Rockliffe Hall in County Durham is embarking on a major renovation of its Martin Hawtree-designed championship course in order to regain the integrity and character of the original course layout when it first opened in 2009.
Work is already under way on several key areas of the course 7,879-yard course, with the first phase being bunker maintenance.
A specific bunker programme commenced in January, in conjunction with construction company MJ Abbott and the onsite team, with the aim of replenishing and reshaping the differing features of the course’s 89 bunkers with approximately 1,300 tonnes of sand. Replacing the sand within the bunkers will revitalise the look and feel of the entire course and, more importantly, improve the consistency of surfaces. Any inconsistent bunker lines or bases are to be surveyed and repaired or replaced where required.
The work follows significant investment into secondary drainage during 2021, demonstrating Rockliffe Hall’s clear intentions of pushing the boundaries for year-round quality standards of play.
This re-investment into the course also includes a machinery replacement programme, with the trio of projects totalling an initial commitment in excess of £400,000. The replacement programme to upgrade golf course machinery is in partnership with Toro, with plans to further upgrade throughout 2022 and into 2023.
Callum Nicoll, Director of Golf & Estates at Rockliffe Hall, said: “The golf course team at Rockliffe Hall have been very excited to start this ambitious project and we are thrilled with the quality of work up to date.
“MJ Abbott provided Jonathan Wyer and the team with the best support, as our main goal for the course was to improve the playability of our surfaces for both members and our guests, something that will still be very much a focus throughout 2022. It has been very pleasing to receive such positive feedback so far and the course is certainly in a good place as we start the playing season, which everyone at the club is now looking forward too.”