In yet more positive news for the golf industry, the owners of Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort recently announced a significant investment into Druids Heath Golf Course which will start now in advance of further investment and renovations to Druids Glen Golf Course in 2022.
Since purchasing Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort in 2019, the owners have committed to reviewing all aspects of the golf business to ensure that correct decisions are made for the future success of a high-quality golf experience for members and guests in the resort.
To assist them in these long-term ambitions for golf, they have liaised with some of the golf industry’s leading experts during this review process; Jeff Lynch – Golf Course Architect with (re)Golf Design working in conjunction with renowned Course Designer, Peter McEvoy and John Clarkin of world renowned agronomists, Turfgrass.
Peter McEvoy & (re)Golf commented, “We are delighted to be working with the Neville Family in Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort with the renovation of Druids Heath. Already a fabulous layout, we are re-landscaping the existing bunker footprint (over 30,000m2), adopting a more handcrafted bunker and landform layout, each with their own individual function and character, while maintaining diverse strategic values which engage golfers of all abilities.
“Parallel with this, as the great Jack Nicklaus said, what makes a successful golf course “Drainage, Drainage, Drainage” we are incorporating over 28,000m of drainage across 15 sections of the course”.
Playability has always been one of the key issues at Druids Heath and that now seems to be being address too with Turfgrass saying, “We are working with (re)Golf Design on the renovation. As Project Managers, our goal from the outset is to improve playability and reduce the level of difficulty for high handicappers without compromising stroke index, health or safety.
“Working with Jeff Lynch & Peter McEvoy, we have drastically reduced unnecessary bunker area and relocated bunkers, grass hollows and runoff areas to maintain the strategy of the course. The bunker renovation will give Druids Heath a new identity. In addition, a large scale drainage programme will commence as part of the works programme on selected holes.”
Upon completion of this investment plan, the greenkeeping team will continue to build on the good work already completed on the course with the approach very much aimed at preserving all that makes Druids Heath the course it is.
Druids Glen Golf Course and the historic clubhouse, Woodstock House are also part of a further investment plan in 2022.
The Druids Glen course will also be upgraded to return it to the pinnacle of Irish Golf with the owners’ ambition to bring back Championships tournaments such as the Irish Open. While the renovation will not be a complete course redesign, the key natural features of the course will be retained and enhanced through the programme of works to ensure that the history and magic of Druids Glen is maintained while upgrading the course to championship standard.
The existing facilities at Woodstock House, will be upgraded along with the addition of a new members clubhouse, housing new male and female changing rooms, bar and dining facilities and a new pro-shop and café area. The development will also include the provision of luxurious sleeping accommodation.
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