Canterbury Golf Club completes 12-month improvement programme
Members at Canterbury Golf Club can now look forward to guaranteed all-year-round playability thanks to a completion of £200,000 course upgrade.
Previously the unique topography and subsoil of this classic Harry Colt layout – it is mainly made up of clay, gravel and sand – had regularly led to several holes becoming sodden every winter and, as a result, the 11-13-hole loop had to be closed at times during the wet season while other parts of the course needed irrigating during the summer.
However work began on solving the drainage issues in August last year and the 12-month improvement programme has seen a total of 300 tons of sand and 400 tons of gravel poured on to the course while 400 metres of perforated pipe work has also been laid.
Canterbury’s General manager Roger Hyder said: “On occasions during the winter we have had to call up people with tee times and explain that they’d only be able to play 15 holes or so which naturally resulted in a number of cancelled bookings which badly affected our bottom line.
“However I am pleased to say that, following the works, we are now very confident that our course will be open every single day of the year, baring a snow blizzard!
“In the long term, this investment will reap rewards from secure bookings and hopefully more of them as golfers get to hear about the huge improvements that our drainage and irrigation has achieved. We also envisage attracting more new members going forward.
“It’s also fantastic to have the members happy and acknowledging the difference that the work has made to the course already.”
The first phase of the work involved holes 6, 10, 14 and 18 while holes 12 and 13 were part of the second phase that was undertaken in August this year.
The trigger for the investment plan came from feedback from a Player First Survey of the club members that identified the major issue for most was dissatisfaction with the drainage on the course that meant, at times, they could not play a full 18 during the winter.
Hyder added: “Not only did we want to satisfy the main demand of the members, but it made sense to sort out the course drainage on certain holes as well as the fairway irrigation on others in order to weatherproof the course for visitors and societies as well.”
Canterbury Golf Club was formed in 1927 and the 18-hole layout was designed by arguably the finest course designer of the time, Harry Colt, who boasts Wentworth, Sunningdale, Rye and Camberley Heath among his 100-plus creations. He also played a major role in the re-designs of Muirfield, Hoylake, Royal Liverpool and Royal Portrush.