The Grove in Hertfordshire has finished a renovation and redesign project that has seen major enhancements to every bunker on its 18-hole championship golf course.
In close consultation with original architect Kyle Phillips, his shaping specialist Theo Travis, the greenkeeping team at The Grove, in partnership with specialist contractor MJ Abbott, have revitalised all 90 bunkers across the course, enhancing playability and aesthetics on each one.
The work was undertaken across an intensive 10-week pre-lockdown period that saw the team re-address bunker shaping, repair damaged edges, review grassing lines and re-affirm mown and natural areas surrounding each trap.
The course stayed open for play during the whole process, with three holes being worked on at any one time with a temporary green being used on each, while ground staff undertook the necessary work.
Phill Chiverton, Golf Course Manager at The Grove, said: “A project of this scale, and over such a relatively short period of time, took a huge amount of planning, resources, machinery and turf in order to be completed successfully, and on time. Our team worked on an average of 1.8 bunkers a day which is incredible, considering the adverse winter weather conditions we experienced.”
In addition to the bunker transformation work, a new tee has been constructed on the par-4 5th hole, and a 200m2 extension has also been added to the putting green which lies adjacent to the first tee.
The golf course work is part of wide-ranging enhancements across the Hertfordshire estate, including a reinvented Stables Bar and Restaurant, renovations to guest rooms in the West Wing, and to public lounges in the Mansion.