November 13th, 2018
Construction work has been completed on the David Williams’ designed total transformation of the Short Game Practice Area at Real Sociadad Hípica Española Club de Campo (RSHECC) on the northern outskirts of Madrid, Spain.
As David, Past President of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects explains ..”The 36 hole venue was originally designed by American architect Robert Von Hagge in the late 1990s. Although there were two large practice putting greens, close to the 1st tee of each course, the venue however only had one short game practice green, shared between chipping and bunker practice, although well situated on sloping ground between the two courses and directly in front of the impressive clubhouse. However, it became apparent that this was not large enough for both uses for both courses, and not only became overcrowded at busy times but also created safety issues with the dual use”.
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November 13th, 2018
The site for the new closing hole on the 9 hole Seve Ballesteros designed course
Pedreña, situated near Santander on Spain’s northern Atlantic coastline, for the last eight years and, in that time, has completely renovated five holes of the Harry Colt 1928 layout, one of only two remaining Harry Colt 18 hole courses in Spain, as well as effecting other improvements to the historic course.
However, the Club’s main claim to fame is its link with the great late Seve Ballesteros, who was associated with the Club for all his life. He was born in nearby Pedreña and learnt the game over the Club’s course. Continue Reading »
May 22nd, 2018
Past President of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) David Williams has been appointed by the oldest club in Spain, Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas to undertake a course review and prepare a masterplan for the long term development of the historic course, situated on the island of Gran Canaria.
Commenting on the appointment, David Williams stated “It is a great privilege to be appointed to assist RCG Las Palmas, one of Spain’s best and historic clubs, as well as one of the small number of Royal (Real) courses in the country. I look forward to the challenge of producing the masterplan, and working in very close collaboration with the club members and officials.” Continue Reading »
May 22nd, 2018
Following the very successful completion of his first unique design for a private client of a totally private golf course, Past President of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, David Williams has now completed a second version at a different venue.
As he explains ”The first course, designed to offer a full length 18 hole course using only five green and tee complexes, was successfully opened in summer 2015. A relative of the client was invited to test it out, and also as a low handicap player, immediately realised that he would like a similar concept on his own private estate”. Continue Reading »
July 5th, 2017
With the current interest in the creation of reversible golf courses, David Williams has taken the concept even further in the building of a totally flexible golf course for a private client on the mainland of Europe.
As David explains, “I developed the concept when a client wished a golf facility purely for his own private use on a site of approx. 50 acres/20 hectares around his house on his private estate. His requirements were for a facility which replicated as closely as possible a full 18 hole round of golf, for the use of himself, family and friends, but without having to build – or ultimately maintain – 18 individual holes, greens and tees. It was then that the concept was born, of a course consisting of five zones, each with a full size green and tee. The tee in each zone has four possible “destinations” in each of the other four zones, which, with five zones, gives 20 possible holes, as shown in drawing 01. Continue Reading »
