Course
Opened – Tournament back nine in 1984 (built with another 9 holes that is no longer used in the event); Tournament front nine in 1994
Course Designer – Tournament back 9: Frank Pennink; Re-design of back 9 and new front nine By Karl Grohs.
Special Features - This is a good solid test of golf built on a parkland/woodland site with a number of lakes coming into play on the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th and 9th predominantly.
General Playability – The course will play reasonably tough especially if the Westerly winds forecast reach the expected 20 mph.
Undulating/Flat – Relatively flat course
Treelined/exposed – Front nine is more parkland and exposed, the back nine has more woodland and is less exposed.
Many/few water hazards - Quite a few, see special features above
Changes to the Course – New tees on holes 6,7,8, 12 and 14 adding nearly 100 yards. A new Course record will be established this year as the course has been stretched over 200 yards since the last course record was established in 1993 by Russell Claydon.
Greens
Type of grass - Bent / Poa Annua
Height of cut - 2.2mm
Speed/stimp reading - 11’
Any specific comments - None
Fairways
Type of grass – Rye / Poa
Height of cut – 11mm
General width and contouring - Average width but quite a lot of movement through the drive zone makes them harder to hit
Any specific comments - None
Tees
Type of grass – Bent / Poa
Height of cut - 8 mm
Collars
Type of grass – Bent / Poa
Height of cut – 8 mm
Rough
Type of grass – Rye / Poa
Semi-rough - Height of cut – 1.8m wide at 30mm
Intermediate – Height of cut – 1.8m wide at 64mm
Rough - Height of cut – maintained rough at 100mm
Any specific comments – This will be the most rough this course has had since the event has been played here as the later date has allowed better preparation.
Weather
In advance – The last month has been hot and dry.
Forecast for tournament – Today Tuesday has seen the first rain for some time and more rain with cooler temperatures and moderate westerly winds are forecast for the event.
Other Features
The course is host to a family of storks , 2 adults and three children who have a very prominent nest on the top of the clubhouse building. With many varieties of fish in the lakes and deer in the woods this course has much wildlife on display.
