Just after its grand re-opening, the original James Braid course at the Goodwood Club has been voted by ‘Golf World’ into the UK’s top 100 courses.
The restoration of the historic downland course has been in the hands of Howard Swan and his design team at Swan Golf Designs, international golf course architects, based in Essex and currently working in five continents on new and renovation projects.
Swan adds, “It has been a wonderful experience to work at Goodwood, to look back at Braid’s original work, take the spirit of his design and his philosophy so well documented as early as 1902 in Advanced Golf, and bring the lovely downland course to the modern day and set it out for the future.
“We have been able to do so as part of a great team – estate, club, contractors, consultants – revising the layout, creating some spectacular, memorable, exciting holes which I think will test, and enthral the best whilst always endeavouring to couch the restored course in nature itself … sensitively and sympathetically.”
The course was ranked as the highest new entry in the 100 of any existing course and I am simply delighted to see that it was described as one ‘the old man would have been proud of’ “
Goodwood becomes Swan’s second entry in the top 100, which also notes his renovation design work at Aberdovey, the classic links in mid Wales.
Swan Golf Designs www.swangolfdesigns.com
Goodwood Club www.goodwood.co.uk
Goodwood makes the top 100
