Paloheinä Golf in Helsinki is planning to expand from nine to 18 holes, but its attempt to secure a contribution from Finland's public sports-facility funding programme remains unresolved. Following an unsuccessful grant application earlier in 2026, the operator plans to apply again this autumn, according to Golflehti, the publication of the Finnish Golf Union (Suomen Golfliitto). This is an expansion proposal and a renewed funding effort, not a confirmed grant award or a completed project.
Why nine holes are no longer enough
Paloheinä Golf operates on the edge of Helsinki's Central Park and is known for its pay-and-play approach: golfers do not have to buy a club share to access the course. According to Golflehti, its existing nine-hole Iso Ysi course hosted approximately 47,000 rounds in 2025. Management says demand has approached the practical limits of the current layout.
The proposal is to construct nine additional holes on the Haltiala fields, adjust the routing and create an 18-hole course. As currently designed, the enlarged layout would have a par of 70 and a total length of no more than 5,001 metres. The plans are by golf-course architect Lassi Pekka Tilander, who also designed the existing course.
A long-term lease, but no construction grant
The City of Helsinki has already taken a significant land-use step. Its official decision records a long-term golf lease running to 31 December 2054. The lease requires that golf activity remain open to the public and that defined cross-country skiing routes can continue to use the area outside the golf season. That approval should not be confused with a state commitment to finance construction.
Operator Hanna Teerijoki estimates that the expansion would cost around €3 million. The plan is to use bank financing and the company's own funds, potentially supplemented by a government sports-facility construction grant. An earlier application did not receive an award, prompting the renewed attempt.
Golflehti identifies €600,000 as the maximum relevant grant amount. Even an award of that size would cover only part of the budget. Finland's Ministry of Education and Culture reported an allocation of €15.4 million for sports-facility construction and support in April 2026, largely directed towards public facilities. A proposed increase in the national allocation for 2027 does not mean that Paloheinä Golf has secured a grant; parliamentary and award decisions remain separate.
The bigger issue is accessible golf
Paloheinä positions itself as an entry point for beginners, school groups and families, including the loan of clubs to young players. Its low-threshold model matters because expanding capacity should not necessarily mean turning an accessible public course into an expensive private-club experience.
Management warns that building without public support could put upward pressure on green fees and other charges. It nevertheless intends to remain less expensive than Helsinki's other full-length 18-hole courses. That is a statement of intent, not a confirmed future price list.
The Finnish story therefore goes beyond adding nine holes. It raises a question about whether public-facing urban golf facilities can expand while preserving affordable access. For now, the plans, long-term lease and renewed application are documented; neither a final funding decision nor a confirmed construction start has been announced.
Verification: Golflehti / Finnish Golf Union's report; City of Helsinki lease decision, case HEL 2025-004630; Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture's sports-facility funding announcement of 29 April 2026.
