The first few months of 2006 have proved an extremely exciting period. New commissions have been received to design 18 hole courses in Cyprus and Sri Lanka and a visit has been made to Turkey to assess another piece of land. In addition to this, a commission has been received to add another 9 holes at Forest Pines in Lincolnshire and a number of the projects in Portugal have been given impetus by encouraging signs on the planning front as a result of the attitude of the new Portuguese Government. The company was invited to make a presentation at a seminar held by the Ministry of Environment in Lisbon regarding the sustainability of golf courses. The paper presented can be downloaded here.

There has also been a great deal of heading back in time with an assessment of the course at Stoke Park being made to improve the course and restore some of the Harry Colt features and a fascinating visit made to Askernish Golf Club on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. The project there is to look for the Old Tom Morris course which was originally created in 1891. The land is pure links and the result of the visit was that a true seaside course was staked out at the end of two days. It was played the day after!! This was a return to the ways of designing golf courses practised by Old Tom Morris and the course has the potential to be as good and as natural as any in the world. For a copy of the report of the visit click here.

Askernish Golf Club on South Uist	Current Course at Askernish Golf Club on South Uist

The project in Cyprus involves a new 18 hole course and also the renovation of the existing course at Tsada, near Paphos.

Tsada, Cyprus

Access to the course to be designed at Koggala, near Galle in Sri Lanka will be by boat across a large lake. The land is as exciting as the approach to it and it is hoped that construction will start before 2006 is out.

Koggala, Sri Lanka

A layout has been designed for a new site in Turkey. This is near Cesme, near the coast and the course will occupy an attractive wide valley with room for residential areas on the higher ground on either side.

Cesme, Turkey

On the existing course front, we were very pleased to be retained as consultant course architects at Royal St. George’s where a number of issues are to be looked at in preparation for the next Open to be hosted there.

In January work began at Turnberry to strengthen the course’s defences before the 2009 Open. So far this has concentrated upon new bunkers but, assuming R&A approval, there will be a major project to move the 16th fairway over to the left of its current line. That will create room to extend the 17th tee backwards to make it a tougher par 5.

Strengthening Turnberry's defences before the 2009 Open

All in all a stimulating start to the year.