Aachener Masterplan Report 2025-05

Golf Course Masterplan Report For

Aachener Golf Club

May 2025 - Rev10

COLT & COMPANY'S ORIGINAL 9 HOLES AT AACHENER EXHIBIT THE FIRM’S TALENTS

FOR THE GREAT ROUTING OF A COURSE - THE 9 HOLE LAYOUT HAS MATURED

SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE YEARS & THE 9 HOLES ADDED BY FRANK PENNINK HAVE

THEIR ATTRIBUTES AS WELL - THE 18 HOLES NOW REPRESENTS A WONDERFUL

PARKLAND GOLFING EXPERIENCE WHICH CAN BE MADE EVEN BETTER

Golf Course Masterplan Report For Aachener Golf Club

Visits to Aachener

Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert Limited visited Aachener Golf Club on Monday 25th July 2022 to assess the

golf course in the company of Board Member Sönke Morgenstern and Geschäftsführer Oliver Röckerath. The

Club’s agronomist also made a visit during the tour of the course to discuss the agronomic issues which need

to be considered for any future projects.

Introduction

Any club whose origins have the involvement of Colt, Alison & Morrison Ltd. deserves to be taken very

seriously in terms of its golfing pedigree. Their company designed some of the finest golf courses in the game

and they are still very highly ranked in all regions of the world. They were responsible for the design of the first

9 holes at Aachener in 1927, with the course opening in September 1928.

Following the preparation of preliminary proposals, Martin and his colleague, Chris Huggett, made a visit on

Tuesday 6th December 2022 to discuss the project with Club President, Caroline Effert, Sönke and Oliver. As

a result, refinements were agreed to the proposals what are now presented in this Masterplan Report.

Terms of Reference

The brief for the study was to assess the existing course with a view to making recommendations for

improvements. In addition, the possibility of assessing surrounding land for the extension of the course was to

be included in the scope of the exercise.

Unfortunately the historical records of the Club are limited but the information which is available was provided

and does give valuable insight into the development of the course and the character of the original 9 holes.

Although the historical records of the course are limited, the material that does exist confirms that it was Mr.

John Morrison who provided the design of the original course and that the design was constructed by Franks

Harris Bothers, another English firm which was the leading golf course construction company in the 1920s.

Frank Pennink followed up on the design of the original 9 holes with his addition of another 9 in the late 1970s.

This he accomplished without any changes to the original holes which would have led to certain constraints and

the area of land available to him was not very large for the purpose and quite difficult to integrate. The results

achieved were excellent given those restrictions and the resulting 18 hole layout is something the members can

be rightly proud of.

This review exercise comes at an important time for the Club with its centenary only a few years away.

Exercises such as these need to look at all aspects of a course, given the infrequency that reviews are made and

in the light of the advances of technology and playing standards and also a changing landscape. Change should

not be feared as all courses have evolved through the years, in general to their benefit although that is not

always the case. Hence, change should not be pursued for the sake of change. There is so much good in the

golfing experience at Aachener and it would be wrong to dramatically alter characteristics and holes which have

made the course such an enjoyable one to play golf over. However, as good as the course is at the moment, it

can be taken to the next level. The key proposals to that lie in the recommendations to add back tees where

appropriate, to undertake a tee reconfiguration programme to offer better surfaces and more variety to all

golfers, to continue with the excellent bunker refurbishment and restyling to an agreed bunker layout and to

manage the growth of trees appropriately. The overall consideration must be that Aachener is predominantly a

members’ course and, while the focus of the test must be balanced to challenge the best players the most, the

enjoyment of the members should be the deciding factor when considering any adjustments.

Historical Information

Historical Article

This article, with an account of a match

with Kölner Golfclub, provides critical

insight regarding the original designer of

the course. The last paragraph of the

article states that John Morrison, one of

Harry Colt’s partners, was responsible

for the design of the course while Mr

Murray, who worked for Franks Harris

Brothers, was responsible for the

construction of the course:-

‘Mr. Morrison is the architect responsible

for the course, which only opened last year,

while Mr. Murray supervised the execution

of the work. The 9 holes have been created

in a first-class golfing way over the hilly

terrain. The architects have done

particularly well on the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th

and 9th holes. The 3rd and 6th, both short

holes, have a strange contrast: while on the

3rd tee you think you have to use a jigger

or a small iron for the hole, you can easily

master the hole length of 143 m with the

mashie - vice versa on the 6th hole.’

John Morrison did much of the work for

Colt, Alison & Morrison Ltd. in Germany so

this account makes perfect sense but with

Harry Colt being the principal of Colt

Company, it is very likely that he would

have maintained a certain level of input

and overseen the development of the

layout and any plans.

Historical Information - Original 9 Hole Course Layout

The original 9 holes were laid out by

John Morrison of Colt. Alison &

Morrison in 1927, opening in 1928.

The interesting aspects to this plan are:-

1. It was surveyed but with old

techniques so shows a reasonably

accurate representation of the

course in 1927.

2. The 1st hole used to be the 10th

hole in the original layout and the

9th was the current 18th.

3. The course was designed with

two sets of tees for full length and

for shorter length play.

4. The plan provides an illuminating

representation of where the

bunkers used to be.

5. There are question marks over

the green areas as the shapes

shown may be larger than the

actual putting surfaces. They may

show the green surrounds as well

as green surfaces. For instance,

the 8th green has a bunker shown

within the green boundary.

6. The fairways had a lot of shape to

them and were much wider than

those of today.

7. Some copses of trees are shown.

8. The tee, fairway, bunker and

green boundaries have been

traced onto the proposals plans in

the hole by hole section of the

report as accurately as possible to

show where the old features used

to be on the existing course.

9. The plan shows that the course

was designed by Colt, Alison &

Morrison Ltd. and, more

importantly, was built by Franks

Harris Brothers. They were a

company which Colt, Alison &

Morrison Ltd. would regularly

recommend for the construction

of their courses and they were

extremely skilled in this discipline.

Historical Information - Original 9 Hole Course Layout

An analysis of the 1927 card of the

course and the current day hole lengths

of those same holes shows that the

measurement in 1927 produced a

longer set of holes. That is probably

due to errors in measurement of the

holes in 1927 but it does show that the

holes were originally laid out almost as

long as they could be and that no

changes have been made to the tee

positions except for a possible new tee

at the 2nd hole.

Par is not mentioned as this was a later

term applied to the rating of holes but

the Standard Score for Men and

Women of 77 and 76 respectively show

that the course was quite testing.

The original clubhouse in 1927.

Historical Information - Original Clubhouse

This photograph shows the existing 18th green with the mound to

its rear, which is still present today, clearly visible.

Historical Information - Old Photograph


This photograph is the only one available showing a bunker in close

up revealing a high sand line but a very rough edge.


Another photograph showing how devoid of trees the course was

originally. The green of the existing 1st, the 18th tee boxes and the

18th fairway can be seen in the background.

Historical Information - Old Oblique Photograph

Existing 1st Green

Existing 3rd Fairway

Existing 3rd Tee

Existing 2nd Hole

Existing 2nd Green

Existing 18th Fairway


Existing 18th Green


This oblique photograph shows just how barren the original course

was when it first opened.

Historical Information - Old Oblique Photograph - 1934

Another oblique photograph showing how much the landscape of

the course has changed compared with the current day.

Existing 3rd Fairway

Existing 11th Hole

Existing 18th

Fairway

Existing 1st

Fairway

Existing 2nd Hole

Existing 7th

Fairway

Existing

10th Fairway



Historical Information - Old Aerial Photograph - 1944

Points of Interest

1. Aerial photographs taken through the years

often provide a fascinating insight into the

nature of courses during its evolution and

illustrate how much their character has changed

over the years. However, there is only one old

aerial photograph which has been found for

Aachener taken in 1944 but it is better to have

this than not having any records.

