Gut Apeldör (Big Apple)

Overview: The Big Apple is the original 18-hole course at Gut Apeldör, set in the sandy Geest and hedgerow landscape of northern Schleswig-Holstein. David Krause routed the holes around substantial water hazards, broad fairways and shaped greens, creating a course that is strategic without becoming needlessly severe. The natural drainage of the site helps the course retain its heathland character, while the two returning nines make the final holes feel connected to the estate and clubhouse.

History: Gut Apeldör began as a golf project in the mid-1990s and opened with nine holes in 1996. The Big Apple 18-hole layout became the centrepiece of the 27-hole facility, with the additional Big 9 following in 2004. Krause’s design was intended to welcome a broad range of players, and the facility later added floodlighting to the 10th and 18th holes, allowing those holes to be played after dark with special light balls.

Did You Know? The name Apeldör comes from a Danish-era expression meaning an open door for travellers and livestock. That idea still suits the course’s character: the layout is a genuine championship test, but its atmosphere is notably informal and welcoming.