Let the landscape lead: Pickala Rock Resort brings world-class golf to the Finnish forest

By John Weston

Just 30 minutes from Helsinki, nestled in the forests of Siuntio, Pickala Rock Resort offers something rare in Northern Europe: a world-class golf destination shaped by the landscape itself. This is not a gated enclave on borrowed land. It is a resort where golf follows the contours of geology, where homes are oriented to the sun and forest, and where quality of life means a swim, a sauna, and the scent of pine after rain.

The heart of Pickala Rock Resort is Rock Golf, a brand new nine-hole par 3 course aspiring to be the best in the world. Opened in June, Rock Golf has already impressed players with its visual drama and meticulous craftsmanship, which the developers attribute to investing “more time and money into every detail and square metre” than any other course in Finland.

Photo: Jacob Sjoman

Designed by Finnish golf architect Lassi Pekka Tilander, whose international credits include Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Estonia and Tbilisi Hills in Georgia, the layout carves its way through ancient woodland and mossy cliffs. “The Rock course is unique. Ancient pines and junipers, along with moss and lichen-covered rocks, create a magical atmosphere. Water features edged by steep cliffs enhance the exceptional beauty. It’s a completely new experience, as it is not possible to build normal golf courses in such landscapes,” says Tilander.

Rather than imposing itself on the land, however, the course adapts to it. Playing surfaces were shaped into the terrain, and the natural rock formations, boulders and steep cliffs were utilised rather than flattened or removed. The result feels immersive and organic, with dramatic views and striking elevation changes. Almost all tee shots play downhill, offering players full visibility from tee to green and a tantalising dream of a hole-in-one, though the range of distances (from 81 to 224 metres) and complex greens ensure the course is no pushover – no holes-in-one recorded since opening a month ago.

A rethink of par 3 golf

Rock Golf rethinks the par 3 format. “Most golfers think of a par 3 course as some kind of practice course for beginners. Rock is not like that. Rock is a real golf course, just without any par 4s or par 5s,” says Kari Karvinen, owner of Rock Golf.

Each of the nine holes is individually memorable, with signature features and four tee boxes per hole, all slope-rated for both men and women. The design supports a wide range of abilities and makes it easy for families and mixed-ability groups to play together. “At Rock Golf, the game groups start every 12 minutes. This means that groups of players of very different levels can play on the course at the same time without disturbing each other,” explains Karvinen.

Photo: Jacob Sjoman

The social side of golf

Faster to play than traditional formats and more intimate by nature, par 3 golf encourages players to move as a group and share the highs and lows of every shot. This social dimension is deliberate, and it continues beyond the final putt.

Rock Golf’s terrace restaurant serves à la carte Scandinavian cuisine, unusual in Finland, where most golf restaurants offer buffet food. “The goal is to have food that approaches fine-dining quality,” says Karvinen. And whether you have played a quick morning nine or joined friends for an evening round under the long Nordic summer light, Rock Golf invites you to linger.

Conversations drift from the greens to the grill, from birdies to blueberry cocktails, with views stretching back over the Rock course. The clubhouse also features luxury saunas and locker rooms, as well as a cosy Pro Shop tailored to a discerning international clientele.

Illustration: Rock Resort

A new kind of resort community

Rock Golf was the first part of the resort to open. Surrounding it is the developing Pickala Rock Resort residential area, which will eventually house around 150 homes. Building on the legacy of the adjacent Pickala Golf complex, home to three full-length courses and a six-hole short track, the new residential community offers high-quality housing with a focus on design and the surrounding environment, whether that means building a detached house independently, buying a detached house built by a developer, or buying an apartment from a housing company.

Construction of homes will begin in late 2025, with an estimated 50 completed by the summer of 2027 when Pickala Rock Resort will host Finland’s prestigious Asuntomessut (Housing Fair), a month-long event which is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors.

The selection of the resort as the 2027 venue reflects the project’s emphasis on architectural quality, sustainability and forward-thinking design. “When preparing the Rock Resort site plan, a nature study, traffic study, stormwater study and climate impact assessment were carried out. The site plan carefully considers all the natural values of the area; including, for example, the swamps, old shield pines, the ancient shoreline rocks, lichen-covered cliff tops and flying squirrel trails,” Karvinen explains proudly.

Photo: Rock Golf

Living in the landscape

Homes in Pickala Rock Resort are designed to work with the terrain. For example, on steep, sunny slopes, premium stone houses with large windows and multi-level terraces overlook the golf course and clubhouse. These buildings are organised as housing company units but are technically detached, offering both privacy and community.

Terraces connect indoor and outdoor spaces, while interiors emphasise natural light and functional planning. In addition to stone houses, the area will also feature wooden houses.

Photo: Jacob Sjoman

Beyond golf: nature and recreation

The Pickala area offers a wide range of leisure activities. Residents and visitors can enjoy tennis, padel, pickleball, paddling, hiking, cycling, mushroom and berry foraging, cross-country skiing and lake swimming.

Two marinas serve boaters and fishers, and the proximity to green space makes the area ideal for birdwatching and outdoor recreation all year round.

Where golf and nature meet

Rock Golf and its neighbour Pickala Golf together form the largest continuous golf complex in continental Europe by number of holes. The scale is remarkable, but the experience remains personal and rooted in place, with fairways woven into the forest and homes tucked between stone and trees.

“We want to offer more than a place to live or play,” says Karvinen. “It’s about quality of life – being outdoors, being active, and being connected to this extraordinary landscape.”

That connection takes many forms: the challenge of precision golf on sculpted terrain, the sound of birdsong on a morning tee, or a clubhouse meal shared as the light fades over the forest. At Pickala Rock Resort, golf and nature are not rivals. They are part of the same design.