Strategic Plan 2021 for Greens Development, Range Development, Playability and Safety.
Summary:
The proposed continuation of the strategic plan which originated at an EGM in 2017 comprises:
Proposal A
a) 7 new green complexes ( 4,6,7,9,10,17,18 ) and
b) 6 new tee boxes (2/7/9/10/11/17).
c) relocation of the practice range to a more accessible area adjacent to clubhouse.
The proposed 2 year / 2 phase development in consultation with Ken Kearney Design would see both loops playing in the same sequence as today with holes 9 and 10 being exchanged or flipped.
This proposal is subject to local authority planning approval as it involves tree removal and re-planting where possible in many of the work areas.
Considerations and Aims :
1) Completion of all greens to USGA standard
2) Review locations of remaining greens/holes to:
a. Enhance playability and flow of the course
b. Improve safety corridors / protection for players
c. Retain 2 loops of 9 hole
d. Add a 3rd Par 5 to Men’s Course
e. Take advantage of existing irrigation / infrastructure
3) Locate range area closer to clubhouse
4) Playability:
a. Elimination of tee shots at cross-points from other holes
b. Eliminate waiting times / interruptions at cross pointsc. Reduce distances from greens to next tees.
5) Maintenance:
a. Style and size of greens
b. Use of grass bunkering and run-off areas
6) Par 72 Men’s – Giving additional Par 5 (17th ), shortened Men’s Par 3s ( 2&9 )
7) Topographical Survey and 3D Sand Modelling for visualisation of approaches / green surface
Timeline - 2 Phase/2 Year Development
1. Start August for quicker turnaround on work and growth, Spring opening for new greens, seeded areas
2. Phase 1 – Hole 4th / 9th/10th/ 18th - 2 Temp Tees ( 10th as Par 3 / 11th ) / 1 Temp Green (18 )
3. Phase 2 – Hole 6th / 7th / 17th - 2 Temp Tees (11th and 17th) / 2 Temp Greens (6th /7th)
4. Greens Cored and Seeded
5. Seeding of surrounds, run-offs and developed areas.
Hole 2 - Tee
A new Men's Tee will be constructed to play from the left hand-side of the existing 10th green to the existing 2nd green.
Safety and Playability: 2nd Hole plays as a shorter par 3 for MenElimination of interruption and risk of injury to players transiting from 8th green to 9th tee.Eliminates risk of stray approach shots from 1st hole to existing 2nd tee.
Hole 3
The 3rd hole would be played from the existing 7th tee and the area of the existing tee would be planted to screen from proposed 10th fairway. The length of the hole will remain the same.
Safety and Playability: Reduced interruption from adjacent player activity.
Hole 4
The proposed 4th hole would be retained as a Par 5 and the green would be located at the existing 11th tee with the approach shots veering right of the big tree on the fairway, bringing 4th green and 5th tee closer.
Safety and Playability: Eliminates stray approach shots encroaching on 7th tee area.Eliminates interruption from 7th tee play and transit from 6th green, transit to 11th tee from 10th green.Shorter transit to 5th tee.
Hole 6
The proposed 6th hole will play from it’s current tee, to a green located approximately to the rear of the existing 4th green, creating a slight dog leg right.
Safety and Playability: Reduced and more obvious transit to 7th tee without interruption to 4th green players.
Hole 7
The proposed 7th hole would tee from a new teeing area located beside the new 6th green / or at left hand greenside bunker on 4th green and play to the existing 7th green area to new green.
Safety and Playability: Reduced carry over drain from new men’s 7th tee. New green repositioned to compensate for more advanced tee location. Similar hole length.
New men’s 7th tee in a more advanced location thereby reducing risk to players on 2nd green and 8th fairway.
Eliminates alternate teeing and interruption with existing 3rd hole.
Players enroute from 10th green to 11th tee will now transit behind rather than in front of new men’s 7th tee-box.
New location and orientation of 7th green, running left to right landscape, will reduce risk to players in the area of 8th tee box from wayward or oncoming approach shots.Reduced walk with more obvious route from 6th green to directly adjacent 7th tee.
Hole 8
New exit from 8th green in corner which leads players out behind new men’s 2nd tee on route towards new 9th tee.
Safety and Playability: Eliminates risk to players and interruption caused from crossing in front of men’s 2nd tee. Reduced walk from 8th green to 9th tee.
Hole 9
Players would exit at the rear of the 8th green and play proposed Par 3 9th hole up the current 10th fairway to a gallery green sited close to the clubhouse, short of the ”road”.
Safety and Playability: Walk from 8th green to 9th tee reduced and eliminates cross over play at Mens 2nd tee.New location of 9th hole will no longer expose players to wayward tee shots from the 10th tee.Players leaving the course from 9th do not have to cross 10th fairway. Green and Play visible from clubhouse veranda, accessible to rear door of locker areas.
Hole 10
The proposed 10th hole would be played from a tee located in front of the veranda across the existing 9th fairway, dog-legging left to a green located at the top of the range overlooking the 2nd green and surrounding area.
Safety and Playability: Players on 18th green are no longer endangered by wayward tee shots from the current men’s 10th tee. Elimination of both 18th green and 10th tee players waiting to play in turn. Eliminates disruption to players on 10th green from players exiting 1st green or men’s 2nd tee or walking to 9th tee. Eliminates risk of hitting players walking to the range crossing the fairway. New tee accessible from rear door of locker areas and close to new 9th green.
Hole 11
The proposed tee for the 11th hole would move to the location of the existing 6th green.
Safety and Playability: Located further from the 5th tee reducing alternate / interruption of teeing sequence. Promote tee shots out and away from field earmarked for possible / future development. Eliminates risk of hitting the green from the tee and promotes better/more strategic shot placement from the tee. No interruption from players transiting from the 4th green to the 5th tee.
Hole 17
The proposed 17th hole would play as a dog leg 3 shot Par 5 to a new green located approximately 90 yds from centre of existing green to centre of new green behind old stone wall area.The 17th tee box area would be re-graded to reduce height and increase length by ca. 20yds
Safety and Playability: Plays as closing 3 shot Par 5. Reduction in tee height and extension of tee will promote drives to just below the hill with a second to existing green to position for third shot to green.Reduced risk of second shots playing through to 4th fairway, and tee shots on 4th tee hitting 17th green.Stone wall re-instated left and right with extra wide grass path approach to green 7. Reduced walk from 17th green to 18th tee.
Hole 18
The proposed 18th green would be moved approximately 30yds left.
Safety and Playability: Eliminates interruption of play from 10th tee.Provides direct walk-off to clubhouse / buggy area with no transit over 10th fairway
The Range
The re-siting of the 18th green provides the opportunity to locate the range teeing pad between the new 18th green and the existing ladies 10th tee and the proposed new 10th tee. The Teeing pad will be grassed, and will have an all weather section. It will be constructed at a level similar to the existing 9th green to provide protection, noise reduction and future plans to conceal a covered teeing area.
Safety and Playability: Eliminates transit over 9th and 10th play areas to access range, and will be located close to car park and clubhouse facilities. Eliminates stray practise shots to 3rd fairway and 9th greenPromotes practise into prevailing wind directionIncreases range length from 265 yds to ca.285yds, increases range width from 110yds to max 265 yds ( less width for shorter irons given baseball style range shape ). The existing 9th green will be retained, and the existing practise green will be retained for short game / wedge practise and instruction by the Pro.
Walk from 10th Green to 11th Tee Box