It’s not often that golf course members all agree to something – especially when it includes a great deal of construction work on their beloved course.
But the proposals put to the membership at Dublin’s Balcarrick Golf Club by designer Roger Jones were so exciting there was no question of them saying anything other than a resounding ‘yes’.
Now, Roger Jones Golf Design has been given the go-ahead to begin a 30-week programme of restyling and upgrading – giving Balcarrick a whole new definition and identity.
Jones, who is currently co-designing a new luxury golf course in Co Wicklow with Ryder Cup hero and 2006 team member Paul McGinley, was also recently called in to help landscape new gardens on the prime-time Irish RTE TV show I Want A Garden.
He said the Balcarrick project offered a different challenge. “When you are dealing with members they want as little disruption as possible and to see great rewards for their investment.”
“I visited the course several times.” he explained, “and talked directly to the golfers themselves, as well as club officials, and eventually presented the full plan to a tremendous special meeting of members.
“They seemed to like what I was saying very much and I’m delighted by the almost unanimous support for the project.”
The main areas of work to be undertaken will include the redesigning and constructing all the teeing areas and bunkers; constructing fairway mounding; reshaping of green surrounds; the creation of new meadowland rough areas and shrub planting; the relocation and reshaping of ponds for strategy and definition; and redesigning some holes and rerouting the course to start at the existing 17th.
The work will create a golf course which has its own identity and is more natural looking than at present; and a golf course which will encourage naturally a greater diversity of flora and fauna. It should also become more desirable to fee-paying customers and members alike.
Planning has already started and construction is due to begin in February 2007.
Balcarrick Golf Club www.balcarrickgolfclub.com
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