The future is looking extremely bright for Mannings Heath Golf Club inWest Sussexas a £300,000 transformation project has been completed over a two-year period.
As a result, the prestigious 6,683 yard Waterfall Course has been chosen for the 2013 English Women’s Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship and there are exciting prospects of being regarded as a future pre-qualifying venue for the Open Championship.
It is an encouraging reward for the owners Exclusive Hotels who took the bold and imaginative decision in consultation with the renowned Sports Turf Research Institute which advises 2,000 sports facilities to rebuild 13 sets of tees on the 100-year-old course to modern specifications.
The project cost more than £110,000 and was part of a wider plan in which another £180,000 was invested in upgrading other facilities including a new spike bar, lounge and terrace together with a fleet of 46 electric buggies and the restoration of 19th century cottage that can accommodate eight golfers.
Strict emphasis was placed on the style and design of the new tees as Steve Slinger, Exclusive Golf Manager explained: “We have a distinctive 100 year old golf course which is originally thought to have been designed by the eminent architect Harry Colt who created so many outstanding championship courses. We were mindful therefore that we wanted the new tees to blend in with the historic layout.”
Such scrupulous attention to detail has ensured that Manning Heath enhances its reputation as one of the leading venues in theUKfor both championship and leisure golf. Indeed the Waterfall Course and the adjacent Kingfisher Course provide the perfect blend that appeals to golfers of all standards of skill. To mark completion of the programme Mannings Heath is offering a limited number of 50 memberships, with no subscriptions to pay until April 1st 2012.
The Waterfall Course is ranked among the Top 100 in the UK and while normally reserved for members and their guests is now available for visitors who stay in the Exclusive Cottages and enjoy a package deal that offers bed and breakfast, three course dinner at the Goldings Restaurant in the clubhouse, plus use of the driving range and a round of golf on both courses.
The ultimate tribute to the quality of the Waterfall Course came from the legendary South African golfer Gary Player winner of eight major titles and one of only five golfers in history to win the Grand Slam of major championships – the US Masters, US Open and US PGA as well as the British Open- when he played the course he remarked that the 11th hole was “in his top 18 holes of golf in the world”
Mannings Heath Golf Club www.manningsheath.com