Mackenzie & Ebert 2019 Annual Review

I n t e r n a t i o n a l G o l f C o u r s e A r c h i t e c t s 

The 2019 Review

Summary Of The Year 

2019 was a year that has taken us to 4 continents, 15 countries and more than 100 golf courses to encounter a full spectrum of 

golf experiences from the arid city centre of Lima, Peru to the vibrant colours of Kobe, Japan. 

There have been many memorable experiences, but the most notable has to be the visit to the Northern Irish coast in July when 

The Open descended on Royal Portrush. 6 years earlier, design work began on planning alterations that would make hosting a 

tournament of The Open’s size on its world renowned Dunluce course possible. The plans were implemented 2 years after that. 

Ever since the new 7th and 8th holes were conceived, there has been great anticipation and a degree of nervousness about how 

the world’s best would tackle them. The weather was largely kind, with the wind switching slightly from day to day to change the 

challenge of the course. The aim is to design holes that offer the possibility of producing birdies and eagles as well as bogeys and 

double bogeys. The new par 5 7th certainly did that, being in range in two, even though it measures almost 600 yards allowing 

a few eagles and some disasters along the way. 

Shane Lowry’s performance was enormously impressive, demonstrating his deep knowledge of links golf, his shot-making ability 

and magical touch around the greens. When the Dunluce started to bite back on Sunday afternoon, he withstood every challenge 

presented and was a worthy winner of the Claret Jug. 

Whilst The Open was taking place, another highlight of the year was simmering in the background. Out in Japan, the major 

renovation and restoration of lost features of the course at Hirono, originally designed in 1931 which became a real golfing 

landmark in the East, was proceeding full steam ahead. The first spade hit the ground on the 12th of January. A little over 10 

months later, at a memorable opening ceremony, the restored and improved course was launched. Every green had been rebuilt 

using the original design sketches of Charles Hugh Alison (Harry Colt’s partner) as inspiration. Every tee had been reworked 

alongside a full bunker reconstruction programme to restore the incredible and visually striking hazards that had been lost over 

time. 

The M&E team at The 

Open, Royal Portrush 

The restored bunkering 

on the 7th at Hirono 

87 

Clubs Worked With In 2019 

7 

New Commissions 

37 

Projects Under Construction 

16 

Courses Currently Advised Ranked In Golf.com 

World Top 100 

15 

Countries Visited

Summary Of The Year 

The new 7th green, 

Royal Dornoch 

The final hole at Hamilton 

for the Canadian Open 

The year saw Golf.com and Top100GolfCourses.com launch their World Top 100 Courses rankings. In the Golf.com Rankings, 

16 of them are being or have been advised (with 10 in the Top 50). Construction is underway on projects on 9 of them. In the 

Top100golfcourses.com rankings, 13 make the list. Included in the Top 10 of one or other of the rankings are Royal County Down, 

the Ailsa Course at Turnberry and Royal Dornoch. It is notable that all three are implementing work this year. Of particular note, 

at Royal Dornoch, the new 7th hole has been completed and was opened in December to limited play. It runs along the top of 

the scarp offering an incredible view towards the coast. 

Another Colt & Company course, like Hirono, Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ontario, Canada hosted the RBC Canadian Open 

and then embarked on the first phase of a major reconstruction. The work will be complete and established in time for the 

The new 7th green open for 

play, Royal Dornoch 

87 

Clubs Worked With In 2019 

7 


37 

Projects Under Construction 

future championships which are scheduled. On the opposite side of Toronto, Oshawa Golf and Curling Club gave the go-ahead 

for a Historic Research Study and Long Range Plan, one of 7 new commissions during the year. 

Moving closer to home, it was an extraordinarily busy year both beside the sea and inland. Work was either underway or being 

planned on 35 seaside links from the far North of Scotland to Cornwall to The West of Ireland to Jersey. Away from the sea, work 

was undertaken at 40 courses in 9 countries from Cyprus to Finland to Iceland to Canada to Spain. This includes work on 12 

heathland courses, the most major of which can be seen at Liphook. 

This is certainly a period where clubs are looking to invest in their future. 

16 

Courses Currently Advised Ranked In Golf.com 

World Top 100 

15 

Countries Visited

What a start to The Open - a birdie at the 1st for Darren! 

The Open At Royal Portrush

Enormous crowds on the 72nd hole to 

celebrate Shane’s fantastic performance 

The Open At Royal Portrush

Restoration of the carry feature 

on the 18th hole 

First Journey To Japan - Hirono

Restoration of the bunkering 

on the par 3 7th hole 

First Journey To Japan - Hirono

Work On Heritage Courses 

Once again this year, we have been entrusted to work on many of the great courses across the British Isles and 

Europe as well as some further afield. Working sensitively on courses where the great old architects plied their 

trade is part of what we have always done in our careers. 

Architect 

Harry Colt 

Charles Hugh Alison (with Harry Colt) 

Herbert Fowler 

Dr A MacKenzie 

Philip Mackenzie Ross 

Old Tom Morris 

John Morrison 

Tom Simpson 

James Braid 

Willie Park Junior 

Stanley Thompson 

Courses With Direct M&E Involvement In 2019 Where 

The Great Old Architects World 

St Andrews Eden, Aldeburgh, Burnham & Berrow, Cannes Mougin, Chelmsford, Formby, Hamilton, Luffenham Heath, 

Prestbury, Royal Belfast, Royal Portrush, Royal Wimbledon, Trevose, Worthing 

Aldeburgh, Effingham, Hirono, Luffenham Heath, Northumberland, Royal Lytham and St Annes 

Delemere Forest, Saunton, Walton Heath 

Burnham & Berrow, Bruntsfield Links, Ilkley, Littlestone, Royal Troon (Old and Portland) 

Turnberry (Ailsa) 

Askernish, Prestwick, Royal County Down, Royal Dornoch, St Andrews New, Wallasey 

Fulwell, Kedleston Park, Prestbury, Princes, Trevose 

Club de Golf Terramar, North Hants, Royal Porthcawl 

Exeter, Bruntsfield Links, Formby, Goodwood, La Moye, Littlestone, Luffenham Heath, Mortonhall 

Aldeburgh, Bruntsfield Links, Formby, Notts (Hollinwell), Royal Wimbledon 

Oshawa 

Herbert Fowler 

Philip Mackenzie Ross 

Tom Simpson 

Stanley Thompson

Heritage Courses 

R e s t o r a t i o n , R e n o v a t i o n O r R e d e s i g n - W h a t A p p r o a c h S h o u l d B e T a k e n ? 

