Foxhills Club & Resort has announced the appoint of experienced greenkeeper Derrick Johnstone to the position of Golf Course and Estate Manager at the popular Surrey club.
With a resumé spanning nearly 30 years, Johnstone brings an established pedigree and love for the sport and his craft to Foxhills following a six-year stint at East Berkshire Golf Club after spending 13 years managing Wentworth’s courses for prestigious televised tournaments.
Johnstone will offer a fresh perspective with an abundance of innovative ideas to both enhance and elevate the playing experience for all members, guests and visitors alike. The appointment coincides with Foxhills’ recent investment of £1.5million in a course modernisation project which will see the biggest structural changes to both Championship courses, Longcross and Bernard Hunt, since they opened for play in 1975.
On his new role, Johnstone said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Foxhills team as the Golf Course and Estate Manager, with the opportunity to work on an industry renowned course that’s got bags of potential to be even better. Following the recent evolvement of the club and its courses, as well as the continued investment in both the layout and greenkeeping equipment, I can see the commitment from the club to be up there with the very best – and I’m excited to be on board to help make that become a reality. There’s lots of exciting plans in the pipeline to enhance the already excellent condition of the courses, but improving the drainage and preparing the playing surfaces to be better throughout the winter is my initial priority.”
Tej Walia, Foxhills’ Managing Director said: “With our course modernisation project now in full swing, it is the perfect time to welcome someone of Derrick’s calibre in both skill and personality to lead the excellent team we already have in place here. We are looking to establish ourselves amongst the best golf courses in the country and I have no doubt that with Derrick’s expertise, the recent purchase of the best-in-class greenkeeping equipment from Toro and John Deere, as well as the continued investment and course renovations, we will be up there in the conversation. I’m excited to see the courses elevated to new standards under Derrick’s leadership and this appointment demonstrates our commitment to providing world-class golf facilities.”
Foxhills’ golf course investment project will continue over the next couple of years as it moves to the front nine of Longcross and the Bernard Hunt course. The recent reopening of the back nine saw the unveiling of a new signature par-three which saw the existing 16th-hole completely reconfigured and transformed, with a new pond with wooden sleepers installed at the front of the green, as well as increasing the size of the putting surface and a new bunker installed to the left to try catch golfers who are tempted into bailing out.
The extensive golf facilities across the 400-acre estate also include a nine-hole par-three course, the Practice Den – 3,500 square-metre floodlit practice facility with a bunker, synthetic hitting areas and a large undulating green, a 16-bay floodlit and undercover driving range with synthetic target greens, as well as various putting greens.