DWGD have noted an increase in short game practice facilities required by both long-established and newer golf clubs. David Williams explains ..”Many of our historic older courses have relatively little practice facilities available, and with many now being totally surrounded by housing, there is little opportunity to create the full-length facilities that modern golfers require. However a short game practice area, requiring only a few acres, is something that many clubs and their members would benefit from. Even those clubs with a full length practice ground often rarely have short game practice areas and, with most clubs prohibiting players from chipping to the practice green, there is often nowhere available to practice this vital element of the game”.

Generally consisting of a practice chipping green surrounded by bunkers and grassy hollows typical of the actual course itself and often supplemented by practice tees and other target greens, David considers that the average member would benefit far more spending time on such a facility than merely hitting balls on a driving range or full length practice ground.

To that end, planning permissions have recently been received by DWGD for three short game practice areas, all on courses in the south-east originally designed by the practice. The courses at Surrey National (previously known as Happy Valley) GC, Westerham GC, Kingshill GC, all have extensive full length practice ground facilities, but the creation of a short game practice facility is a feature which David Williams expects to see on many courses in the future.

The Westerham and Kingshill practice facilities have both been completed, consisting of target greens, practice bunkers and specifically designed teeing areas.

The practice built one very similar facility at North Wales Golf Club in Llandudno (photo above) constructed by John Greasley Limited.   Situated close to the clubhouse and with dramatic views over the Irish Sea and to the Conwy Estuary and the mountains of Snowdon beyond, the design has produced an excellent facility for this popular club.