There is occasionally criticism from some quarters about changes to old courses. Some feel that it is sacrilege to 

change courses which have a historic significance. In some cases that criticism is justified as some great old courses 

have been completely transformed from their original character and not always for the better. 

As will be a repetitive theme through this Annual Review, our approach to historic course projects is to first make as 

extensive a research study as is possible to discover how the particular course has evolved and who was responsible 

for what. The records for some courses are better than others but it is only right to pay as much respect as possible 

to the original designers and, in many cases, the re-designers. Not only is it a very valuable exercise but it can be a 

fascinating one as well. 

Once that historic research is collated, a decision can be made about which features of a course should be restored. 

We believe that it should not be a case of restoring every old feature, if it is even possible to do so, as the game has 

moved on. However, some features are most definitely worthy of restoration. The forgotten left hand section of the 

16th fairway at Royal Cinque Ports, discovered on an old aerial photograph, is an example of one such feature which 

has definitely been worth restoring this year. Only expert historians would have known that the 7th at Royal Dornoch 

was part of a sequence added in 1946 when George Duncan, the Open Champion, visited for a day to lay out the new 

holes. At the time, there were doubts locally about where he put the 7th which has now been moved. 

Old features can also inspire proposals, even if it is not considered appropriate to restore the features themselves. 

The wonderful rough edged bunkers we discovered had been created after the Second World War by Mackenzie Ross 

at Turnberry are an example of that. They might not all be in the same locations as they were, but the old shapes were 

used as inspiration for the new ones. 

The same was the case at Hirono, in Japan, where new bunkers were added in a modern version of the old style, to 

ensure that the course remains a suitable test for the best players from the back tees. We believe it is only what the 

original architects would propose if they had the opportunity to return to their courses today. 

The 16th hole, with its restored left hand 

section of fairway at Royal Cinque Ports 

Photograph courtesy of Jason Livy

Heritage Courses 

R e s t o r a t i o n , R e n o v a t i o n O r R e d e s i g n - W h a t A p p r o a c h S h o u l d B e T a k e n ? 

What the research often reveals is how significantly certain courses have changed over the years, and very often 

for the betterment of the layout. Once again that inspires and supports the possibility of a further adjustment to 

the course, so long as it is not made for the sake of change. A case illustrating that is provided by Royal Portrush, 

where Harry Colt’s original layout was routed from a clubhouse located in the town itself. Two new holes were 

required when the clubhouse moved. That precedent helped the members accept that a further change to the 

layout, involving the two holes recently added, the 7th and 8th, was entirely justified. And, of course, that led to 

The Open Championship returning to the great Dunluce links after 68 years. 

7th Hole, Royal Portrush 

Photograph courtesy of Steve Carr 

So, in conclusion, changes to historic courses can be justified but some of them are, in fact, restorations of old 

features. Where changes are made or new features added, that should only follow a considered evaluation of the 

historical evolution of the course and an assessment of the demands of the modern game.

Bunker Styles 

R e s t o r a t i o n , R e n o v a t i o n O r R e d e s i g n 

Mackenzie & Ebert do not have one particular bunker style. We believe that the bunker style for a particular course 

should be decided upon after considering a number of factors. What was the old style of the bunkers and is that 

appropriate today? What does the landscape suggest? What are the maintenance demands of a particular style 

and can the Club cope with those demands? What is the brief from the Club? It is not a “one size fits all” approach, 

although some people seem to think it is. 

The 10th hole on the Ailsa Course at Turnberry, 

showing two styles of bunker on the same hole. 

The following pages show a range of styles which we have been involved with throughout the past year.

Bunker Styles 

More intricate shapes at Effingham 

Rough edged ‘torn’ bunker edges at Trevose 

Smoother lines at Fulwell 

Gnarled and rough faced at Littlestone 

The old irregular bunkers at Hirono 

restored with a more manicured edge 

Classic revetment at Nairn

World Top 100 Golf Courses 

By GOLF.com 

Mackenzie & Ebert are currently advisers to 16 of the top 100 courses in the world as ranked by GOLF.com 

WORLD TOP 100 GOLF COURSES - 2020/21 

Course Country Advice Provided Number Ranking Course Country Advice Provided Number 

1 Pine Valley USA 51 Royal Troon (Old) Scotland Changes for the 2016 Open Championship. 10 

2 Cypress Point USA 52 Camargo USA 

3 St Andrews (Old) Scotland 53 Bethpage (Black) USA 

4 Shinnecock Hills USA 54 Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) England 

5 National Golf Links Of America USA 55 Swinley Forest England 

6 Royal County Down Northern Ireland 

New 16th hole & major changes to 17th & 18th - New practice ground constructed - 

Masterplan. 

1 56 Kawana (Fuji) Japan 

7 Royal Melbourne (West) Australia 57 Ballyneal USA 

8 Oakmont USA 58 Kiawah Island (Ocean) USA 

9 Augusta National USA 59 Casa De Campo (Teeth Of The Dog) Dominican Rep. 

10 Royal Dornoch (Championship) Scotland 

Vision Document approved by members, changes to the 3rd & 12th holes completed. 

New 7th Hole. 

