Krugsdorf, which is just a few kilometres from Pasewalk, has only 400 inhabitants. The centre of the village is dominated by a church and a nearby palace Schloss Krugsdorf (Krugsdorf Palace), which at the time of the German Democratic Republic housed a transportation company. Currently the palace and neighbouring outbuildings are the property of a Dutch businessman Bart Fernhout and they are being renovated. Reconstruction of the appearance of the palace façade from the beginning of the 20th century has ended in success.

Holes near the Border

The palace will serve as the clubhouse with a front desk, cloakrooms and showers. The palace chambers will be turned into ten apartments and an elegant restaurant. The second largest building near the palace serves as a hotel with 35 rooms and a makeshift front desk. The inside of the hotel is still undergoing finishing works. In 2010 Schloss Krugsdorf will open a wellness centre in the old stable and a year later 30-40 bungalows - for rent and sale - will be erected near the palace and the golf course.

The main attraction of Schloss Krugsdorf will, however, be the golf course. Currently, six out of the eighteen holes can be used. The rest has already been planted with grass. Building machinery doing groundworks can be seen here and there. Christéan de Weerd, the club manager, says that the golf course will be one of the longest in Germany (over 6 thousand meters). The course is flat as regulations prohibiting changes in the landscape forbid creating hills higher than two meters. Thus, it will be the folded fairways, sand bunkers and ponds that will serve as obstacles. A pond near the first holes is a protected biotope - vegetation may spontaneously grow on its islets - and could not be interfered with during construction works.

Since May, apart from the section of the 18-hole course, it is possible to play on a practice 6-hole golf course for beginners. A roofed driving range and a green for chipping practice have already been opened. Classes with a golf coach are available and golf equipment can be bought on the spot.

An official opening of the 18-hole field, the clubhouse and the hotel is planned for the end of September.

Golf, restaurant, conferences

The total cost of the project equals EUR 11 million. The investor used aid funds provided by the land of Mecklenburg. Therefore renovation of the palace required involvement of local companies. Currently Schloss Krugsdorf has over 20 employees, however, ultimately it is to employ 50 persons.

“Our project may become economically viable after five to ten years. A lot will depend on the number of golf club members. Our targets are set at 500-600,” says de Weerd.

The golf business is easier in Germany than in Poland due to tax regulations. Here, course owners struggle with land taxes. Golf courses which amount to dozens of acres and are covered with grass are levied with the same taxes as other types of business activities. In Germany, on the other hand, golf courses are considered as recreation areas.

Nevertheless, development of a golf course in the least prosperous German land seems a bold decision.

“One may not notice that there are quite a lot companies here whose owners need to go to the Uznam Island or near Berlin if they feel like playing golf. Now, they will be able to play on their own patch,” says Christéan de Weerd, Manager at Schloss Krugsdorf. “The area was bought before Poland’s accession to the EU. It was obvious that Polish economic condition was getting better and one could expect that we will have more and more clients from abroad. We can host not only golf tournaments, but also conferences. Moreover, one can easily find a good restaurant in Szczecin whereas here we don’t have such facilities. We cooperate with a brilliant chef and we are planning to open a restaurant in the palace serving best dishes from all over the world. Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a Polish speciality as well,” says Christéan de Weerd.

The head of Schloss Krugsdorf emphasizes that good access to the place will bring guests from Berlin and thanks to the new A20 motorway, the journey from Hamburg will take three hours.

“Just as the golf course in Binowo, we are expecting guests from Scandinavia,” says Christéan de Weerd.

Michał Abkowicz