in 2008 outside Moscow. This course was designed by renowned architect Jack Nicklaus and was the first Nicklaus Signature course in Russia.
Since the opening of these initial courses, Russia has seen a small boom in golf course development, with economic shifts generating great reservoirs of private wealth. By 2009, over a billion USD had been invested in the local golf industry, with Russia's richest men, Oleg Deripaska, Vlamidir Potanin, and Roman Abramovich, among the top investors. As of 2010, there were 24 golf courses in or near Russia, with the best 18-hole course being the Gorki Golf Club. However, golf still faces challenges in the country due to the long winters, short summers, and rocky, clay-based soil that is not ideal for course construction.
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There are 24 golf courses in Russia
Golf is not a popular sport in Russia, with only 24 golf courses in the entire country. The sport was forgotten for a long time after the 1917 revolution. However, the Moscow Country Club, Russia's first 18-hole golf course, opened in 1994, 25 years ago as of September 2019. The second golf course in Russia, the Golf Club in the Krylatskoe area near Serebryany Bor, opened 18 years later in 2004. The third golf course in Russia was opened in the Dmitrov district in 2008.
The Zavidovo PGA National, the only golf club in Russia licensed by the Association of Professional Golfers of Great Britain and Ireland, opened in 2012. The first open-type suburban golf club in Russia, "Forest Hills", was also opened in the Dmitrov District in 2013. The first and only world-class golf resort in Russia, Pine Creek Golf Resort, near Yekaterinburg, opened in 2012. In 2015, the Links National Golf Resort opened 60 kilometers away from Moscow.
In the metropolitan area, the closest golf club to the center of Moscow is the Skolkovo Golf Club, which is also the only 18-hole golf course within the city of Moscow. The MillCreek golf club opened in Vsevolozhsk in 2018. In 2019, the first golf resort, "Gelendzhik Golf Resort", started operating in Southern Russia.
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Golf's popularity is growing in Russia
The development of golf in Russia has been propelled by economic shifts, generating significant investment from Russia's richest individuals, such as Oleg Deripaska, Vlamidir Potanin, and Roman Abramovich. In 2009, over a billion USD was invested in the local golf industry, and renowned architects like Jack Nicklaus have designed several courses. This has led to the creation of world-class golf resorts such as the Ural Pine Creek Golf Resort near Yekaterinburg and the Zavidovo PGA National, the only golf club in Russia licensed by the prestigious Association of Professional Golfers of Great Britain and Ireland (PGA).
Golf's growing popularity in Russia is also evident in the country's pursuit of golf tourism. The ANCO "International Center of Golf Tourism" aims to increase inbound golf tourists and raise Russia's recognition as a golf destination on the world stage. The country hosted the European professional golf tour M2M Russian Open in 2015 and the Roscongress Cup golf tournament in 2018, further showcasing its developing golf industry.
Russian golfers are also making their mark on the international stage. Maria Verchenova represented Russia in the 2016 Olympic Games and set a record with a hole-in-one during the 4th round. Nina Pegova was a contender for the 2020 Olympic Games, showcasing the talent emerging from Russia. While golf in Russia faces challenges due to its climate and terrain, the sport's popularity continues to grow, attracting investors, golfers, and tourists alike.
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Russian golfers are banned from international competitions
Golf has been a growing sport in Russia, with the country's first 18-hole golf course, the Moscow Country Club, opening in 1994. In 1992, the Russian Golf Association was created and recognised by the European Golf Association and the Golf Club of St Andrews. Since then, several more golf courses have opened across the country, including the Zavidovo PGA National in 2012, the only golf club in Russia licensed by the Association of Professional Golfers of Great Britain and Ireland (PGA). The following year, the first open-type suburban golf club in Russia, "Forest Hills", opened in the Dmitrov District in the North of Moscow. In 2015, the "Skolkovo" golf club in Moscow became the venue for the European professional golf tour M2M Russian Open. Russia has also been working to attract foreign golf groups and increase the recognition of golf in the country on the world stage.
However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the International Golf Federation (IGF) banned golfers from Russia from competing in tournaments under its jurisdiction. The IGF is the recognised International Federation for golf within the Olympic Movement, and its major event in 2022 was the World Amateur Team Championships. The IGF stated that it \"is saddened by the events in Ukraine and in unity with the Olympic Movement supports calls for peace." The European Golf Association also announced that it would not allow teams, individuals, and officials from Russia to participate in EGA events in 2022, and that no EGA events were planned to take place in Russia. This ban on Russian golfers from international competitions extends a previous ban on Russia from international championships due to doping violations. In 2021, the World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russia from competing in international sports, including the Olympics and other world championships, for four years due to a years-long cheating scheme. While Russian athletes not implicated in doping were allowed to compete under a neutral flag, the country was also barred from hosting international events.
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Golf courses in Russia face construction challenges
Golf in Russia has faced many challenges throughout history, with the sport being forgotten after the 1917 revolution. The first golf course in the Russian Empire appeared in 1891 in the village of Murino, Saint Petersburg Governorate, but golf in Russia would remain a niche interest for over a century.
The Moscow Country Club, Russia's first 18-hole golf course, opened in 1994, two decades after it was first envisioned. The project faced significant challenges due to the political and economic tensions of the Cold War. Golf was seen as a symbol of the capitalist world, which was condemned in the Soviet Union. Despite these challenges, the course eventually opened, marking a significant milestone for the sport in Russia.
Even after the construction of the Moscow Country Club, golf in Russia continued to face obstacles. The country lacked golf professionals, and the sport was largely limited to the elite. However, in recent years, there has been a notable increase in domestic play, with more affordable courses opening up and making the sport more accessible to the general public.
The construction of new golf courses in Russia still faces challenges. The Shishkino project, for example, has faced difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including bringing foreign specialists into the country and acquiring construction materials. Despite these challenges, the project is moving forward, with a focus on creating a world-class golf experience in Russia.
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Frequently asked questions
Golf is not a traditional sport in Russia and the country has a very short golf season. However, the sport is growing in popularity, with 24 golf courses in or near the country.
The Moscow City Golf Club, a nine-hole course, was the first in the country. It opened in 1987, when Russia was still part of the Soviet Union.
Gorki Golf Club (Гольф-клуб GORKI) is rated as the best golf course in Russia. It is located in the Leningrad region.