2 60 Cape Wickham Australia 

11 Pebble Beach USA 61 Royal Lytham & St. Annes England Masterplan, changes for the 2012 Open Championship including a new 7th green. 11 

12 Muirfield Scotland 62 Winged Foot (East) USA 

13 Royal Portrush (Dunluce) Northern Ireland Two new holes & other major changes for the 2019 Open Championship. 3 63 Cruden Bay Scotland New 9th hole, revised 10th hole and assistance on long-term plannin. 1st tee project. 12 

14 Sand Hills USA 64 Maidstone USA 

15 Merion (East) USA 65 Royal Liverpool England Adjustments to the 9th & 17th green surrounds - Masterplan for the 2022 Open. 13 

16 Pinehurst (No.2) USA 66 Castle Stuart Scotland 

17 Trump Turnberry (Ailsa) Scotland Major changes including 5 new holes & every green, tee and bunker rebuilt. 4 67 Rye (Old) England General advice - Redesign of the 17th hole green surrounds. Ongoing advice. 14 

18 Fishers Island USA 68 TPC Sawgrass (Players) USA 

19 Chicago USA 69 Whistling Straits (Straits) USA 

20 Los Angeles (North) USA 70 Diamante (Dunes) Mexico 

21 Ballybunion (Old) Ireland Fairway lines and concept plans. 5 71 Kingsbarns Scotland 

22 Kingston Heath Australia 72 Oakland Hills (South) USA 

23 Winged Foot (West) USA 73 Sunningdale (New) England 

24 Pacific Dunes USA 74 Quaker Ridge USA 

25 Cystal Downs USA 75 Prestwick Scotland Bunker strategy report. Pathway report. 15 

26 Friar's Head USA 76 Sleepy Hollow USA 

27 Tara Iti New Zealand 77 Ellerston Australia 

28 Riviera USA 78 Royal Hague Netherlands 

29 Sunningdale (Old) England 79 Olympic (Lake) USA 

30 San Francisco USA 80 Bandon Dunes USA 

31 Prairie Dunes USA 81 Inverness USA 

32 Carnoustie (Championship) Scotland Redesign of the 3rd hole & Open practice facilities. 6 82 Cabot Links Canada 

33 Royal St. George's England Changes for the 2011 & 2020 Open Championships & Open practice facilities. 7 83 Yale USA 

34 Seminole USA 84 The Golf Club Japan 

35 Barnbougle Dunes Australia 85 Muifield Village USA 

36 Lahinch (Old) Ireland 86 St George's Hill (R&B) England 

37 North Berwick (West) Scotland 87 Bandon Trails USA 

38 The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel) USA 88 De Pan (Utrechtse) Netherlands 

39 Hirono Japan Major restoration and renovation including every green, tee and bunker rebuilt. 8 89 Barnbougle (Lost Farm) Australia 

40 Royal Birkdale England 90 Walton Heath (Old) England Masterplan and layout advice. 16 

41 Morfontaine France 91 Peachtree USA 

42 Somerset Hills USA 92 Myopia Hunt Club USA 

43 Cabot Cliffs Canada 93 Machrihanish Scotland 

44 Cape Kidnappers New Zealand 94 Nine Bridges Vietnam 

45 Shoreacres USA 95 St. George's Canada 

46 New South Wales Australia 96 Royal Melbourne (East) Australia 

47 Garden City USA 97 Waterville Ireland 

48 Portmarnock (Old) Ireland Masterplan, bunker strategy report, dune construction & practice facilities. 9 98 Ohoopee Match Club USA 

49 Southern Hills USA 99 Rock Creek Cattle Company USA 

50 California Club Of San Francisco USA 100 Trump International Scotland

World Top 100 Golf Courses 

By Top100golfcourses.com 

Mackenzie & Ebert are currently advisers to 13 of the top 100 courses in the world as ranked by Top100golfcourses.com 

Top 100 Golf Courses of the World 2020 

Course Country Advice Provided Number Ranking Course Country Advice Provided Number 

1 Cypress Point USA 51 Camargo USA 

2 Pine Valley USA 52 Royal Aberdeen Scotland 

3 Shinnecock Hills USA 53 Castle Stuart Scotland 

4 Royal County Down Northern Ireland 

New 16th hole & major changes to 17th & 18th - New practice ground constructed - 

Masterplan. 

1 54 Swinley Forest England 

5 National Golf Links Of America USA 55 Cape Wickham Australia 

6 Royal Melbourne (West) Australia 56 Garden City USA 

7 Oakmont USA 57 Bethpage (Black) USA 

8 Trump Turnberry (Ailsa) Scotland Major changes including 5 new holes & every green, tee and bunker rebuilt. 2 58 Royal Lytham & St. Annes England Masterplan, changes for the 2012 Open Championship including a new 7th green. 10 

9 St Andrews (Old) Scotland 59 St. George's Canada 

10 Sand Hills USA 60 California USA 

11 Royal Portrush (Dunluce) Northern Ireland Two new holes & other major changes for the 2019 Open Championship. 3 61 Cabot Links Canada 

12 Royal Dornoch (Championship) Scotland 

Vision Document approved by members, changes to the 3rd & 12th holes completed. 

New 7th Hole. 

4 62 Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) England 

13 Merion (East) USA 63 Diamante (Dunes) Mexico 

14 Muirfield Scotland 64 Trump International Scotland 

15 Augusta National USA 65 Old Town USA 

16 Kingston Heath Australia 66 Royal Porthcawl Wales Masterplan and bunker restoration 11 

17 Pebble Beach USA 67 St George's Hill (R&B) England 

18 Cystal Downs USA 68 Bandon Dunes USA 

19 Ballybunion (Old) Ireland Fairway lines and concept plans. 5 69 Kiawah Island Resort (Ocean) USA 

20 Fishers Island USA 70 Cruden Bay Scotland New 9th hole, revised 10th hole and assistance on long-term plannin. 1st tee project. 12 

21 Friar's Head USA 71 Maidstone USA 

22 Royal St. George's England Changes for the 2011 & 2020 Open Championships & Open practice facilities. 6 72 Shoreacres USA 

23 Pacific Dunes USA 73 Oakland Hills (South) USA 

24 Sunningdale (Old) England 74 Ellerston Australia 

25 Los Angeles (North) USA 75 Barnbougle Lost Farm Australia 

26 Chicago USA 76 Old Sandwich USA 

27 Pinehurst (No.2) USA 77 Ganton England 

28 Carnoustie (Championship) Scotland Redesign of the 3rd hole & Open practice facilities. 7 78 TPC Sawgrass (Stadium) USA 

