In his report, Donald Steel comments that Page 29 of the Club’s Centenary History shows the picture in 1930 of an ‘almost uncountable number of bunkers’ and little else. The only trees visible are contained in Downs Wood and the boundary hedgerows.
When the golf course was redesigned for the fourth or fifth time in 1933 by renowned course architect, Mr T Simpson, he had most of the bunkers removed, but his recommendation to plant new trees continued unabated for almost the next 50 years, leaving a lasting legacy.
It 1987, the committee engaged the services of Cotton, Pennink, Steel and Partners Limited to assess the danger created by stray golf shots on the 13th hole ( Castle Avenue Estate had been built by this time) and make any necessary recommendations for changes to the layout to alleviate the problem. They proposed drastic action:-
1) Abandon the 13th and purchase land behind the 9th green and left of the 11th fairway.
2) From this land, outside the existing boundary, create a new par 4 up to the existing 10th green.
3) Shorten the 11th hole to a par 4 with a new green down the left hand side of the present fairway.
4) Create a new par 3 from the far left corner of the purchased land to the existing 11th green.
Obviously, this did not happen, but it’s the first time we see a recommendation to turn the 10th into a par 4.
They also proposed changes to many other holes, very similar to those in the 2008 report by Donald Steel e.g:-
4th hole – remove cross bunkers and add two bunkers 30/40 yards short left of the green, extending the fairway on the right. The 2008 report adds that some trees to the left of the 4th fairway should be removed to give a much better sight of the green, adding new fairway bunkers at 240, 260 and 285 yards to catch the better players.
6th hole – The present right hand bunker is very dull says the 1987 report. It also advocated opening up the stream so that it had greater depth and was therefore more visible. The 2008 report agrees.
Only a few of the 1987 recommendations were carried out, mainly due to lack of funds, but over the next 10 years many new tees and bunkers were created, mostly using in-house labour.
A golf course should never stand still, and with the advent of new technology many of its present features have become obsolete. In short, it recommends the creation of new tees, the removal or repositioning of bunkers and the removal of most of the leylandii.
THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK— will be completed in-house, including hiring machinery as necessary. The total cost could be contained within a budget of £90,000 at today’s prices.
It’s a great deal of money, which we don’t have at present. To borrow at this time is not advisable nor is the option of asking members for an additional levy when subscriptions are going up by inflation + 1%. However, if planned over say a five or six year period, the changes are achievable. In conclusion Donald Steel confirms that there is nothing life threatening, fundamental or revolutionary in the assessment, but if treatment is proposed, the sooner it is starts the better.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS. Do we stand still or continue to improve the course and make it enjoyable for golfers of all standards?
Here is an example of how the work could be carried out over 6 years using funds generated from general reserves:-
YEAR 1—1st and 6th holes - build two new tees, remove/reposition bunkers, tree clearing and widen ditch – £12,000
YEAR 2—2nd ,4th and 5th holes –enlarge/new tees, clear trees, and remove/reposition bunkers - £11,500
YEAR 3—13th and 16th holes - new tees, remove bushes, move fairway bunker - £13,000
YEAR 4—3rd, 9th and 17th holes – enlarge/new tees, move bunker on 9th further down fairway and reduce height and move front bunker on 17 - £10,000
YEAR 5—14th and 15th holes – reduce height of greenside bunkers and raise front of 15th green - £7250
YEAR 6—10th and 11th holes - create new tee/new green on 10th, remove trees on fairway, new tee on 11th, lower existing 16th tee for use as red/yellow tee for new 11th hole, fill in cross bunkers at 200 yards, move fairway bunkers - £32,000
Leylandii removal would start on Day 1, the cost of which is included in the above.