Golfers at Birchwood Park Golf Centre are benefitting from enhanced course conditions following an investment of £250,000 and three years of renovation by course manager, Mark Bell and his team.
The most visible changes have been to the reconstructed tees on each of the 18 holes on the public pay-and-play centre’s Main Course, plus the construction of a reservoir alongside hole 11, as well as a total renovation to the bunkering on hole eight.
Located in an area receiving some of the lowest annual rainfall in the country, the new reservoir has enabled Birchwood Park, which is part of BGL Golf, the UK’s leading course owner and operator, to become totally self sufficient on water.
Mark explained the benefits to the course: “We are now able to store rainfall that accumulates in the wetter winter months – this is harvested from the clubhouse roof and car parks.
“This enables us to continue irrigating the course through the summer in periods of drought, helping secure the long term future of the course and maintain a consistently high standard of playing surface throughout the year.”
Stephen Lee, Birchwood Park Head Professional, said: “The upgrades to the course have made it more playable, the greens are more receptive, which gives golfers the confidence to play their preferred shots all year round.
“New bunkering on the eighth not only makes the hole more of a challenge, but also due to a new lining, golfers can trust the level of sand to be consistent with other holes on the course.”
Work has also been undertaken on the short nine-hole Orchard Course, with holes ranging from 83 to 254 yards long, with new tees installed to enhance the consistency of the playing surface for golfers.
Melanie Drake, General Manager of Birchwood Park Golf Centre – part of BGL Golf, the UK’s leading course operator and owner – said: “Some of the course upgrades were necessary to achieve the GEO sustainability ecolabel we were awarded in December 2013.
“However, our members and visitors have come to expect high standards, which are maintained across all BGL facilities and work has continued to ensure our customers enjoy the first class golfing experience to which they are accustomed.”
Birchwood Park Golf Centre www.birchwoodparkgc.co.uk