29 Lahinch (Old) Ireland 79 Whistling Straits (Straits) USA 

30 Barnbougle Dunes Australia 80 Koninklijke Haagsche Netherlands 

31 Winged Foot (West) USA 81 Ardfin Scotland 

32 Hirono Japan Major restoration and renovation including every green, tee and bunker rebuilt. 8 82 St Enodoc (Chiurch) England 

33 Riviera USA 83 Bandon Dunes (Old Macdonald) USA 

34 Prairie Dunes USA 84 Muirfield Village USA 

35 San Francisco USA 85 Casa De Campo (Teeth Of The Dog) Dominican Rep. 

36 Tara Iti New Zealand 86 De Pan (Utrechtse) Netherlands 

37 Seminole USA 87 South Cape Owners Club South Korea 

38 New South Wales Australia 88 Victoria Golf Club Australia 

39 Morfontaine France 89 Naruo Japan 

40 Royal Birkdale England 90 Royal Adelaide Australia 

41 North Berwick (West) Scotland 91 West Sussex England 

42 Kawana (Fuji) Japan 92 Lanhai International (Yangtze Dunes) China 

43 Kingsbarns Scotland 93 European Club Ireland 

44 Cape Kidnappers New Zealand 94 Paraparaumu Beach New Zealand 

45 Sunningdale (New) England 95 Royal Cinque Ports England Masterplan, bunker restoration & practice facilities. 13 

46 Cabot Cliffs Canada 96 Essex County Club USA 

47 Ballyneal USA 97 The Golf Club USA 

48 Portmarnock (Old) Ireland Masterplan, bunker strategy report, dune construction & practice facilities. 9 98 Santapazienza Brazil 

49 The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel) USA 99 Bandon Dunes (Bandon Trails) USA 

50 Somerset Hills USA 100 Real Valderrama Spain

Mapping Goodwood in Canada 

Drone Services 

It has been another busy year all around with the use of the drone becoming increasingly 

integral part of the Mackenzie & Ebert workflow, being used as a basis for visualisations, hole 

by hole video fly-throughs and mapping. We also offer clubs the high quality hole by hole fly 

through videos which provide a wonderful way to showcase a course and can be used for 

websites and marketing purposes. 

Drone usage in the UK has come under increased legislation this year, following an incident at 

Gatwick Airport late last year and the huge increase in shop-bought drones. This tightening in 

regulation is actually a good thing for everyone, as it makes our skies safer. As a professional 

operator, Chris Huggett has held a PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations), issued by 

the Civil Aviation Authority, for 3 years and always operates within the relevant drone laws 

whichever country he is working in. 

The project at Hirono in Japan has been a wonderful experience and culturally refreshing – 

courteous, charming people, beautiful landscapes, a sense of history and cherished traditions. 

The drone showed its full potential, acting as a powerful tool to record the progress of the 

project through videography and photography, examples of which are included in this review. 

The combination of LiDAR and drone mapping data has proved invaluable as a base for the 

restoration project. 

April involved a trip to La Moye in Jersey to take photos and videos of the course as well as 

carry out a mapping exercise. This was followed by an exciting trip to Canada in September. 

The introduction of strict drone laws in Canada meant having to take an advanced flight 

review examination before making any flights. 

Having worked on Angus Glen and Goodwood for many years, it was great to finally be able to 

use the drone at both courses. This was followed by a full 18 hole flythrough at Hamilton Golf 

& Country Club before the work starts on the course. A visit to Oshawa Golf & Curling Club to 

capture photos and videos of all 18 holes and to map the course came next. A big bonus was 

seeing the salmon making their final journey upriver to spawn - something never to forget. 

An article in a Japanese magazine ‘Choice’ 

Looking back towards La Moye from La Rocco tower 

Hirono - Hole No.7, par3

Drone Services

Contractors & Greenkeepers 

This has been another year of great team work. Achieving the best results for a project involves 

everyone doing their jobs well and we are privileged to work with exceptionally talented and 

committed contractors, greenkeeping teams and individuals. Each part of the team is equally 

important for ideas to work in reality. Everywhere we work, the greenkeeping teams are at our 

sides and their role must not be under-estimated in the success of projects. 

A big thank you to everyone involved. 

The Island 

Liphook 

Royal Dornoch 

Nairn 

Lima


After a flurry of new appointments at the end of 2018, this year 

brought a further 7 new commissions. These are at: 

The 18th green at Oshawa 

Aldeburgh (Suffolk, England) 

Ballybunion (Ireland) 

Craigielaw (East Lothian, Scotland) 

Hopeman (Moray, Scotland) 

Nairn Dunbar (Nairnshire, Scotland) 

Oshawa (Ontario, Canada) 

Wallasey (Wirral, England)

2019 Project List 

Aislaby Fureso Nairn Royal Portrush 

Aldeburgh Goodwood Nairn Dunbar Royal St. George’s 

Angus Glen Hamilton Golf & Country Club Noordwijkse Royal Troon 

Ashridge Hankley Common North Hants Royal West Norfolk 

Ballybunion Harewood Downs Northumberland Royal Wimbledon 

Bamburgh Castle Haywards Heath Notts Rye 

Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society Hillside Oakmere Saunton 

Burnham & Berrow Hindhead Oshawa Silloth-on-Solway 

Cannes Mougins Hirono Pickala St. Andrews 

Carnoustie Hopeman Porthmadog Swinley Forest 

Chelmsford Ilkley Prestbury Terramar 

Conwy Kedleston Park Prestwick The Island 

Copenhagen Keilir Princes Trevose 

Cortona La Moye Reykjavik Turnberry 

Craigielaw Lima Rochester & Cobham Vierumaki 

Cruden Bay Liphook Rothley Park Wallasey 

Eaton Littlestone Royal Cinque Ports Walton Heath 

Edgbaston Los Leones Royal County Down West Byfleet 

Effingham Luffenham Heath Royal Dornoch Western Gailes 

Exeter Golf & Country Club Milltown Royal Liverpool Worthing 

Flempton Minthis Royal Lytham And St. Annes Appendix 1 - Hirono Portfolio 

Formby Moor Hall Royal North Devon Appendix 2 - Liphook Video 

Fulwell Mortonhall Royal Porthcawl Appendix 3 - The Island Timelapse 

RETURN TO START 

OF REVIEW 

PLEASE CLICK A COURSE NAME TO REVEAL MORE INFORMATION

Somerset, England 

A visit was made at this beautiful, private 6 hole course in Somerset to review its condition 

and the addition of a new tee to play to a green across the lake which match players 

occasionally swim across in accordance with Amphibian Rules!