2. These photographs often provide information

regarding the green shapes and sizes, the

number of bunkers, the bunker locations,

bunker sizes and shapes, fairway widths and the

extent and nature of the vegetation. The quality

of the 1944 photograph of Aachener does not

allow too many conclusions to be drawn but

some general findings can be commented upon.

3. It is clear that the planted trees established

quickly after the course was built in 1927. The

landscape structure is forming rapidly when this

overhead aerial is compared with the oblique

aerial of 1934 which showed virtually no

mature trees within the course boundaries.

4. The tees cannot be picked out and the fairways,

greens and bunkers are visible but it is difficult

to see their boundaries. Normally from looking

at older aerials, green sizes in particular were

smaller than they would have been before the

Second World War due to a need to reduce

the maintenance input as a result of lower

manpower resources. Fairways tended to be

much larger and that is supported by the

boundaries shown on the 1927 survey plan.

5. It is clear that the course was used for military

installations I 1944 with the tee areas of the

existing 8th and 10th holes and the green area

of the 9th covered with circular features. It is

hard to say if the 9th green was affected by

these installations but it is possible that there

was a requirement to rebuild this green after

the war so maybe it is not an original.

11G

1G

10G

2G

18G

8G

Historical Information

The sign with the information

regarding the project team when

the Club extended the course from

9 to 18 holes. In the late 1970s

The golf course architect was

incorrectly recorded as JHF Pennink

when it should have been JFF

Pennink from England.

J.S.F. Morrison

John Morrison - Biography

CAREER PROFILE

John Stanton Fleming Morrison (Group Captain, DFC with Bar)

Born Deal in Kent on 17th April 1892. Died Farnham, Surrey on 28th January 1961, aged 68.

Golf is a sport that seems to have attracted wealthy, gifted and eccentric people in the first half of the 20th century

when the game was expanding fast. Both Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler, who were partners and who designed

the likes of Walton Heath, The Berkshire, Saunton and Morfontaine, were colourful to say the least, but John

Morrison matched them every step of the way. He was a great fiend and golfing partner of Henry Longhurst who

wrote more than warmly about him on many occasions. Longhurst wrote in his obituary in 1961 that:

He was one of the great amateur sportsmen of an era of great amateur sportsmen and his career was rich and varied. His

studies at Cambridge were interrupted by World War I when he became a bomber pilot for the newly formed Royal Flying

Corps, flying sorties across the Adriatic to Austria positions, winning him his DFC with Bar in the process. Having previously

“If you qualify to become a ‘character’ by having innumerable stories told about you in your lifetime,

then my old friend and Halford-Hewitt partner John Morrison was certainly a ‘character’.”

Henry Longhurst

won colours at football and cricket at Cambridge, he started to focus on

golf on his return to university after the war, while continuing to play

amateur football at the highest level. Clearly an excellent sportsman,

golf came easily to him and, in 1919, he won his third blue. He

captained Cambridge in all three sports.

As he played more and more golf, his silverware collection also

expanded, adding 2 Sunningdale Foursomes with Joyce Wethered, a

Belgium Open and 5 Halford-Hewitt titles. By around 1922, he started

to work for Harry Colt in his booming golf course design practice. At

that time, Colt’s partners were Hugh Alison and Dr Alister MacKenzie

but by 1928, Morrison had been made a partner with an equal share of

the profits as good a reflection as any that he was not just a playboy.

His career was in the shadow of Harry Colt for many years, but he

worked on many of Colt’s greatest courses, notably Wentworth

and Royal Portrush which is largely his work. Another of his great

courses is Falkenstein in Hamburg, Germany. The 1930s

depression saw the business slow down and with the outbreak of

WWII, he rejoined the RAF becoming a Group Captain in charge

of a training squadron. As one of the first pilots to land on an

aircraft carrier, he must have been well qualified to teach his

students.

He remained passionate about golf throughout his career and was

certainly a ‘character’ as Henry Longhurst described him. At the

Munich Beer Festival, he was once reported to have won a beer

drinking competition and celebrated by ordering a pint of sherry

which was his favourite drink. His dress sense on the course was

equally eccentric and must have raised a few eye-brows.

NOTE: - This biographical information was sources from the Colt

Society website, The Masters of Design and Adam Lawrence’s

article in October 2011 in Golf Course Architecture Magazine.

He generally appeared in a deer-stalker hat and huge teddy bear coat done up with

string around the middle, which reduced him to something like a quarter swing and

when it rained, he produced a vast waterproof skirt instead of trousers. It was

nothing for him to take a putter from 60 yards.”

From the West Surrey Golf Club

history “Playing Through”

““He carried a torn canvas bag, a set of clubs unmatched (in both senses) in golf.”

Henry Longhurst

“It would not, I think, be uncharitable to say that my old partner tended like so many of us to be “better after lunch.” Henry Longhurst

H.S. Colt

Harry Shapland Colt - Biography

Harry Shapland Colt

Born in Highgate, Camden Town, London on August 4th 1869. Died 21st November 1951.

Harry Colt, born Henry Shapland Colt, became a proficient golfer while he attended Clare College, Cambridge University. playing his golf at

the Coldham Common course before Cambridge University Golf Club later moved to the Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club. He

trained as a lawyer at Cambridge, but he enjoyed great success in the University golf team, becoming its Captain in 1890. His avid involvement

in the University golf team, playing many different courses, led to his fascination with the design aspect of the game and must have had a

definite impact on his design style. His discovery of links courses may only have come about through his undergraduate matches.

After graduating from Cambridge, now a qualified lawyer, he became a partner in the Hastings Law Firm of Sayer & Colt in 1894. Whilst a

partner there, he designed a course at Rye Golf Club, a short way up the coast. He became Honorary Secretary at Rye in 1895 and this

experience led him to a move to Sunningdale in 1901, where he became its first Secretary. It was here that he first discovered that inland

conditions perfect for golf did, in fact, exist, even though inland parkland courses, at the time, lacked the undulating characteristics of coastal

courses. Over his twelve year stint at Sunningdale, his passion for golf course architecture was renewed. He made many adjustments

throughout his time there. He added pine trees to the sides of the heather lined fairways, and, with the invention of the rubber cored golf ball

(which achieved 15 to 20 percent greater distances), Colt also altered and expanded the course in order to accommodate this new invention.

He quickly became a highly influential character in the golf course design industry and he is widely recognised as ‘the founder of golf course

architecture in the British Isles’. Throughout his career he played competitive golf at a high level and represented England in a match against

Scotland in 1908.

While at Sunningdale, Colt began planning courses for other clubs in the surrounding heathlands. Among them were: Stoke Poges GC (1908),

Swinley Forest GC (1910) and thirty-six holes for St. George’s Hill GC (1913), of which eighteen survive. He also experimented with the

concept of integrating golf courses with housing, which now, of course, is a common arrangement. He is said to be the first Golf Course

Architect to consistently use a drawing board and the first to give tree planting instructions.

Colt travelled far and wide while designing his courses, although most of his work was done

in the British Isles and Europe. Although partners in his design firm did most of the work that

bears his name in North America, Colt did make two extended trips to the United States and

Canada, where he had a major part to play in the planning of courses for the Toronto GC

(1912) and the Hamilton Golf and Country Club (1914) and for the Country Club of Detroit,

Michigan (1914). While in the USA, Colt also helped George Crump route the holes for Pine

Valley Golf Club (1912).

Back in the British Isles, he added a second course at Sunningdale, the New Course, two

courses for the Wentworth Golf Club and two remodelled courses for Royal Portrush in

Northern Ireland. Perhaps the respect in which Colt was held is better measured by his

selection to design the third course at St. Andrews, the Eden Course, in 1914. This

commission was a fitting testament to an impressive career. Together with other great golf

course architects of this era, Colt transformed golf course architecture into a profession,

rather than just a sideline for a club professional or a greenkeeper. Colt was instrumental in

the development of the world of golf course architecture.

