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Delamere Forest Golf Club Renovation<br />
Delamere Forest Golf Club, Cheshire, England<br />
Mackenzie & Ebert were appointed in 2012 to advise Delamere Forest on their Herbert<br />
Fowler designed course. Initially, the Club’s aim was to add length to the course, but this<br />
soon focussed more on the bunkers than length.<br />
It became clear that the bunkers had lost almost all of their Fowler character and that the<br />
course, although largely untouched for years was a shadow of its former self.
Delamere Forest Golf Club Renovation<br />
Historic Research<br />
A detailed historic was undertaken to understand the evolution of the course and it s<br />
features.<br />
It concluded:<br />
The course was largely original Herbert Fowler.<br />
The greens have been significantly reduced in size.<br />
The bunkers had lost all of their shape.<br />
This was as a result (probably) of routine management<br />
and lack of appreciation of what they may have looked like.
1945 Line<br />
2005 Line<br />
1945 Line<br />
August 1945<br />
April 2005
Delamere Forest Golf Club Renovation<br />
Bunker Style<br />
There was very little evidence of what the original Fowler bunkers looked like. There were<br />
a few shots available that hinted at it as did the 1946 aerial photography. We also used<br />
knowledge of what Fowler’s bunkers looked like from other clubs like West Surrey.<br />
Edge detailing seemed critical to form a strongly defined shape and edge that<br />
characterise old bunkers. The recently redeveloped bunkers had completely lost that<br />
character. We therefore used a method of using turf cubes that we had developed for this<br />
sort of project.<br />
The Club employed an experienced shaper, Alex Veitch, who had worked locally and the<br />
green staff did all of the cultivation and turfing. Tom Mackenzie directed the edging work<br />
and bunker shapes, although the greenstaff soon became accomplished at it.
Delamere Forest Golf Club Renovation<br />
The Project<br />
82 bunkers were built or rebuilt over two winters.<br />
15 bunkers were filled in.<br />
15 bunkers were added.<br />
2 teeshots were re-aligned and new complexes built.<br />
3 back tees were added.<br />
1 ridge was lowered to improve visibility.
Dig Out A Shelf and Place Cubes<br />
Starting<br />
The cubes are laid out ready<br />
to be put in place.
Work Underway<br />
Forming The Shape<br />
Corners are sharp as everything<br />
softens as the turf grows.
The Soil is Replaced on the Surrounds<br />
Resoiling<br />
The cubes are heavy so they<br />
move little when resoiling.
Work Underway<br />
Turfing The Surrounds<br />
Imported turf on surrounds<br />
and native grass on the noses.
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The 1 st drive bunker had lost<br />
most of its shape.<br />
Original bunker<br />
1960 shape
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The existing bunker was just<br />
cut back out.<br />
Completed bunker
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The right bunker is remote<br />
from green and weak shape.<br />
Original hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The greenside bunkers are<br />
also much more prominent.<br />
After opening in 2014
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Too uniform and perfect.<br />
Original bunker
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Edging in place.<br />
Work underway
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Taking shape.<br />
The bunker completed
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Bunkers are simple ovals.<br />
Original hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Bunkers reshaped and new<br />
life is breathed into the hole.<br />
The completed hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The existing bunkers hamper<br />
the wrong players.<br />
Original hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The bunker positions realigned<br />
and made more visible.<br />
The completed hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Bunker detail.<br />
The completed hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Lifeless bunkers.<br />
Original hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The drive is re-vitalised.<br />
The completed hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The bunker was large but<br />
blind from the tee.<br />
Original Hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The ground is lowered and<br />
becomes visible from the tee.<br />
During establishment
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Bland.<br />
Original Hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Bold bunkering<br />
on a short par four.<br />
Completed hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
Its shape has been lost.<br />
Original bunker
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
More artistic appeal.<br />
Completed bunker
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The approach to the last was<br />
unimpressive.<br />
Original Hole
Delamere Forest Case Study<br />
The left bunkers re-appear<br />
and right one more attractive.<br />
Completed hole
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