Suffolk, England 

At the end of the year, the Club took the decision to appoint Mackenzie & Ebert to 

undertake a comprehensive review of the Championship Course with a view to further 

strengthening Aldeburgh’s position as one of the leading maritime heathland courses in 

the UK. This will begin, as usual, with a historical assessment to see what changes have 

occurred over the years and whether any old features should be restored or will provide 

inspiration for new proposals. Improvement of the practice facilities also forms an 

important part of the brief.

Ontario, Canada 

Input has been provided over many years at Angus Glen, which has hosted Canadian 

Opens in the past on both the South and North Courses. The latest input seeks to plan a 

long term strategy for golf at the Club.

Hertfordshire, England 

A visit was made to this delightful course to assess the 3rd hole in particular to provide 

proposals for the teeing area, carry, green surrounds and bunkering design following the 

loss of a key tree at the green. The opportunity was taken to consider ideas on some of 

the other holes.

County Kerry, Ireland 

Design input at Ballybunion has been provided on a number of fronts, including a focus on 

restoring old features though a study of the Tom Simpson report of 1936. The fairway 

shapes of the Old Course were assessed as part of this exercise with the Club installing a 

new irrigation system during the year. A design concept has also been presented for the 

Club’s practice ground and dunes were formed around the car park at the end of the year. 

Initial plans have been drawn up for the improvement of the Cashen Course and this work 

will be submitted to the Club in the New Year as part of a design competition for the 

improvement of Ballybunion’s second course.

Northumberland, England 

A fascinating Historic Research Report was published for the Club in 2017 as a precursor to 

a full Course Audit. Since then, the Club has been making adjustments to the course using 

in-house resources at a steady rate and this continued in 2019 with work being completed 

on the 2 nd , 3 rd and 17 th holes. Work is ongoing on the new 6 th green as well as the bunkers 

on the 5 th , 7 th , 8 th and 9 th holes. There are exciting plans for a new 13 th green and a new 

par three 14 th hole.

Edinburgh, Scotland 

The start of the year saw the re-opening of the course at Bruntsfield Links, following the 

major redevelopment completed in 2018. In total, eight new greens have been built and 

all bunkers have been reconstructed, many being relocated, but with all being lined. The 

course now has two new par 3s, the 10th and 16th, and five rerouted holes that have 

resulted in a layout with more variety and interest. 

Further to the course work, a new 1000 sq. m practice putting green has been added 

directly in front of the Clubhouse. The Society has seen a considerable upturn in 

membership applications and green fee revenue from members introducing guests as well 

as visiting players. The investment was significant but the response of the golfers wanting 

to join or play has more than justified it.

Somerset, England 

Following the successful redesign and reconstruction of the 6th green, the Club decided 

that the 14th green should be the next to be softened in terms of its contours. Previously, 

it had been played from a completely different direction and, when it was changed, the 

shaping was a little too severe causing good tee shots landing on the right side of the 

green to end up off the green on the left. That has been addressed with the new design 

but care was taken to maintain the attractive shapes which so many of the greens at 

Burnham enjoy. 

A full Masterplan has been developed as well, following an extensive historical 

assessment. That exercise revealed that the wonderful 9th green, attributed to Dr. Alister 

MacKenzie, was, in fact, heavily criticised when it was first opened and, as a result, was 

softened considerably by the Secretary.

Cȏte D’Azur, France 

Cannes Mougins, on France’s chic Cȏte D’Azur, is another of Harry Colt’s creations and it 

celebrates its centenary in 2023. Having carried out a major bunker refurbishment and 

reconstruction of 3 greens in 2015, the Club has ambitiously decided to plan 

reconstruction of their remaining greens to USGA standards. 

This year saw the project being planned in more detail, so that it can be completed before 

their landmark year. Working with Alejandro Reyes of Turfgrass Agronomy Services, the 

work will send the Club into its second century with the best available materials and 

modern grass species for their greens.

Angus, Scotland 

There have been two areas of input at Carnoustie in 2019. The first has been the addition 

of some forward tees for the Championship Course to make the holes more playable for 

shorter hitters. 

The second project has been to assess the reinstatement work which will be required to 

the Buddon Course when an offshore electrical cable is brought on land running along 

Carnoustie’s boundary.

Essex, England 

A Masterplan was produced for Chelmsford back in 2009 with a later update in 2012 

looking at various aspects of the course. Earlier this year, the Club decided to undertake a 

renovation of its bunkers starting with six holes. A new style of bunker has been 

recommended that is much more visually stimulating as well as being much easier to 

maintain. New drainage and a new liner have been used to ease the maintenance burden 

of the bunkers.

Wales 

With the Curtis Cup coming to Conwy in 2020, the Club felt that the bunkering of the 

course needed to be reviewed. A plan was produced and has been implemented.

Denmark 

Copenhagen is the oldest club in Scandinavia and is set in the Royal Deer Park, the 

Dyrhavn, just outside the city. A major programme was undertaken by Mackenzie & Ebert 

in 2009, opening in 2010, and plans are afoot for a 10 year review of that work and also to 

upgrade the practice facilities further.

Tuscany, Italy 

An incredibly large 1,500 Hectares (around 3,500 areas!) of land was inspected for a 

possible new course in the plains surrounding the beautiful mountainside village of 

Cortona in Tuscany. The plan is to renovate wonderful old Leopoldines which are large 

farmhouses dotted around the land to provide tourist and golfing accommodation.