Colt and Alister MacKenzie first met when he was designing Alwoodley and MacKenzie took a

keen interest, so much so that it prompted him to abandon medicine to become a golf course

architect. In 1919, they formed a short-lived partnership with Charles Hugh Alison that was

dissolved in 1923.

The cover of a biographical study of Harry

Shapland Colt by Fred Hawtree

In 1928, Colt formed a partnership with Charles Hugh Alison and John Morrison which

continued to work in the British Isles, Europe and all around the world.

A Picture of Harry Colt at Sunningdale Golf Course.

Inset - a caricature of Colt published in The Sphere on 11th May 1927

Harry Shapland Colt - Biography

Colt Timeline

Born. 1869

Began his education at Monkton Combe School. 1881

Began reading law at Clare College, Cambridge. 1887

Captained University golf team. 1890

Tied for 38th place at the Open Championship, his only

appearance at the tournament.

1891

Won R&A Jubilee Vase. 1891

Won R&A Jubilee Vase for a second time. 1891

Became a partner in the Hastings Law Firm Sayer & Colt near

Rye Golf Club.

1894

Designed course for Rye Golf Club. 1894

Married Charlotte Laura Dewar 1894

Became Honorary Secretary at Rye Golf Club. 1895

Became a founder member of the Royal & Ancient Rules of

Golf Comittee.

1897

Moved to Sunningdale Golf Club. 1901

Became the first Secretary at Sunningdale Golf Club and discovered

inland conditions perfect for golf.

Reached the quarter-finals of the Amateur Championship,

which in total, he participated in sixteen times.

Reached the semi-finals of the Amateur Championship, his

best ever result, and started being assisted by CH Alison.

1901

1901

1906

Visit to Pine Valley (USA) to provide input on the layout and detail of the

design for George Crump.

Designed a course for Hamilton Golf and Country Club and Country

Club of Detroit, Michigan.

1913

1914

Designed the Eden Course at St Andrews. 1914

The firm of Colt, MacKenzie & Alison formed. 1919

Advised Royal Lytham and St. Annes. 1919

Colt & Alison’s book ˜Some Essays on Golf Course Architecture’

published.

1920

The firm of Colt, MacKenzie & Alison disbanded. 1923

Colt designed the New Course at Sunningdale. 1923

Designed the East Course at Wentworth 1924

Designed the West Course at Wentworth 1926

Colt formed the firm of Colt, Alison and Morrison Ltd. 1928

Colt redesigns the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush. 1932

Colt retires from his firm, although continues working in golf. 1945

Died, age 82. 1951

This timeline has been constructed using information from various sources, such as club histories,

club websites, as well as the archives of The Colt Association (www.coltassociation.co.uk).

Colt is selected to play for England v Scotland at golf. 1908

Designed Stoke Poges Golf Club. 1908

Designed Swinley Forest Golf Club. 1910

Colt dressed for a day on site

Designed a course for Toronto Golf Club. 1912

Designed thirty-six holes for St. George’s Hill, eighteen of

which still survive today.

1913

A view of the Valley Course at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, one of Colt’s creations.

“Mr HS Colt...has thereby built himself a monument more enduring than brass” Bernard Darwin on Colt’s work at Royal Portrush

The Words & Work Of Harry Colt

Words of Harry Colt

“I firmly believe that the only means whereby an attractive piece of ground can be turned into a satisfying golf course is to work to the natural features of the site in question. Develop them if necessary, but not too much;

and if there are many nice features, leave them alone as far as possible, but utilise them to their fullest extent, and eventually there will be a chance of obtaining a course with individual character of an impressive nature.”

H.S. Colt from Methods of Early Golf Course Architecture.

“Length has very little to do with merit.” H.S. Colt from Methods of Early Golf Course Architecture.

“The designer of a course should start off on his work in a sympathetic frame of mind for the weak, and at the same time be as severe as he likes with the first-class player.” H.S. Colt from Methods of Early Golf Course

Architecture.

“This is a somewhat dangerous subject to attempt to write about, owing to the innumerable opinions held by golfers of every degree concerning the individual merits of various courses. However, the golf course architect soon

realises how impossible it is to please everyone, and sifts quickly the chaff from the wheat in the matter of suggestions appertaining to his work.” H.S. Colt on the subject of ‘Psychology of design’ from Methods of Early

Golf Course Architecture.

“It may be well to bear in mind that golf is primarily a pastime and not a penance... And just think how pleasant it is to hop over a bunker at times, and occasionally hit a wild shot and have a chance of recovery! There is

opportunity for much needed mercy even to erratic golfers.” H.S. Colt from Methods of Early Golf Course Architecture.

“Undulations and hummocks are of great value ‘through the green’, as they provide difficult stances and lies, without which no golf course can be said to be quite perfect.” H.S. Colt from Methods of Early Golf Course

Architecture.

“There are two classes of difficulties which are most useful for our purpose—plateau greens and “hummocky” ground. The vast majority of links need both badly. A narrow plateau

for a green, or a few hummocks in front of one, will very likely cause as much trouble and amusement to a player as a gaping chasm stretching right across the course. Without a

doubt, we want bunkers to pitch over; but... we cannot rely entirely upon them for creating interesting and testing approach play.” H.S. Colt on using hazards such ‘hummocks’

and plateau greens, rather than bunkers and other conventional forms of hazards from Methods of Early Golf Course Architecture.

“There is one type of hazard which has appealed to me very greatly for the last three or four years—the diagonal hazard. We do not want this, however, overdone and to see it

everywhere, whatever the nature of the ground. But if the latter is suitable, it provides sport for everyone, and the subsequent scheme of hole can give advantage to the one who

bites off the biggest slice of the hazard.” H.S. Colt from Methods of Early Golf Course Architecture.

“The shape and nature of bunkers can be varied with immense advantage. How often do we see a delightful landscape spoilt by the creation of a number of symmetrical pots, or

banks, or humps, made apparently at so much a dozen! And this landscape might have been improved, and made still more pleasing to the eye, by planting judiciously off the

course irregular clumps of whins, or broom or rough grasses, or possibly small birch trees and Scotch firs. If we have to make bunkers—and no doubt they will be necessary—we

can in great measure conceal their artificiality, and in any event we need not make them of a certain stereotype pattern. Some can be sunk without banks; some can have rough

banks added to them; some can be sand and some rough grass; some can be in the nature of rough, irregular, wide grass ditches, and so on.” H.S. Colt from Methods of Early

Golf Course Architecture.

“Eighteen flat greens are to me an abomination, and the pleasantly undulating green which provides ‘possible’ putting even in a dry summer is far preferable.” H.S. Colt from

Methods of Early Golf Course Architecture

“Personally, I like to select a ridge or a low plateau in preference to a hollow. The green is obviously more visible to a player, which is a feature after which I strive. And if we can

select a wide hog’s back for the purpose, we shall not need much, if any, artificial help in the nature of bunkers. Still I would not by any means wish to eliminate altogether the

punch-bowl green from a course, as, although weak from a point of view of a test of skill, it is delightful in other respects.” H.S. Colt from Methods of Early Golf Course

Architecture.

“The trees are, however, always a difficulty. It is hard to condemn a fine old specimen oak or beech because it comes into the line of play. At Stoke Poges one fine old beech-tree

caused me much unpleasantness. It was, unfortunately, right in the line of play of what has, perhaps, turned out to be a satisfactory short hole, with a certain amount of character

about it. We tried our best to save the tree, but in the end there was no way out of the difficulty, and it had to go. It is more or less accepted fact that trees are not the best of

hazards, for the obvious reason that they unfortunately afford but slight opportunity for the display of golfing skill in extricating the ball from their clutches. Moreover, during the fall

of the leaf they are always a nuisance, and it is exceedingly difficult to grow satisfactory turf under their shade; but they are undoubtedly charming features in a landscape view.”

