Seve Ballesteros has announced plans for two spectacular new golf courses in London, following the launch just three months ago of his first full UK golf course at The Shire London, near Barnet.
The charismatic Spaniard revealed that the site of his second golf course in the nation’s capital is to be on Downe Barns Farm, near Northolt, West London. Planning permission has been granted at the site for an 18-hole course and an eco-friendly new clubhouse, in a development by Tony and Anne Menai Davis, the owners of The Shire London.
Ballesteros, the five-time Major winner, has already completed full designs for the new golf course, which is yet to be named. It will have a natural links feel and is set on rolling grasslands near the A40 to the west of the city. Like the Seve Masters course at The Shire London, the 18-hole layout will have equal numbers of par 3s, 4s and 5s.
Seve has now made his final inspection of The Shire and pronounced himself to be largely satisfied with his creation. “The whole course looks great,” he said. “Of course there are a few small details to be sorted out but I believe that The Shire will soon be ready to host anything – ‘The London Open’ or The Seve Trophy in 2011.”
Said Tony Menai Davis, “The response by the public to The Shire London has been overwhelming right from the start. We knew that Seve was loved by British golfers and that a golf course designed by him would have massive appeal – and that’s been the case.
“Our members and visitors love the design of The Shire London, so when we sensed the opportunity to develop two additional courses in London, we had no hesitation in using Seve again.
“These exciting plans will eventually give us three golf courses in the capital – all with distinctly different designs. The Shire London incorporates links, parkland and woodland characteristics but the new course in West London will be wholly devoted to links-style golf.”
Another site, at Edgware, has been identified for the third Seve course in London, this one is expected to have a spectacular ‘stadium‘ feel.
Seve Ballesteros, who announced his retirement from playing tournament golf earlier this year, is now concentrating on his golf design business but he has in fact been designing for more than 14 years and has created layouts for more than 30 courses around the world. “An experienced team of professionals collaborates with me, who reflect my designs in the respective projects that we make in different places from the world,” he said.
“I founded Trajectory in 1986. We design, project manage, and construct golf courses, and we process studies of viability for any development where it is wanted to construct a certain golf complex.”
Added Tony, “The third course near to Edgware is set on an amazing piece of land, which gives Seve another opportunity to design something truly memorable. Our aim is to have three remarkable golf courses operating under the ‘Seve in London‘ brand by 2012 / 2013. We have proved with The Shire London that we have the passion and commitment to produce high-quality courses with outstanding design and bearing all the hallmarks of one of the greatest golfers the world has ever seen.
“Having three high-quality golf courses each inside the northern part of the M25, each one with its own distinct Seve design, will enable us to provide golfers from all over the world who are visiting the London area with a genuinely unique golf experience.”
Menai Davis is also keen to establish the ‘Seve In London‘ principle across the UK, giving golfers in other cities access to the thrills (and spills) of playing a Seve course. Membership to The Shire London sold out in weeks, proving to Tony that there is an appetite for high quality and affordable golf at a club that also offers high quality food and welcoming service with a smile.
The Shire London opened in July 2007 to widespread acclaim and features a spectacular S-shaped lake on the Par 4 closing hole, presenting golfers with one of the most difficult second shots in the country.
At more than 7,000 yards long and with water in play on 12 holes, it was the year’s most eagerly-awaited new course in England and has received excellent reviews.
The Shire London www.theshirelondon.com
Trajectory – Ballesteros Design Co www.seveballesteros.com