A new driving range and major golf course improvements have been unveiled as part of a £2 million investment in the Bicester Hotel, Golf & Spa by Great Wolf Resorts, which is building its first UK indoor water park and family resort on a site that was part of the old golf course.
The renovated par-71 course features 36 newly designed tees, freshly remodelled bunkers and seven lake systems, combined with nine fully reconstructed green complexes. It also boasts a new 13-bay driving range with fully interactive TopTracer technology and a purpose-built practice area.
The new golf facility, which was designed by Swan Golf Designs, has been created to appeal to a wider audience than the traditional 18-hole course that it replaces, with multiple sets of tees allowing for all abilities to enjoy the challenge. The new short and long-game practice facility with ball tracing technology and short course also aims to provide a stepping stone to attract new golfers to the game.
The redevelopment of the golf course frees space for the construction of the new Great Wolf Lodge in Chesterton. Ahead of works beginning for this new family-focused destination, Murray Hennessy, Chief Executive Officer at Great Wolf Resorts, handed back the improved course to representatives of Bicester Hotel, Golf & Spa alongside representatives from England Golf.
Murray Hennessy, CEO at Great Wolf Resorts, said: “We pride ourselves on being a good neighbour and proud supporter of the communities in which our family-friendly resorts are located, and we’re delighted to start our journey here in Chesterton by delivering a fantastic new golf course for locals and hotel guests to enjoy. This is the first of many local initiatives planned as we work towards the grand opening of our first UK indoor water park resort.”
Paul Morgan, General Manager at Bicester Hotel, Golf & Spa, commented: “We are delighted to open this new driving range and present the major improvements to our members and guests. We would like to thank all of our loyal golf members and the local community for their patience during the past few years, and I have no doubt they will enjoy the challenges of an elegant new style course and practice facilities which include the latest ball tracking technology.”
The creation of the new Great Wolf Lodge in Chesterton represents the beginning of a £200m investment into the local economy, which includes the creation of 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and approximately 600 jobs when in operation. Alongside the improvements to the golf course, which will also ensure minimal disruption for golfers both during the resort’s construction and once operational, the new resort will deliver a brand new park, new cycle paths and a new nature trail, each of which will be free and open to locals and visitors.