H.S. Colt from The Book of Links, A Symposium on Golf.

“The Eden Course at St Andrews...is a monument to the genius of H.S. Colt.” Sir Guy Campbell

The Words & Work Of Harry Colt

“Fashions in golf courses, as in ladies’ clothes, seem to be so

frequently hopelessly exaggerated. We have our latest Parisian styles,

and they are adopted for every form and every contour, quite

regardless of the land to be dealt with. Then courses are supposed to

be too short, and they are at once lengthened to about four miles

from tee to hole; and then we have the advocates for difficult shots,

and the entrances to greens become so small, and the bunkers so

gruesome, that no one but an idiot plays for the shot.” Harry Colt in

The Book of the Links when invited to contribute a chapter on

Golf Architecture.

"Too much stress cannot be laid upon the necessity of seeing and

using the natural features present on each course to the fullest

possible extent. It is only by doing this and selecting them judiciously

for their special purposes that we can arrive at the success at which

we aim."

"The characteristics required of a hazard are that it should be difficult

but not impossible to play out of; that it should not be the cause of

lost balls; and that strokes played out of it should be calculable as

regards strength and direction, and should depend for their success on

skill and not brute force alone."

Above - Sunningdale

New Course

Left - St Andrews Eden

Course in 1932. The

holes visible are now

part of the St Andrews

Links Academy

Green Construction

“The shape and size of a putting green is governed by the nature of

the stroke which should be played on to it, and by the wear and tear

which it will probably have to undergo. Its capacity for withstanding

such wear and tear is a greenkeeping consideration, but if the club is

reasonably provided with funds it will be able to ensure that strength

in this respect shall be introduced by art if it has not been provided by

nature.”

“There are few things more irritating to a player of any handicap than

to judge and strike an approach well and truly, and to feel conscious

that he has done so, and yet find that his ball is not on the green.”

“...to provide an insufficient margin for changing the position of the

pin is to set the greenkeeper an impossible task. In such a case no

portion of the green will have time to recover from the wear, and the

putting will be flunky and unpleasant.

“The Eden Course (left) at St Andrews followed the same

ideal (the ideal of providing conditions suitable for the

enjoyment of all calibres) and is a monument to the

genius of H. S. Colt. True, there was good golfing ground, but

there was also much that, at a cursory glance, appeared

highly unsuitable—flat, featureless, sodden, and, at one end,

arbitrarily constricted. Yet out of this he conceived a links of

character, great interest, and wide variety, that not only

provides an annual test of searching severity, but maintains

year by year an undisputed popularity among golfers of

both sexes and all ages and handicaps.” Sir Guy Campbell

on Harry Colt’s Eden Course in St Andrews, an extract

taken from History of Golf in Britain

Colt & Alison - Thoughts On Bunker Placement

“It is no doubt desirable to postpone the construction

of some bunkers until the course is in playing order. But

a course entirely devoid of bunkers would be extremely

dull, and moreover some bunkers are necessary for

defining the manner in which the various holes should

be played and thus bringing out their character.”

Left - sketches by

Harry Colt for the

2nd and 14th

holes at Hamilton

Golf & Country

Club in Ontario,

Canada

“For testing the long driver, and also for putting a

premium upon accuracy, it is highly desirable to include

a considerable number of long optional carries in the

round, and also to provide opportunities for the bold

and straight driver to play close past the edge of a

hazard which he cannot carry. In all such cases it will

be arranged that the player who has brought off the

drive successfully should gain a substantial advantage

over his more timid or less skilful opponent.”

“...the hazard which may just be carried by the long

driver will be on the flank of a shorter hitter and thus

adds interest to both the tee-shots.”

“...although the fairway may be made as broad as

space allows, it will be highly desirable to play on to

some particular portion of it, in order to simplify the

next stroke.”

“It is evident that the reward and the penalty should

bear a due proportion to one another. If the penalty is

unduly severe, few players will feel tempted to take the

risk; while if the penalty is almost negligible no daring

will be required and no thrill will be experienced.”

“Remarks are frequently heard to the effect that “It is

wrong to bunker a course for the scratch man,” or “We

can’t bunker this place to suit the duffer.” But if every

class of player is seeking pleasant excitement, and not

a pound of flesh, the conflict of interests should be

inappreciable.”

Quotes taken from “Some Essays On Golf-Course

Architecture” by H.S. Colt & C.H. Alison (1920).

C o l t ’s b u n ke r

placement theories

can be seen in

action here in his

sketches for the

course at Hamilton

Golf & Country Club.

Both holes offer

preferred lines that

make the approach

slightly easier.

However, these

preferred lines have

the associated risk.

The Writings & Philosophy Of Colt & Company

Harry Colt’s practice was designing courses in what it called the “Golden Age of Golf Course Architecture”. It was a

period when some great intellects thought about how courses should be designed in an era when there were

equipment revolutions going on with new balls and steel shafts being introduced. Arguments raged about the game

being ruined by technology and courses were constantly becoming obsolete and required upgrading. As golf became

more affordable, the popularity of the game soared with an explosion of new courses. People with “professional”

occupations as opposed to golf professionals were drawn to the growth of the game and many led its development,

such as Harry Colt who was a solicitor, Tom Simpson a barrister, Herbert Fowler a banker, and Alister MacKenzie a

doctor, amongst others.

They theorised and, along with the writings of Bernard Darwin, the principles of strategic golf course architecture

emerged. This is all about making the better players think more and hit less and making life a little easier for the less

able rather than merely punishing their bad shots. A book could be Ilkley filled with quotes to illustrate this but some

relevant ones are provided below. They are still relevant today. They are faithful to the philosophy of Colt &

Company and remain every bit as applicable to the modern game. If anything they are even more so because the

spread of abilities has widened with players playing for longer and longer and starting younger and the elite players

hitting the ball further.

J.J.F. Pennink

Frank Pennink - Biography

CAREER PROFILE

Frank Pennink

Born in Delft, The Netherlands in 1913. Died in 1983, aged 70.

An accomplished amateur golfer, Frank Pennink would attend Oxford and captain the golf team in 1935. He would go on to win the

English Amateur in both 1937 & 1938, play on the Walker Cup in 1938 and represent England internationally before World War Two.

Pennink served in the Royal Air Force as Squadron Leader during World War II after which he became a sports journalist. It was

through writing for the Sunday Express and the Daily Mail that he developed an interest in golf course architecture. A published author,

Pennink would release three books, including ‘Golfer’s Companion’ in 1962.

In 1954, Pennink joined C.K. Cotton and Charles Lawrie to form Cotton, Pennink and Partners Ltd. His work would spread over

Europe, Africa and even to the Far East. Some of his most notable work in the UK includes changes at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal

Liverpool and Royal St George’s. During the 1960s, Pennink appointed Donald Steel and Cameron Sinclair to the firm.

Pennink was also heavily involved in golf administration, becoming President of the English Golf Union in 1967. He was a Walker Cup

Selector for many years and was part of the backroom team when the 1971 Great Britain team won the biennial event for the first time

since he’d been a player in 1938.

An accomplished player, a gifted writer and highly acclaimed architect, Frank Pennink

would live out the final part of his days adjacent to Royal Ashdown Forest in East

Sussex. He died from cancer in 1983.

Pennink was a fine golfer, winning the English Amateur

on two occasions.

