Black Water Links Golf Club

Black Water Links, in the village of Rumianek in the Tarnowo Podgórne municipality west of Poznań, bills itself as the only championship-standard 18-hole course in the Wielkopolska region. It was designed for golfers of every level, and the club says no two rounds feel the same because the wind can change the character of the course from one day to the next, while varied planting gives it a distinctive look.

The layout is the work of Caspar Grauballe, a member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, whose portfolio includes Trump International Golf Links in Scotland and Royal Birkdale. The full 18 holes opened in July 2022.

Practice is a real strength here. The club describes its 11-hectare training zone as the largest in Poland, with 40 floodlit bays on the driving range, TrackMan Range technology, a 6-hole Academy course and separate chipping, bunker and putting areas, backed by a team of coaches. TrackMan Range lets you see data on every shot, play virtual versions of famous courses and try games such as closest to the pin.

Sustainability is part of the concept. All irrigation uses treated grey water from the nearby municipal treatment plant, about 1,000 cubic metres a day in the warmer months, and fertilising is done without chemicals. Autonomous Husqvarna robot mowers work the course and practice areas, so leave them alone if you pass one.

On site there is the Golf Club Restaurant, with a regular menu plus a short seasonal menu that changes every Wednesday, and Black Water Village, a set of cottages and apartments alongside the 14th hole. Stays include breakfast and a Club Car for the length of your stay, and Stay & Play packages combine nights with rounds on the 18-hole course.

The idea for the course was born in February 2017 during a golf trip to Orlando, Florida. After early talks about reviving an older course in Krzyżowniki near Poznań, the founders chose the Tarnowo Podgórne municipality in 2018 and found land between Rumianek and Góra. In 2019 they signed a long-term lease with the municipality and a contract with designer Caspar Grauballe.

Earthworks began in January 2020, and the Black Water Links Golf Club association joined the Polish Golf Union in May that year. The driving range opened in August 2020, the 6-hole Academy in July 2021, and the full 18-hole course on 3 July 2022. By September 2022 the association had more than 500 members, and the club’s timeline lists the clubhouse coming into use in 2026.