Tilander Golf Design

12/03/2026

Last week, I had the pleasure of celebrating Pärnu Bay Golf Links being voted the best golf course in Estonia by the Golfpiste course rankings. Today, the results for Finland were released, and the winner is Rock Golf. I am honestly speechless.

Never before has a 9-hole course—let alone a par-3 course—claimed the top spot. It is time to broaden our horizons on what a golf course can be. This doesn’t mean traditional 18-hole courses are going anywhere; it simply shows that for golf to thrive in a changing world, it can take many different forms.

Nothing is ever given, and building a golf course on the rocky shores of Southern Finland was certainly no exception. My thanks go to Jussi Nurmio for the original vision and for 'leading me into the woods' back in summer 2020. Thank you to the construction team and especially the lead shaper Graham Foster—without you, this journey would have been far more difficult. Most importantly, a huge thanks to Kari Karvinen, whose unwavering belief and investment made this dream a reality.

A humble and curious approach has taken me further than I ever expected. The spark for creating something new still drives me every single day, and I can promise you—there are plenty yet to come.

12/05/2025

Last week it was a pleasure to visit Georgia after a long time. The main reason for the visit was the redesign of the Tbilisi Hills 9th hole (par 3) due to the upcoming spa building. This also provided an opportunity to "check" the current condition of the course.
Opened in 2018 and the country's only 18-hole course, Tbilisi Hills has been steadily growing in popularity.
Last year marked the first time that annual rounds played numbers were reported in five figures. The finances are balanced, and the atmosphere at the club on a warm early summer weekday was busy. Confidence in the future is also boosted by the promise of a new clubhouse, the construction of which will begin later this year.
Under the leadership of CEO Paul Pöhi and the new superintendent Roger Stillwell, the course has been tuned into excellent condition thanks to motivated greenkeeping staff and an upgraded fleet of machinery.
A golf course improves with age, and Tbilisi Hills is no exception. All playing areas have good grass coverage, and the putting surfaces are exemplarily smooth. The fun of the course comes from the well-draining soil, which makes the surfaces links-like firm. To achieve the best score, one must be able to read the shapes of the course well in advance of the final target.
Although the course is not particularly long, and at 700 meters above sea level the ball also flies further than normal, it has held its own well in terms of scoring. The official course record is still the same number as its par, which is 72.

11/09/2024

Eversti on ikääntynyt tyylillä ja perinteitä kunnioittaen. Toimiva konsepti kestää aikaa.

Vanhan golfkaupungin uusin kenttä odottaa ensimmäistä perusparannussuunnitelmaansa.

28/05/2024

One month of Rock course finishing project behind. Today the first seeds were seeded and sod placed into the ground. The work has progressed rapidly thanks to skilled construction crew (Nelson & Vecchio) and good weather. All finish shaping and bunker works (dura, capillary concrete) has been done for eight of nine holes now. The work continues for the coming weeks with sand spreading and more seeding works. In the video firstly seeded hole number 4.

06/11/2023

Rock's first year

We're nearly a year into building Rock, the world's best par 3 course.
It's been a memorable and busy time. There have been numerous meetings, updated drawings and revisions. But most importantly, we've seen the construction crew at work and the plans taking shape at the site.

The property has surprised us many times. It is not typical land for a golf course; luckily, we've not encountered anything insurmountable. Rock, as the name implies, has had a central role during construction. It has been blasted, and plenty of stones have been moved to make it look like no blasting ever happened. My challenge has been the balancing act between preserving nature and creating extraordinary golfing experiences.

The first year of construction began with heavy earth-moving works and continued with the rough design of the golf areas. The work has progressed on schedule, and the site now resembles a golf course to a large extent. Those who have visited have, without exception, been positively taken aback by what the course will look like.

My work has been made easier by the group of top professionals assembled for the project. Working with them has been a pleasure. Nelson & Vecchio, a Scottish company specializing in the construction of golf courses, is responsible for the finishing work, with the experienced Graham Foster operating as the lead shaper. You may have come across his work, which always respects the traditions of golf, at the Pärnu Bay course in Estonia that I previously designed.

The site will now primarily rest and wait for the second construction season.
During the winter, the land will be allowed to settle down before the finishing work starts in April. The schedule calls for the golf course construction to be completed by mid-summer, although finishing work will continue for the rest of the year. Rock will open for play in the summer of 2025.

25/10/2023

Proud to have two courses on the most comprehensive list of 100 best golf courses in the Continental Europe. 😍

03/07/2023

Looking for a golfing getaway this summer, especially if you're based in the Middle East?Look no further than this incredible course and facility in Tbilisi,...

14/06/2023

My first design work at Golf Talma Laakso course holes 2-9 was completed in 2000. 23 years later, after the first green rebuild the first nine are completely done.

09/05/2023

02/05/2023

Andrus Sepa in memoriam

My good friend and colleague, Pärnu Bay superintendent Andrus Sepa passed away suddenly on 29.4. at home in Pärnu, Estonia.

Andrus had a long career in the maintenance and construction of golf courses in Finland and Estonia. He had come to Finland before the collapse of the Soviet Union, first to build the Talma golf courses and later to be the assistant head greenkeeper for them.
I first got to know Andrus in the summer of 2000 when, at the beginning of my career, I was designing a nine-hole extension for Talma.

After Talma, there was a break in contact for a few years, until Saare Golf, in Saaremaa, needed a new superintendent. Andrus and his life partner Ingrid were persuaded to return to their home country. As keen golfers, they quickly settled in to become part of the local golf community.

A new decade brought Saare Golf a new owner, who also had had a pending golf course project in Pärnu for a long time. Andrus, who did a good job at Saare Golf, was also a natural choice to become Pärnu's superintendent. He was able to follow the project in the construction phase, which is always important for the future greenkeeping. Finally Andrus and his team finished the golf course for opening day.

Andrus was known as a hardworking, reliable and skilled professional who always looked out for his employees. He was particularly proud of Pärnu Bay's rise to one of best courses in the continental Europe.

The last time I talked to Andrus was a couple of months ago. The winter had gone excellently, and expectations were high for the men's European Championships to be played in Pärnu Bay in June. Unfortunately, our trip to Georgia, which we discussed, was not made.