East Lothian, Scotland 

20 years after designing Craigielaw on the banks of the Firth of Forth with Donald Steel & 

Company, a return was made to carry out a review to establish a 5 year plan to help 

improve the course further. Craigielaw has proved to be a great business success since 

opening with a thriving membership, strong visitor revenue and now a hotel. For the past 

two years, it has hosted the Scottish Seniors’ Open on the European Tour’s Staysure Tour. 

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie was a worthy winner.

Aberdeenshire, Scotland 

A return to Cruden Bay featured in the 2019 calendar, with advice being given on the 1st 

tee design and plans to re-use the original clubhouse as a starter’s hut and museum.

Cheshire, England 

Eaton has been steadily renovating its bunkers over the past 2 years and the autumn / 

winter saw another phase of work carried out. As well as re-styling the bunkers, shaping is 

being carried out to divert surface flow around and away from bunkers to make them 

easier to manage and new drainage is making them more playable through the majority of 

the year.

Birmingham, England 

The parkland course at Edgbaston was the second to last course which Harry Colt 

designed. The land has some lovely, flowing contours but the great find were some 

oblique aerial photos taken just after the Second World War which showed some 

wonderful bunker shapes. The Club undertook the first phase of a restoration of the great 

Colt shapes at the start of 2019 and is now underway with the second phase.

Surrey, England 

2018 saw the successful reopening of the renovated course at Effingham, a layout where 

Harry Colt’s routing genius is easy to see. The completion of the project has not slowed 

the Club’s ambitions however. A review has been undertaken of their practice facilities, 

following the removal of the tennis courts near to the 1st tee. The ample space around 

the Clubhouse and within the course itself means there are a number of exciting 

possibilities available. A second study was carried out to look at tee positions on the 13 th , 

14 th and 15 th holes.

Devon, England 

Ongoing advice was provided to Exeter on its course and practice facilities. A major course 

re-alignment was completed in 2015 that both improved the course and addressed safety 

issues associated with new housing developments alongside the course.

Suffolk, England 

The Masterplan for this excellent 9 hole course in Suffolk was completed early in 2019. 

The Club had possession of a pre-war aerial photograph of the course which showed an 

amazing number of bunkers and some inspired shapes. The general recommendation is to 

restore the former glory of the bunkering.

Lancashire, England 

A presentation to the members took place in June, introducing them to the ideas 

contained in the Masterplan. The Club has since developed a very organised programme 

to implement the proposals over a 6 year span, beginning this winter. Work has already 

taken place on the 1st, 4th, 8th and 11th holes. The alterations to the 8th will be the most 

notable with new tees, back and to the right, which will extend the hole and introduce a 

slightly different angle for the tee shot.

Middlesex, England 

Fulwell is one of the Clubs which has rebuilt all of its bunkers and lined them in recent 

years. Phase 2 was completed in 2018 and into early 2019 and the new bunkers came into 

play for the new golf season. The character of the course has been transformed by the 

work and it makes the course playable year-round with every bunker now positively 

drained and lined.

Copenhagen, Denmark 

Following the extensive course redevelopment in 2014, this popular Copenhagen club 

commissioned a tee study and is planning the addition of forward tees to cater better for 

the shortest players. It is also about to invest in upgrading its par three course to bring it 

closer to the high standards of its three nine hole layouts.


This ultra-private Club was opened for play in 2007 and is located on the beautiful glacial 

moraine to the north of Toronto. With the bunkers being in need of renovation, the 

opportunity was taken to roughen up their edges. The other proposal which may be taken 

forward in the future is to create extensive sand areas throughout the course. The 11th 

hole has seen a trial of this and the results are very promising.


Members of Hamilton G&CC approved the implementation of the Golf Course 

Improvement Plan just weeks before the Club hosted the 2019 RBC Canadian Open in 

early June. A couple of days were spent at the Club during the tournament and the course 

received excellent reviews from the players. Harry Colt designed the 18 holes over which 

this year’s championship was first played at HGCC in 1919. 

The plan is to rebuild and reshape the greens and to restore a more naturalised style of 

bunkering which Colt described on his originals plans that reside in the clubhouse. 

Construction started in October and will be continuous throughout 2020 and part of 2021 

until all 27 holes are completed. Members will be able to use 18 holes of the course with 

temporary greens on occasions during the project.


One of the first tasks of 2019 was the production of a Historical Research Report on the 

development of the course at Hankley Common. It was fascinating to see the holes that 

Harry Colt had added to the original layout. The bunker style seen on those new holes was 

then used as inspiration within the Masterplan produced for the course later in the year. 

The contents of this Masterplan were presented to the membership in November with the 

Club looking to make a change to the bunker style, focusing on the incorporation of 

heather into their design.

Buckinghamshire, England 

Harewood Downs took the bold decision to rebuild all of its bunkers in one season, using a 

solid porous liner which was implemented in the summer and autumn of 2018. It is one of 

the few clubs to have taken “The Big Bang Approach” in doing all of its bunkers in one go. 

Spring 2019 saw the course re-open for full play. 

After another winter deluge, a Club Twitter post on 13 th December read “Despite the 

20mm of rainfall last night we are OPEN, our USGA spec greens are still rolling well, the 

investment in our bunkers last winter means they are all playable.” That is why Clubs 

invest – to offer their members and guests the best possible product day in day out, year 

in year out. This shows the value that Clubs see in bunker liners.

Sussex, England 

The Club continued to seek advice on the its existing course now that the forced 

relocation has been put on hold.


Research was carried out into the history of the course in late 2018 before a Masterplan 

was submitted to the Club in early 2019. A great amount of interest quickly developed 

within the Club and it was decided to undertake an ambitious first phase of the project 

which began in November. New dunes are being created between the 1st and 9th holes 

and along the right side of the 18th. The practice tee is also being made much larger to 

increase capacity during the many major tournaments that the Club hosts.


A Course Audit was submitted to Hindhead in 2010 and, ever since, the Club has 

implemented elements of the report each winter. This year the focus fell upon the 

demanding long par 3 8th, whose green is so steep that there are almost no pin positions.