Notable Courses in the UK

Conwy Golf Club

Frilford Heath Golf Cub

Goswick Golf Club

Littlestone Golf Club

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club

Royal St George’s Golf Club

Royal Wimbledon Golf Club

Seaton Carew Golf Club

Notable Courses in Europe

Aachener Golf Club, Germany

Golf Club Castell' Arquato, Italy

Golf de Nantes, France

Kennemer Golf Club, Netherlands

Kokkedal Golfklub, Denmark

Noordwijkse Golf Club, Netherlands

Palmares, Portugal

Rosendaelsche Golf Cub, Netherlands

Stora Lundby Golfklubb, Sweden

Vilamoura (Old), Portugal

Frank Pennink - Biography

Frank Pennink Timeline

Born. 1913

Started at Magdalene College, Oxford. 1933

Captained the University Golf Team. 1935

Worked in insurance after graduating from university. 1936

Won the English Amateur Championship at Saunton. 1937

Defended the English Amateur Championship at Moortown. 1938

Played in the Walker Cup at St Andrews. 1938

Words on Pennink

“His design philosophy was aligned to that of the

Golden Age architects, such as Colt and Simpson.

Frequently, though, Pennink was called upon to

perform when constrained by a tight project

budget; heightening his sensitivity to saving his

client’s money.

This reality made him focus on three aspects of

design: creating simple yet effective greens,

limiting the use of fairway bunkers; and creating

relatively simple green surrounds.”

Keith Cutten in, ‘The Evolution of Golf

Course Design.

Enlisted in the Royal Air Force during World War II. 1939-1945

Became a sports journalist. 1947

Made changes at Royal Lytham & St Annes. 1952

Joined Charles Kenneth Cotton and Charles Lawrie to form

the golf course architecture company Cotton, Pennink and

Partners Ltd.

1954

Published Golfer’s Companion. 1962

Donald Steel and Cameron Sinclair joined his company. 1965

Made changes at Royal Liverpool. 1966

Became President of the English Golf Union. 1967

Made changes at Royal St George’s. 1975

Frank Pennink served in the Royal Air Force

during WW2 and published three books.

“He became well known for his informed

comment of golf, his intimate knowledge of the

game and its exponents being a great

advantage.”

Lorne Smith on his website finegolf.com.

Architectural Hallmarks

Simple yet effective greens & green

complexes.

Limited use of fairway bunkers.

Greens frequently on plateaux with

severe run-offs on all sides.

Died. 1983

General Commentary

Course Layout

Overall Area For The Course

The area of the original tract of land for the initial 9 holes was 21.5 hectares. This does not include the

current day long game practice areas. This is not a very large area for 9 holes As can be seen from the

1927 plan of those holes, the course used up this area without much wasted space. The area of land

which the additional 9 holes occupies is 20 hectares, so even smaller than for the original 9 and it has the

constraints of steep slopes for parts of the 14th and 15th holes and the old road which divides the 14th,

15th and 16th holes from the rest of the course.

Sequencing Of Holes

While there are no major layout changes proposed, a reordering of the holes is thought to be sensible as

shown on the card of the course overleaf. This would return the 1st hole of the course to the original

starting point of the 9 hole layout and would make the flow between greens and tees better overall.

However, the 18th hole would remain as it is today, and where it was in the original hole routing, with

its green right by the clubhouse.

It is interesting that the original 9 holes were not changed in layout at all when the additional 9 holes

were added. This has required the additional 9 having to fit in to what was there already and that has led

to a couple of tight areas of the layout. The 6th hole feels a little squeezed in between the 5th and 7th

and the parallel 4th, 17th, 13th and 12th holes occupy a width of terrain which might be better suited for

3 holes rather than 4 However, given the overall land area available for the additional 9, it is unlikely that

a better routing could have been produced.

This review exercise has considered the possible acquisition and inclusion of surrounding land parcels but

the conclusion reached was that those parcels are not suitable as a result of their area, steep levels and

ambience. Hence, there are no major changes to the course layout proposed apart from the resting of

the 6th tees and green to give the hole a little more room relative to the 5th and 7th holes.

The 14th, 15th & 16th Holes

The possibility of reversing these 3 holes was looked at but it was felt that the current arrangement makes the best use of the land

available, It is better to make up the loss of elevation with the existing 15th tee shot rather than with a hole which would be the

reverse of the 14th hole. Also, both the 14th and the 16th holes enjoy great distant views beyond the boundary whereas reversing

the holes would result in just one hole playing in this direction.

The Re-routing of the Course

Aachener Golf Club - Original 1927 Routing - 9 Hole Course

Aachener Golf Club - The Existing 18 Hole Routing

Aachener Golf Club - The Existing 18 Hole Routing Issues

The 2nd hole as a par 3

early can cause delays

The 1st can be a slow starting

hole. Long hitters can reach

the green from the tee

The 18th was the finishing

hole of the original 9 hole

Colt course

The current walk

between the 11th &

12th is very long

The current walk between

the 4th & 5th is not ideal

Danger to the

6th green from

5th tee shots

Danger on the 11th

green for tee shots

off the 7th

Danger to the 6th

tee from 2nd shot

on the 5th hole

The 10th was the original

starting hole of the 1927

9 hole Colt course

Aachener Golf Club - The Proposed 18 Hole Routing

The 2nd hole becomes the

11th helping pace of play

The 1st becomes the 10th

helping pace of play

The 18th stays as the

finishing hole


the 4th & 5th is removed

The moved 6th green

(now the 4th) is safer

from the 5th tee shots


the 11th & 12th is removed

allowing the existing 6th

green to be moved

The 10th becomes the

starting hole as it was

for the 9 hole course

Overall Course Length & Individual Hole Lengths

Overall Length & Hole Lengths

Course assessments such as these need to look at where courses might be lengthened with benefit to the golfing

challenge of the holes rather than for the sake of extra yards to boost the total length of the course. However, on this

occasion, focusing on every hole to see where extra length can be generated to improve the holes for the best players

has formed part of the brief.

The distance which the elite level golfers hit the ball off the tee has increased appreciably and also the way that many of

those players take on courses with a more aggressive strategy. However, the sense in lengthening the overall course

and individual holes has to be carefully considered. While it does make sense to increase the back tee length of the

course and certain holes for elite golfers, the general membership of clubs should not have much longer courses

imposed upon them for their play.

It is thought sensible to lengthen 7 of the holes with new back tees as shown on the card of the course below.

Implementing the proposals contained in this report would result in the overall length from the white tees increasing

from 6,000m to 6,147m. The yellow tee course would actually fall in length slightly from 5,803m to 5,662m. The blue

tee course would decrease in length slightly from 5,523m to 5,444m and the red tee course would decrease from

5,114m to 4,945m. The orange course is proposed to become much shorter with many of the tees split away from the

red tees and would fall from 4,736m to 4,144m. That would make it a much more pleasurable experience for the senior

and junior golfers.

The change of sequence of holes proposed for the course routing leads to two very well balanced loops of 9 holes and

an improvement over the current configuration.

