The development of Galgorm Castle in Northern Ireland is continuing apace, with the resort undertaking the next stage in its on-going improvements with a new multi-million investment programme that is due to be completed in spring 2023.
Galgorm is into the final year of its three-year course development programme where work carried out this winter will rubberstamp Galgorm’s reputation as one of the best venues in the country.
Since 2010, Northern Ireland’s internationally acclaimed tournament venue has hosted over 15 professional tournaments on some of the game’s leading tours, including the DP World Tour, Challenge Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour, plus the Clutch Pro Tour, the leading developmental tour for men and women professionals in the UK and Ireland.
“There has never been a more exciting time for golf at Galgorm,” said Gary Henry, Managing Director at the venue. “For over a decade, the owners have reinvested in Galgorm with annual winter course projects plus numerous other additions and features across the 400-acre site. As we look ahead to 2023, we are delighted to enter the final stages of our three-year course development programme where the course changes are certain to impress golfers at every level when they play our championship parkland.
“This year’s programme of works will help to showcase our biggest natural assets – the River Maine and the River Braid, on holes 11, 13 and 14, while also completing a second phase of work on the ninth and the creation of additional teeing ground at the first hole. These final projects are the culmination of hard work and innovation as changes to the championship course will have a real and lasting impact for golfers of all ability.”
Work is almost complete at the 177-yard, par-three 14th, where a new boulder wall along the bank of the River Braid creates an exciting new visual impact. The putting surface has also been enlarged to the right and now wraps around the bunker. This will allow for dramatic and testing new pin positions, especially during tournament weeks.
The 14th teeing areas are perched above the confluence of the two rivers and a new tee box has been added to create a different angle of approach to the green. From the new tee box Slemish Mountain is visible on a clear day. In addition, the ‘general play’ tee box has been extended towards the river to create a more exciting tee shot for all abilities.
The River Maine features prominently on holes 11 and 13 where new tee boxes are being introduced along the water’s edge, adding an exciting new element to tee shots. Fairway and greenside bunkers will be added to both holes with respective stroke indexes of three and one.
“In previous years the primary objectives behind our development work were to improve course drainage, enhance the paths network and improve the course’s playability,” added Henry. We are now one of the drier parklands in the country, which would not have been the case in the early days. In recent years, we have refurbished all original bunkers with some repositioned, while adding many new bunkers. The bunkering here is unique for Northern Ireland as our bunkers are large and play a prominent role in the design and strategy of the holes, more akin to some of the large American championship courses.”
Galgorm has been lengthened significantly over the years and now stretches to almost 7,300 yards from the championship tees – the longest parkland track in Northern Ireland. However, with a minimum of four tee boxes on every hole the course runs from 5,505 yards (red tees) to 7,276 yards (blues), while the course measures 6,101 yards from the green markers and 6,602 yards from the whites.
This year’s work will complete the redesign of the ninth hole by enlarging the lake near the green, which will soon flow out into what is currently the fairway. A wooden bridge will take golfers across the lake and a boulder wall constructed in the face of the lake. This will significantly change the strategic challenge of the hole and provide an impressive new feature.
Henry added: “Completion of this work will bring a close to the 25th anniversary of Galgorm Castle Golf Club and everyone at Galgorm is extremely proud of what has been created. We now believe we have one of the best championship parklands on the island, which challenges some of the best players in the world on an annual basis from the men’s and women’s game, while also offering a beautiful experience on a classic Irish estate for all golfers,” added Henry.
“Our members are already excited by the most recent changes, and we are all looking forward to the spring when everyone can enjoy the new challenges this phase of works will bring. Next summer, we look forward to hosting the players from the DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour once more for the ISPS HANDA World Invitational.”