NEW 12th GREEN AT ROYAL PORTHCAWL
(above) Initial construction creating the links style landscape around the new green and extended fairway.
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, founded in 1985 and on the coast mid-way between Cardiff and Swansea, has for long been regarded as the premier golf course in Wales. As such, it hosts regular championship events including the Amateur Championship on six occasions, the Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, the Home Internationals, and many other leading men’s and ladies events.
The Club is anxious to maintain its status as one of the leading links course in the UK, although with a length of less than 6700 yards and a Par of 72, it was in danger of becoming rather short for modern play. Accordingly, David Williams was commissioned by the Club in August 2005 to carry out a comprehensive review and suggest proposed alterations and improvements to retain its eminent position.
Following that review and report, the Club determined to carry out many of the suggestions, and small scale works (including minor alterations to the Par 3, 11th and 14th holes) were carried out by the Club’s greenstaff during last winter.
However, the main proposals included lengthening of the Par 5s, all of which were relatively short for modern play. DWGD drew up detailed designs, and planning permission was granted for the extension of the Par 5, 12th hole.
Initial construction creating the links style landscape around the new green and extended fairway.
Currently, this hole, played at only 467 yards off the back tees with a slightly uphill drive, was only a drive and mid-iron for the stronger players. The hole was extended by over 100 yards by the provision of a new green on an existing level piece of practice ground.
As David explained ..”Many at the Club were concerned that it would be difficult to assimilate the extension to the hole onto this relatively flat area, but the detailed design and construction has now re-created typical linksland throughout the whole area of the extension”.
The contract for the work was awarded to 360 Golf Limited (formerly Barrelfield Golf Construction) who undertook the reconstruction work in a 6 week programme in Autumn 2006. Members are delighted with the alteration, and are looking forward to playing the lengthened hole in late 2007.
(above) The existing 12th green with construction work in the background.
(above) Minor works were carried out on DWGD recommendation to the Par 3, 14th hole, to improve sightlines from the tee.
PHOTOS:
(left) The existing 12th green with construction work in the background.
(Below) Minor works were carried out on DWGD recommendation to the Par 3, 14th hole, to improve sightlines from the tee.
<< Back to Newsletter/Renovation issue Autumn 2006