Proposed Card of the Course

Existing

Hole

Proposed

Hole

Existing White

Metres

Proposed

White Metres

Existing

Yellow Metres

Proposed

Yellow Metres

Existing

Blue Metres

Proposed

Blue Metres

Proposed

Par

Existing

Red Metres

Proposed

Red Metres

Existing

Orange Metres

Proposed

Orange Metres

Proposed

Par

10 1 333 333 322 322 322 322 4 293 293 293 233 4

13 2 351 367 340 351 314 335 4 314 315 238 256 4

5 3 436 476 436 439 418 425 5 373 371 373 314 5

6 4 188 170 165 143 165 143 3 153 106 153 106 3

12 5 326 326 306 313 301 304 4 288 291 288 248 4

11 6 144 159 144 144 133 133 3 107 107 107 107 3

7 7 397 432 397 397 352 352 4 352 304 280 304 4

8 8 431 450 431 426 422 380 5 381 380 381 317 5

9 9 372 372 347 370 335 335 4 335 325 253 208 4

Out Out 2978 3085 2888 2905 2762 2729 36 2596 2492 2366 2093 36

1 10 302 302 280 283 280 247 4 265 235 265 235 4

2 11 160 171 160 160 160 124 3 124 124 124 90 3

3 12 286 286 286 261 277 261 4 261 226 261 197 4

4 13 326 354 326 313 295 274 4 274 274 274 270 4

14 14 346 346 329 341 329 330 4 313 290 313 290 4

15 15 547 550 535 480 466 480 5 466 409 365 381 5

16 16 347 347 309 275 309 265 4 294 210 200 210 4

17 17 335 345 317 340 317 308 4 303 301 303 251 4

18 18 373 380 373 380 328 312 4 311 312 265 312 4

In 3022 3081 2915 2833 2761 2601 36 2611 2369 2370 2224 36

Out 2978 3085 2888 2905 2762 2729 36 2596 2492 2366 2093 36

Total 6000 6166 5803 5738 5523 5330 72 5207 4861 4736 4317 72

Existing 6000 5803 5523 72 5207 4736 72

Greens & Green Surrounds

Green Surfaces

The greens are the focus of any course and the quality of their shaping and condition goes a large way

to determining the quality of a course. A course on an average piece of ground can be elevated to

greatness by having a really good set of greens, whereas a course on a fantastic piece of land can be

really let down by a poor set of greens. It is all too easy to try too hard with green design and the

result is a course which plays too tough. That is not the case at Aachener.

The greens and their surrounds at Aachener provide a very good set. The best shaped greens belong to

the original 9 holes but there are some good examples on the additional 9 holes as well. The movement

contained in the greens strikes a good balance between challenge and maintainability although there are

a few where flag positions have been lost due to the surfaces becoming slightly smaller and as a result of

green speeds getting higher. The 2nd & 3rd greens would be a case in point where the ledges to the left

and right respectively have become too small for the flag. Hence, there are a few opportunities where

greens could be mown out a little larger, probably restoring the original green sizes and, as a result, lost

flag positions.

There is one proposal to redesign and rebuild the 15th green and surrounds to provide a more

interesting complex for the hole. However, this would be a big decision to make and it would be

important to ensure that the specification delivers a green surface which is similar in condition to the

other greens on the course. The advice of the Club’s agronomist would be important on this subject.

Maintenance of Green Surrounds

With the green surrounds, there is the possibility of cutting them more tightly in certain areas. One of

the most important principles, in our view, is that it should be possible to play the game along the

ground as well as through the air. This is especially the case around greens, where the opportunity to

play the chip and run, or even the putter, should be available from certain areas as well as the lofted

recovery. However, good soil conditions and adequate irrigation coverage are necessary for this.

Tightly mown surrounds could be introduced for certain greens and, in some cases, these can replace

bunkers as the greenside features.

Tees

Teeing areas are vitally important on any course as they are the golfers’ first experience of each hole. A

perfectly level tee covered in fine grasses makes an immediate impression and helps make up the mind of the

golfer regarding how well maintained a course is. The tees at Aachener need to be assessed from the point of

view of providing the right length of course for the varying abilities of golfers playing and to ensure that the

areas for each tee are sufficient for the amount of play they receive. The result of that review will be a tee

construction programme to deliver the very best set of surfaces. When the tees are built, it will be important

to define the tee heights and in which direction the surfaces should fall.

The existing tees have a rectangular form which is a classic style and that fits courses with the heritage of the

layout at Aachener. There are quite a lot of tees which have walling to support their surrounds. This is a

characteristic of the tees and course and, it is understood, are valued for the habitat they provide for wildlife

such as reptiles and insects. While keeping some of these would make sense where tees are to remain in the

same location, the cost of building new walls may be prohibitive for a full scale tee construction programme.

There is an opportunity to add back tees to a number of holes on the course to increase its length and

challenge for the better golfers as identified in the hole by hole proposals.

Shortening the orange course for the older golfers and junior players would be an excellent principle to adopt.

Bunker Locations

When the original 9 holes were laid out at Aachener, fairway bunkering was used to provide separation

between the holes. As the trees have grown, a number of the bunkers have either been removed or now

sit amongst the trees.

In addition to that, advances in ball and club technology as well as the athleticism of the modern, elite

players, has led to a reduction in relevance of some of the fairway bunkers.

One view would be to restore the old bunkering and the very open landscape of the original 9 but this is

not recommended. Instead, the bunkering should be reviewed in the light of the landscape (and any

proposed changes to the landscape) which now exists at Aachener and bearing in mind the demands of

the modern day game of golf.

The fairway bunkers at the 3rd and 4th are examples of ones which have become buried in the trees and

the fairway bunkers at the 8th need adjustment to come into the thoughts of the better players in still or

downwind conditions.

With regard to the bunker locations, the hole by hole comments contain recommendations regarding the

removal and addition of bunkers. The new back tees proposed will bring some of the existing bunkers

into the minds of the better players more than they do now.

These proposals are in accordance with the overriding principle we recommend which is that the fairway

bunkers should be relevant to the best players from the back tees. There is no doubt that the distance

which the elite players are hitting the ball these days has dramatically increased over the years since the

original 9 holes were formed and also from when the additional 9 holes were created. We do not want

to take the driver out of the hands of the best players but they should not stand on the tee thinking that a

driver is the best option as a result of them feeling that they can clear all of the bunkers with relative

ease. The adoption of this principle can effectively make the course longer. If these players choose not to

take the driver on some holes, the approach shots left will be longer.

This principle does not mean that the bunkers need to be at the same distance from the tee on every

hole. In some cases, a bunker will be set so that it can just about be carried or even sited in a certain

position for visual purposes. For others, they should be further from the tee and long drives will need to

flirt with them for the best line. Some will work well in the lay up area to encourage and tempt the

golfers into a rash thrash with the driver.

The other general principle we follow is to ignore the prevailing wind conditions when setting bunker

locations. There is less certainty in wind direction these days and a hole played into the wind is hard

enough without bunkers. Hence, we believe that bunkers should be set for still or downwind conditions.

However, there are always exceptions which might be made to these principles. Retaining some bunkers

which may not be in quite the right location for the modern game can sometimes be justified. Some make

a real impact from a landscape perspective which is a worthy reason for them to be retained.

Bunker Style

Bunker styles on virtually all courses have changed over the years. In general, bunkers have become more

manicured as the demands for presentation have increased from the golfers but also from the greenstaff who

keep them and take pride in them. In some cases, it could be argued that this has gone too far with perfection

being the expectation for a golfing feature which is classed as a hazard.

Normally, there is a lot of discussion which is required before a decision is taken regarding the bunker style

which should be adopted at a club. This could take account of historical information regarding the original

shapes of the bunkers, issues such as sand blow and maintainability and, most importantly, playability. However,

the ongoing programme of bunker reconstruction at Aachener has already defined the bunker style. Angela

Moser’s shaping has produced really exceptional results as illustrated by the wonderful approach and greenside

hazards at the 8th hole which is pictured here. There can be little doubt that John Morrison would be delighted

with the appearance of the bunkers if he was able to revisit the course.

The recommendation is that the remaining bunkers to be built should be given the same, very attractive style.

Rough Management

One general comment is that too much of the course is maintained as regularly mown grass. The incorporation

of areas of rough with longer grasses would frame the holes well. Although there is one area of longer rough to

the left of the 5th hole, more areas could be left to grow longer, particularly by narrowing up carry areas

without them becoming unreasonable. This can provide an even more attractive framework for the holes,

involves less fuel consuming cutting, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint for maintenance operations and it

also provides a better habitat for wildlife. However, the overall issue is that the course must remain wide

enough and playable as the result must not be rounds which take much longer to play and golfers getting

demoralised with constant ball searching.