Hyogo, Japan 

Mackenzie & Ebert made the first visit to Hirono in November 2017. Less than 2 years 

later, on 1st October 2019, the Club Chairman, Suzuki-san, hit the first tee shot on the 

restored course. Charles Hugh Alison, Harry Colt’s partner, designed the course in 1931 

and it became the most famous course in Japan. The Club has excellent photographic 

records of the earliest days of the course along with Alison’s original plans and this 

prompted a desire to restore it to its former glory. All of the greens have been rebuilt, 

every bunker reformed, fairways widened to their former size and many trees cleared to 

open up views between holes and beyond. New bunkers have also been added to ensure 

that the test is worthy of the modern day elite players.

Moray, Scotland 

Not as well known as many of its North of Scotland coastal neighbours, Hopeman was a 

rewarding new discovery earlier this year. The course is situated overlooking the Moray 

Firth. The plan was to give the Club a vision for the future to help it compete in an area 

with considerable competition between clubs. The concluding report recommended 

moving a hole from the inland side of the course to an area with glorious views down into 

a bay that feels more like The Algarve than Moray. Another recommendation is to make 

more of the coastal frontage as it is a such a strength of the course.

Yorkshire, England 

Having presented the Historic Research Study and revamped the 6 th hole in 2018, this year 

saw the full Course Audit presented. The Club has strong connections with Dr Alister 

MacKenzie and an aim of the report is to restore his work as far as possible and to use his 

design philosophy to shape future development in other areas of the course.

Derbyshire, England 

Kedleston Park in Derby commissioned work to its 8 th hole, the only hole not completed 

when the rest of the bunkers were rebuilt between 2013 and 2015 in preparation for the 

course hosting Open Championship Regional Qualifying. The plan for the 8 th involves 

bunker adjustments and reshaping the green surrounds. 

Kedleston Park is another Club that has reaped rewards from investment in its course. 

Their bunker project actively attracted new members to the point where the membership 

was filled, entry fees were re-introduced and a waiting list opened. The final phases of the 

project were funded on the back of the new members joining.

Hafnarfjordur, Iceland 

Keilir, outside Reykjavik, continued the transformation of its back nine in 2019 with the 

construction of a new 13 th green and 14 th tee. The back nine sits on a headland which 

once was home to all eighteen holes. They built an exciting lava nine in the 1990s and 

Mackenzie & Ebert have been advising on how to make best use of the ocean frontage on 

the back nine, while leaving room for a short nine at the same time. Plans are afoot to 

build a new 18 th green in 2020, with the new 17 th hole the year after that. 

An added benefit of working in Iceland in summer are the incredible sunrises and sunsets 

on clear days. This one happened to be on Midsummer Day at 2.40am. A great memory.

Jersey, Channel Islands 

The historic links at La Moye was a new appointment in 2018 and work on a long term 

plan for the course was undertaken. The exercise involves working through layout options 

and advising on bunker styles and positioning. The course is blessed with lots of space but 

the challenge is knowing how best to use it. Work on the study continues.

Peru 

Following two years of major work in Lima, involving a new state-of-the-art driving range 

as well as adjustments to the course, the final phase of work is now complete. This was 

smaller in scale and involved the adjustment of the bunkering on a number of holes on 

the back nine. The Club set out with an aim to increase junior participation as well as 

making the course and practice facilities more attractive to organisers of major 

tournaments. The Club has most definitely succeeded in the first instance with junior 

participation more than double what it was prior to the new driving range opening. It is 

hoped the second aim will be achieved in the not too distant future.

Hampshire, England 

Liphook celebrates it centenary in 2023 and, for that landmark year, the Club wanted to 

tackle the road crossings that have been a weakness of the course layout since its 

inception. The old A3 divides the course and the Club’s ambition is to build tunnels to 

eliminate the crossings. Planning for one at the 9 th green is well advanced. 

In parallel to the tunnel, a design has been drawn up to re-route the course to tie in with 

the new crossing. The present 9 th green and 10 th tee are close to a car park at the far end 

of the course and the re-routing has the present 9 th becoming the 14 th . New 8 th and 9 th 

holes have been designed to bring the 9th green back close to the car park with the 10 th 

and 11 th holes being run together to form a strong par four. 

The first phase of work which involved building the new 8 th and 9 th holes, with heathland 

and wetland habitat creation, was completed by September 2019. Phase Two is scheduled 

for the winter of 2020, giving plenty of time for the holes to be fully mature before 2023.

Kent, England 

The Historic Research Report completed in late 2018 provided a fascinating insight into 

the extent of the original bunkering. It revealed many large ‘crater’ style sand features 

that have since grown over. The Masterplan report focused on this aspect of the course 

with a number of restorations proposed. The Club is currently assessing how it may wish 

to implement the work in the near future. The Club will host the Junior Open when The 

Open is played at Royal St. George’s in July.

Santiago, Chile 

A Masterplan was finalised in 2018 and the Club began making minor changes to the 

course in August 2019 using the Masterplan as a base. Three trips have been made to 

Santiago this year to review a number of new tees that have been built and to review the 

re-bunkering of the course. With Santiago being at altitude and the Club wishing to 

continue to host major tournaments, there is a need to extend the course where possible 

and to adjust the bunkering layout to make sure the best players are tested by having to 

make the right decisions from the back tees.

Rutland, England 

Luffenham Heath is another course that has hosted Open Championship Regional 

Qualifying. This year saw work on a Course Audit that will form the basis of a new Course 

Development plan. It aims at toughening up the test for the elite players and making it a 

little more forgiving for the shortest players. Other recommendations include extending 

closely mown areas around the greens. 

The plan was presented to the members in November and is now undergoing a 

consultation period.

County Dublin, Ireland 

Milltown, in the heart of Dublin, is a highly successful Members’ Club. In 2008, a total 

reconstruction of their course was completed. In 2014, the Club asked for a review of the 

course in order to set up a five year plan. This year saw a welcome return to repeat the 

review and to set up a new five year plan. 

The report looks closely at tree management, safety issues and other small 

recommendations for further improvement.

Paphos, Cyprus 

Minthis in Cyprus is part of an extensive resort being developed high in hills above 

Paphos, overlooking both the sea and the Trudos Mountains. It is a heavenly spot and, if 

the healthy villa sales are anything to go by, many people agree. A new Village Green, 

Wellness Centre and Boutique Hotel are now under construction to add to the facilities. 

