Buckinghamshire GC to invest £2m

A new irrigation system and lake redesigns are among the alterations that will be made.

Buckinghamshire GC will invest £2m in developing their course, with a new resevoir among the features to be introduced.

The course near Denham will receive funding from Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. after a survey was conducted by course architects Thomson Perret and Lobb, whose chairman is acclaimed former golfer Peter Thomson.

A new irrigation system and buggy paths will be implemented along with the reservoir. A significant number of bunkers will also be relocated, with lakes on the 7th and 8th holes set to be redesigned.

Work is scheduled to be undertaken over the next two winters to cause as little disruption as possible to golfers on the course. The planned completion date is be March 2017.

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Andy Ewence, Buckinghamshire Course and Grounds Manager, said: "These are exciting times for all of us here at the club.

"Building a large reservoir will help us to save money and improve our sustainability and means we won’t be reliant on using mains water.

"Installing a new irrigation system will help us to produce tournament standard conditions throughout the year, while our advanced new sprinkler system will also reduce wastage. We will be able to target only the greens, surrounds, approaches, fairways and tees where water is required."

John Jacobs was responsible for the original course design, located in 226 acres close to the M25. It has hosted many notable tournaments including the ISPS Ladies' European Masters and six European Senior Tour events. It is also the Ladies European Tour's headquarters.

Tim Lobb, Thomson Perret and Lobb's principal course architect, said: "At the forefront of all our design proposals is to create a strategic, interesting and fair golfing challenge for club members, visitors and tournament golfers alike. We look forward to commencing work on site this winter."