A two-year golf course investment programme carried out at Lichfield Golf & Country Club has resulted in improved playing conditions and a happy membership.
Back in 2022, the Staffordshire-based club, which is owned by The Club Company, committed to a two-year plan of course works as part of the masterplan developed by golf architect Jonathan Gaunt. The project has proved a great success, with both members and visitors thoroughly enjoying the improved golf facilities.
The £1.2 million investment covered new bunkers, drainage to existing ones, and bunker infills to ensure the course layout reflects the challenges of the modern game.
The club has also seen a vast improvement of the practice facilities, introducing a Strike Shack driving range powered by Toptracer Range, and accompanying short game practice area.
To build on this success, Lichfield has recently appointed a new course manager, Ed Beard, who, alongside his team, is looking forward to contributing his ideas following on from the investment.
Says Ed: “I’ve always had a massive passion for golf ever since I was a kid. During my school summer holidays I would play every day at my local club. I was approached on one of those days by the head greenkeeper at the time and offered a job throughout the summer. That soon turned into a part-time job raking bunkers, setting up tees, taking care of the clubhouse gardens and low-level mowing.
“Soon after I moved to The Belfry, working under Angus Macloud and Jamie Brooks, and predominantly working on the Brabazon course. This is where I learned what it took to ensure a golf course peaks in line with important events. Through learning how to use the machinery I was able to gain an understanding of how to bring character to holes with different mowing techniques.
“More recently I worked at a private members’ course for over six years and worked my way up to the deputy course manager’s position. I’ve gained a huge amount of experience in putting annual greens maintenance programmes into practice, and had involvement and influence on many construction projects at the club – from building a whole new greens complex with run offs, to the complete reconstruction of bunkers and tees.
“Moving to Lichfield as Course Manager has afforded me the opportunity to use my knowledge and experience to build on the huge investment in the bunker renovation programme and really begin to develop the courses. With huge investment comes huge responsibility and there is much to do, but the members and visitors are seeing the difference already and the feedback has been great.”
Future plans at the club include continuing work to drive down the organic matter levels just under the surface of the green to help with percolation of water through the profile, allowing bent grass to flourish building a better rooting system to reduce the onset of disease. The team will also be using the new bunkers as a base for new fairway and approach shaping to improve playability.
There are plans to undertake a tree management programme, raising the canopies on the trees to allow to see through to other holes, improving the overall aesthetic of the course.