Existing Course Work
A very important part of our work involves providing advice to existing golf clubs.
The game has been experiencing considerable changes in recent years. The most obvious one is the revolution in playing equipment which has been accelerating in recent years. So many of our courses from the most humble to the very best are on a finite area of land and the impact of the new clubs and balls is far from good. Bunker placement must, therefore, be reviewed and altered to maintain the test of the course for the better players whilst leaving the less able more room to enjoy themselves. Green design and construction is tied in with this as well.
There is little doubt that courses with cunningly angled and shaped greens are better protected against the longer players. For courses with greens that are nearing a century old, reconstruction may be considered on agronomic grounds alone but, with creative design, greens can be the making of even the shortest course.
There are other issues to consider as well such as tree growth and the effect that it has on play and turf quality. Safety is another issue that cannot be over-looked.
Our services vary from club to club, as would be expected, but typical commissions include:
General course study to review all aspects of the course including tees, greens, fairways, bunkering, cutting heights, planting and overall layout, often on an ongoing basis.
Tom and Martin have undertaken such studies at clubs worldwide, including Royal Lytham and St Annes, Royal St. George's, Royal Troon, Royal Liverpool, Turnberry, Royal Aberdeen, Sunningdale, The Berkshire, Royal North Devon, Formby, Lindrick, Cruden Bay, Tandridge, Eaton, Chelmsford - Royal Portrush, County Louth and Carlow in Ireland - Chantilly in France - Royal Copenhagen in Denmark - Tuusula and Vuosaari in Finland - Kennemer and Noordwijkse in Holland - Halmstad in Sweden.
We have been entrusted to advise courses by many of the great architects such as: Harry Colt (Royal Portrush, Sunningdale, Tandridge, Camberley Heath); Herbert Fowler (The Berkshire, Saunton East and Walton Heath); Old Tom Morris (Royal Dornoch, Royal County Down, Royal Burgess, Wallasey); Tom Simpson (New Zealand, Chantilly, Cruden Bay and County Louth); Philip Mackenzie Ross (Ailsa and Arran Course, Turnberry).
Tralee Golf Club in Ireland has undertaken a major reconstruction of all of their greens and bunkers.
All greens on the Arden Course, Forest of Arden, Warwickshire were rebuilt and reshaped.
Rochester and Cobham Park Golf Club rebuilt all of their remaining greens to modern specification after some holes were effected by the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
Major redesigns resulting from new road construction and other development alongside existing courses.
Tom and Martin have assisted Chestfield G.C., Cirencester G.C., Gillingham G.C., Herne Bay G.C., North Hants G.C., Rochester and Cobham Park Golf Club, Selby G.C., Sittingbourne and Milton Regis G.C. and Trentham Park G.C.
This work often includes direct dealings with County Councils, the Highways Agency and District Valuers on the Club's behalf to assist in achieving the best possible result and compensation.
Addition of new holes
Wrotham Heath G.C. in Kent expanded to 18 holes as did both Golf de Gelpenburg and Lauswolt G.C. in Holland.
All clubs have different needs and problems and we relish our advisory work on established courses. It is amongst the most challenging work but is often the most rewarding and leads to inspiration for new course designs.
During their careers, Tom and Martin have advised nearly 50 of the top 100 courses in Great Britain and Ireland, as ranked by Golf World.