Royal Ascot Golf Club has invested significantly into its course machinery and grounds team, weeks after scooping its first national award at a black tie ceremony in Leicester.
The club – which won Golf Club of the Year at the 2025 Club Awards in November – has committed more than £1m to upgrade its course, mower fleet, cutters and maintenance equipment so its eight-strong greenkeeping team can deliver a quality playing surface 364 days each year.
Mowers used to cut tees, fairways, approaches and greens have been replaced and new turf sprayers and turbines have been added to ensure the course and its surrounds are kept in pristine condition in all seasons.
The club has also invested in new monitoring technology, so its greenkeepers can digitally assess the performance of its mowers and their effectiveness to maximise performance.
Course Manager Ian Hockley said the investment will help his team realise the course’s true playing potential regardless of weather extremities.
“We’re increasingly seeing extreme stretches of dry and wet weather, which naturally makes our job as greenkeepers more challenging,” said Ian. “This is a significant and necessary investment as golf clubs across the UK seek to deliver year-round quality playing experiences to members and guests alike.
“Having access to the latest machinery and technology is a huge advantage in our ability to achieve this, and aligns with the club’s ambitious growth plans which led to our Club of the Year award which everyone is extremely proud of.
“We’ve just completed the club’s biggest course upgrade since our relocation from the racecourse in 2005. To be in a position where we’re continuing to be at the forefront of greenkeeping improvements is a really pleasing way to start 2026.”
The investment includes the completion of the club’s major course regeneration project costing £500,000 to transform each of its 18 holes.
Each hole is now subject to enhanced drainage and irrigation provisions, while all bunkers have been renovated and new treelines created – including the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Wood by Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Stephen Nicholson, General Manager at Royal Ascot Golf Club, added: “We pride ourselves on delivering a welcoming, sociable, inclusive and quality experience to those who visit the club. Investing in the quality of our course is essential to achieving the above and we are thrilled with the outcomes of our course regeneration which has delivered outstanding results even for our holes that are most susceptible to the weather. We’ve experienced a breakthrough period on all levels which everyone at the club is extremely proud of and bodes well for another year of positive growth in 2026.”