The only slight concern about this strategy is that the long rough to the left of the 5th is very lush and

impenetrable. A thinner, wispy rough would be preferable. It would be sensible to discuss this with the Club’s

agronomist but a programme of cutting and collecting should produce good results over a period of time.

Existing

Visualisation

The Overall Landscape & Tree Management

A landscape of tree lined holes has evolved over the years with the course starting from a completely open and

barren terrain. It could be argued that the trees have taken over too much now. The trees provide obvious

challenge for the golfers but, on some holes, the trees exert too much influence over play and, just as importantly,

compromise the conditions of all playing areas (in articular the greens) by the severe shade they cast, the

restriction of airflow which they produce and as a result of root invasion. Trees are an emotive issue at golf clubs

and also with ecological considerations in mind but there is good reason to remove a large number of trees at

Aachener.

One general proposal is that the lines of trees separating holes should be broken up into copses of trees. This will

not reduce the playing challenge of the holes overly much. Suggestions for the clearance are shown in the hole by

hole proposals.

There are wonderful distant vistas in the area of the 14th, 15th and 16th holes and it is recommended that the

relatively new trees planted to the left of the 15th carry are transplanted to keep those views open and

unobstructed. The same applies for the trees to the right of the 14th which erode the overall landscape structure.

Some of the lines of trees between holes need thinning and

views to the landing areas must be kept open from the tees

Attractive vistas between holes and beyond the course

boundaries are an important feature

Areas of longer rough can provide a wonderful framework

with areas such as carries allowed to grow longer

The Overall Masterplan

Aachener Golf Club

Implementation

Implementation

The majority of the proposals can be carried out without major impact upon the play of the existing course, with

construction planned to still allow shortened holes to be played.

The implementation of the proposals could be undertaken completely by a contractor which would lead to the

completion of the project in the fastest time but the alternative is that the work could be supported by the

greenstaff under the direction of Mackenzie & Ebert. The greenstaff could carry out final preparation and turfing

duties for all areas if their resources allow this. It would certainly help to control the costs of the project.

Use of local turf for all new construction areas except tee surfaces would be recommended to make the new

construction areas blend in with their surroundings and to reduce costs if the greenstaff carry out the turfing.

The role of Mackenzie & Ebert would be to draw up any detailed plans required, to help source a shaper and

contractor if necessary and to make marking out visits and inspection visits to approve the works as they

progress.

The input of an agronomist would be important to approve materials and construction methods for the tee

project and if the Club decided to rebuild the 15th green and the Himalayas green at the clubhouse.

The irrigation system for the tees would need to be planned carefully, either by an independent irrigation

consultant or by an irrigation contractor. The former would be preferable to ensure that the Club is receiving the

appropriate system rather than the one the contractor wants to sell.

Hole Plans, Comments,

Proposals & Visualisations

1st Hole - Existing 10th Hole

1ST HOLE - EXISTING 10TH HOLE

1ST HOLE - PROPOSALS

Existing 333m 322m 322m 293m 293m Par 4

Proposed 333m 322m 322m 293m 233m Par 4

Comments & Specific Recommendations

1. Remove the gravel pathway leading up to the fairway.

2. Grow up the areas of semi-rough to thin, wispy rough.

3. New orange tee.

4. There used to be 2 bunkers in this area. Although very close to the tee, the restoration of the 2

bunkers here would be attractive visually.

5. Create a swale to the left of the green and mow tightly to the left to create a run off area.

6. Reduce tree density to the left and at the back of the green.

Dogleg distances are shown in in

metres yards from the the proposed back tee. tee.

Dogleg distances are shown in

metres from the proposed back tee.

1

2

3

4

225m

2

5

6

2

2

275m

1ST HOLE - PROPOSALS - 25CM LIDAR CONTOURS



1ST HOLE - CURRENT VIEW

1ST HOLE - VISUALISATION

1ST HOLE - CURRENT VIEW

1ST HOLE - VISUALISATION

2nd Hole - Existing 13th Hole

2ND HOLE - EXISTING 13TH HOLE

2ND HOLE - PROPOSALS




1. Enlarge the back tee to extend the hole, with the hedge removed.


3. New orange tee.

4. Reduce tree density on both sides of the fairway to break up the dominant lines of woodland.

5. Reduce the size of the right hand fairway bunker and move it further up the hole.

6. Remove trees to the left of the green to improve growing conditions.

7. Reshape the greenside bunker with a more attractive style but it maybe challenging to gain a view

of it from the fairway.





1

2

3

4

225m

275m

6

7

2

4

5 5 4

Existing 340m 314m 314m Par 4

351m

238m

2ND HOLE - PROPOSALS - 25CM LIDAR CONTOURS Proposed 367m 351m 335m 315m 256m Par 4

2ND HOLE - CURRENT VIEW

2ND HOLE - VISUALISATION

2ND HOLE - CURRENT VIEW

2ND HOLE - VISUALISATION

3rd Hole - Existing 5th Hole

3RD HOLE - EXISTING 5TH HOLE

3RD HOLE - PROPOSALS




1. Add a new back tee.

2. Remove trees in the area of the new tees.

3. Enlarge the back tee and move it further back.

4. Flip the existing forward tee one width to the left.


6. New forward tee.

7. Improve the visibility of the right hand fairway bunker from the tee and reshape it.

8. Make minor adjustments to the sand lines of the two left hand greenside bunkers.

9. Remove the tongue of rough just short of the green to the right of the approach bunker.





8

1

2

3

5

5

8

9

4

5

225m

275m

6

7


436m

373m

3RD HOLE - PROPOSALS - 25CM LIDAR CONTOURS Proposed 476m 439m 425m 371m 314m Par 5

3RD HOLE - CURRENT VIEW

3RD HOLE - VISUALISATION

4th Hole - Existing 6th Hole

4TH HOLE - EXISTING 6TH HOLE

4TH HOLE - PROPOSALS




1. Move the tee much further forward and split it into three separate tees.

2. Remove the hedge to the right of the hole.

3. Reduce tree density on the left to make room for the new green. The stone pile should be

retained as a feature.

4. Move the green further back and to the right with two bunkers to the right of the new green.

1 1

1

3

4

2


188m

153m

4TH HOLE - PROPOSALS - 25CM LIDAR CONTOURS Proposed 170m 143m 143m 106m 106m Par 3

4TH HOLE - CURRENT VIEW

4TH HOLE - VISUALISATION







1. Split the very long tee into three.

tees.

2. Remove Reduce trees density down down the left the side left of side the of fairway the fairway to break to break up the up line the of line woodland. of woodland.

3. Add New a orange bunker tee. on the right of the fairway in the landing area.

4. Reduce Add a bunker the size on of the the right left of hand the fairway bunker in the landing move area. it further up the hole.

5. Reshape Reduce the size left of greenside the left hand bunker fairway with a bunker more attractive and move style. it further up the hole.

6. Remove Reshape the bunker left greenside on the bunker right of with the green a more and attractive create a style. tightly mown swale.

7. Remove the hedge bunker behind on the the right green. of the green and create a tightly mown swale.

8. Add a bunker to the rear of the green.

9. Lower the hedge behind and to the right of the green.


yards from the proposed back tee.



8

1

1 2 2

5

6

9

3

275m

7

225m

4

5TH HOLE - PROPOSALS - 25CM LIDAR CONTOURS













1. Add a new back tee and combine the four existing tees into two larger platforms.

2. Reshape and extend the bunker on the left.

3. Make minor adjustments to the sand lines of the two right hand greenside bunkers.

4. Mow out the green to the rear and right.

2

1

1 1

3

4






7th Hole

7TH HOLE





1. Add a new back tee and remove the hedge to clear the line of play.

2. Remove hedges to enhance the view from the tees.


4. Add a new blue tee.

5. Add new red and orange tees.

6. Restore one of the historic left hand fairway bunkers with a more modern style.

7. Reshape the right hand fairway bunker with a more attractive style.

8. Mow out the green surface to the right, closer to the bunker and to the back left.

9. There is the possibility to mow out the green surrounds to the back left to create a run off area.





1

3

5

6

225m

9

2

3

4 3 2

2

7

275m

8

3


397m

280m




8th Hole

8TH HOLE





1. The back tee will be moved back onto the 1st hole tee (existing 10th tee) and shared. This will be

a safer arrangement as long hitters are hindered from playing over the trees and back up the 9th

hole.

2. Remove the gravel path and plant a tree to avoid drives over to the 9th as short cuts.

3. A fence will be installed to protect the car park from stray tee shots.


5. New orange tee.

6. Remove the left hand fairway bunker and enlarge and reshape the bunker on the right.

7. Add two new bunkers further up the fairway to the right.

8. Add a bunker to the right of the approach.

9. Mow out the green surface to the back and back right towards the bunker.



1

2

4

6

275m

4

4

9

3

4

5

6

7

225m

7

8


431m

381m




9th Hole

9TH HOLE





1. Regrade the old tee.

2. Reconfigure the teeing area, moving the yellow tee back onto an enlarged white tee to improve the

safety relative to the 10th tee (existing 1st).

3. Reduce tree density to the right of the teeing area.

4. Remove the gravel pathway and small trees to the left of the teeing area.

5. The red tee should be moved back onto an enlarged blue tee and built at a reasonable high

elevation out of the bank and move the orange tee forward.


7. Add a bunker on the right of the fairway in the landing area.



8. Add a bunker to the left of the fairway.

9. Tree planting to bolster gaps between the 8th and 9th holes.

10. Lower the approach to the right greenside bunker to make it more visible.

11. Restore the original left hand approach bunker.

12. Possibility to mow out the green surrounds to the left of the green although there are concerns with

the proximity to the trees.

13. Mow out the green to the back, although there are concerns with the proximity to the trees.



1

2

4

5

6

5

225m

7

275m

8

9

11

12

6

13

3

10


372m

253m




10th Hole - Existing 1st Hole

10TH HOLE - EXISTING 1ST HOLE





1. Split up the huge main tee into two, playing the white and yellow tees off the back tee and the blue

and red off the other.

2. Remove the hedge to the right of the teeing area.


4. New orange tee.

5. Give the walk in edges of the bunkers a more attractive line which is less straight.

6. Mow out the green surface further to the right. It could also be mown out to the back, although

conditions for growth are not good given the proximity of the trees.

7. It was not thought to be appropriate to restore the old bunker behind the green.

8. Reduce the tree density behind the green.



Possible Himalayas

Putting Green

7

8

5

1

1

3

6

2

3

4

225m

275m


302m

265m




11th Hole - Existing 2nd Hole

11TH HOLE - EXISTING 2ND HOLE





1. Extend the back tee further back, the forward tee to the front. Enlarge both tees.

2. Reduce tree density to the left of the teeing area.


4. New orange tee.

5. Possibility to remove the trees short and right of the green. However, they do provide a good

barrier to the proposed short game area.

6. Make a minor adjustment to the sand line of the left hand bunker.

7. Mow out the green surface further to the left as it would be good to allow the flag to be located

on the left side of the green and also to the rear although there may be problems caused by the

proximity of the trees behind the green.

8. Remove some of the trees behind the green to facilitate the green extension at the back.

3

2

4

6

1 1

7

3

5

8


160m

124m




12th Hole - Existing 3rd Hole

12TH HOLE - EXISTING 3RD HOLE





1. Reduce tree density behind the teeing area, either side of the fairway and around the green.

2. Tee reconstruction.


4. New red tee.

5. New orange tee.

6. Remove the bunker to the left of the fairway in the trees.

7. Mow the fairway further to the right to allow balls to stay on the plateau.

8. Add a fairway bunker to the left of the fairway, further on than the current bunker.

9. New bunker on the right of the fairway in the landing area.



10. Reshape the greenside bunker with a more attractive style.

11. Mow out the green surface further to the right to achieve a flag position in this area.

12. Remove hedge behind the green.



1

12

2

3 4

5

6

8

10

1

1

3

2

3

7

225m

9

275m

11

1


286m

261m










1. The white tee will be shared with the 18th yellow tee.

2. The current back tee will be levelled and the yellow tee will remain on this tee box.


4. The blue, red and orange tees will play from the existing tee.

5. Reduce tree density down the left side of the fairway.

6. Remove the bunker to the left of the hole.

7. Add a bunker further up the left side of the fairway.

8. Add mounding to the right of the approach.

9. Reshape the left greenside bunker with a more attractive style.



10. Mow the green surface further to the rear.



5

5 6

5

1

2

3

7

9

10

4

275m

3

225m

8


326m

274m




14th Hole

14TH HOLE





1. Split up the very long and narrow tee into two.


3. New orange and red tee to be played from a wider angle.

4. Remove the left hand fairway bunker which is in the trees.

5. Add two bunkers to the right of the fairway in the landing area.

6. Remove the right greenside bunker and create a tightly mown swale which will channel the surface

flow around the green.

7. Split the long bunker to the left and rear of the green into three more attractive bunkers.





7

2

1

2

3

4

5

275m

5

6

225m

2






15th Hole

15TH HOLE





1. Realign the tees to the left and add a new yellow, blue, red and orange tee to reduce the carry to the

fairway. The blue and yellow tees will play from the same tee.

2. Transplant most of the trees to the left of the carry to another location.


4. Shorten the fairway.

5. Add a bunker on the right of the fairway in the landing area set into the upslope.

6. Remove the left hand fairway bunker.

7. Add two bunkers on the right of the approach on a diagonal line.

8. Enlarge and reshape the left greenside bunker.



9. Reshape the green surrounds to give the green more character and challenge and mov the surrounds

tightly



1

1

2

3

4

1

1

225m

275m

6

8

3

5

7

7

9










16th Hole

16TH HOLE





1. Reduce the long, narrow tee and move the yellow and blue tees forward.

2. Shorten the fairway.

3. Move the red tee forward and combine it with the orange tee.

4. Add a bunker to the right of the fairway in the landing area.

5. Add a bunker on the left side of the approach.

6. Reshape the greenside bunker with a more attractive style.

7. Mow the green surrounds tightly to the right.

8. Remove some of the trees to the rear left of the green to keep the wonderful distant view open.





6

8

1

1

2

5

3

225m

275m

7

4








17th Hole

17TH HOLE





1. Split the very long tee into two and realign them to the left. Move the back tee further right and

raise it slightly to improve the view to the fairway.

2. New orange tee.

3. Selective tree removal down both sides of the fairway to break up the linear woodland lines.

4. Remove the left and right greenside bunkers and mow out the green surrounds to create a tightly

mown swale to the left and a run off to the right, creating a bunkerless hole.





1 1

3

3

225m

3

275m

4

2

3

3

3

4





17TH HOLE - ADDITIONAL VISUALISATION

18th Hole

18TH HOLE





1. Realign the back tee which the yellow tee will also play from.


3. The blue, red and orange tees will play from the existing forward tee.

4. Restore the original short right hand fairway bunker.

5. Plant a small maple tree to replace the existing one when it dies.

6. Move the left hand fairway bunker further into the fairway and slightly further up the hole.

7. Enlarge and move the right hand fairway bunker closer to the tee and towards the fairway.

8. Restore the original left hand fairway bunker.





6

1

3

2

275m

8

2

4

5

225m

7

2






Aachener Masterplan Report 2025-05

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