It was decided to rebuild the greens on the course so that they would be ready for the 

coming decades in this exciting period for the resort. The first eight greens were rebuilt 

and reseeded in the space of six weeks during the summer and re-opened in October. 

Phase 2 will take place in 2020. 

Another great achievement for the Golf Club was achieving the Golf Environment 

Organisation’s On Course Certification, the first course in Cyprus to do so. To cap things 

off, IAGTO, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators awarded the Club its 2020 

Sustainability Award for Resource Efficiency.

West Midlands, England 

Another Club to take the bold step of rebuilding all of its bunkers in one year is Moor Hall 

in Sutton Coldfield. Work started in early August and was nearing completion by the end 

of the year. The Historic Research Study showed that the course was once characterised 

by huge and boldly shaped bunkers. The chosen design reinstates this character while 

reducing sand area at the same time. 

The course should be fully playable again during May, less than 10 months after starting 

work.

Edinburgh, Scotland 

The second and final phase of bunker remodelling has recently been completed. 

Highlights this year include the reconstruction of the dramatic diagonal line of bunkers on 

the par five 8 th and the restoration of the par 3 10 th on this picturesque par 3 with the city 

and Lothian coastline as a backdrop. The 12 th is another hole which has been transformed 

with the addition of two new drive bunkers, a revised back tee and clearance which allows 

everyone to see the hole in front of them. 

Mortonhall is now in a strong position when competing with its neighbours as their 

bunkers are largely weather-proof, having been drained and lined as part of the project.

Nairnshire, Scotland 

The start of the year saw the completion of the first phase of an ambitious course 

development programme. It included new greens at the 1st and 7th, the extended and 

rebuilt green on the 14th, the adjustment of a number of green surrounds and the 

conversion of all fairway bunkers to a more naturalised style, moving away from 

revetment. The thrust of the proposals is to make the course more forgiving for the 

shorter players and to make it tougher for the longest and most skilful players. Nairn has a 

proud record of hosting major events, such as the Walker Cup, and it has been honoured 

to be selected to host the 2021 Amateur Championship so it will soon be tested by the 

world’s top amateurs. 

In November, the second phase of the project started with work continuing on the 2nd 

3rd, 4th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th holes.

Nairnshire, Scotland 

A brief visit was made to Nairn Dunbar, which is a co-host of the 2021 Amateur 

Championship, to advise on a safety issue on their 15th hole.

Netherlands 

The likelihood of stringent restrictions on the use of pesticides in The Netherlands has led 

the Club to consider a full rebuild of its greens as well as making some layout adjustments 

to make the best use of the incredible links land the course occupies. 

Prior to that, a new short game area has been built close to the clubhouse. The 

restrictions set by the authorities and the sensitivities of the sand dunes meant a tight 

working area had to be adhered to. Even so, the Club now has an excellent chipping green 

and a separate bunker practice green. The facility sits naturally into the surrounding 

landscape.

Hampshire, England 

The new 3rd green opened in April, less than a year after it was grassed, in time for the 

Club’s annual Hampshire Hog event. This was followed by the Club hosting the English 

Amateur along with nearby Hankley Common later in the summer.

Newcastle, England 

Northumberland continues to work away at the Masterplan drawn up a few years ago. In 

2019, the bunkers on the 12th were overhauled with the 16th due to be tackled the 

coming year.

Nottinghamshire, England 

2019 has seen a Historical Assessment and Masterplan produced for this magnificent 

heathland course. The Club was already making great progress with returning the bunkers 

to their original rough-edged style with excellent results. The Masterplan has helped set 

the scene for the restoration of old features and the inclusion of new ones. The bare sand 

area theme, so appropriate for links courses, has been recommended to this inland but 

sandy course following the discovery that such features used to exist over the links many 

years ago.

Nottinghamshire, England 

Oakmere sits on the same wonderful seam of sand as Notts, Coxmoor and Sherwood 

Forest in Nottinghamshire. The Club has now completed a full bunker reconstruction 

programme, as well as building three new greens to eliminate two weak uphill par threes 

from the layout. It is gratifying, therefore, that the Club is to play host to the Midland 

Open, a PGA regional event for the next five years.


An exciting new commission in 2019 was the appointment to advise Oshawa Golf and 

Curling Club on a Long Term Plan for their course. Work is well advanced on this with the 

Historic Research Study submitted and two visits completed, which have included focus 

group meetings and members’ surveys. The full study will be submitted early in 2020. 

Oshawa was founded in 1906 by two brothers from Musselburgh in Scotland and, through 

their efforts, they eventually brought the great Stanley Thompson to work on their course. 

The Long Term Plan is being carried out to help the Club prioritise its investment as it has 

to replace its irrigation system shortly. It would be crazy to do that if significant design 

changes took place shortly afterwards. Part of the plan involves making the most of the 

features of the site, such as the creek and the views which are currently under-used. 

Proposals will be inspired by the results of the Historic Research Study.

Finland 

The green reconstruction programme for the Seaside Course at this 54 hole complex has 

continued throughout 2019. The 4th, 6th and 7th greens have been the focus this year.

Gwynedd, Wales 

Although no commission has been made at this North Welsh Club, a passing visit was 

made following a recommendation that the course enjoys some stunning seaside holes. 

The views from the links are, as promised, are truly spectacular.

Cheshire, England 

Prestbury continues to plan a major bunker restoration programme on this largely 

untouched Harry Colt course. A budgeting exercise was undertaken and a meeting to look 

at phasing options took place this year. The work is scheduled to happen after the Club’s 

centenary in 2020.

Ayrshire, Scotland 

The Club commissioned a review of the pathway network with the aim being to create 

grass surfaces wherever possible. This aspect of the course will be brought up to the 

quality of the playing areas, even during the extremes of weather.

Kent, England 

Following two winters of major work, Princes continued the momentum this year with 

another round of modifications. The start of the year saw the creation of a new short par 

3 for the Shore Nine. This will become the 5th hole, eventually replacing the current 8th 

when it opens in May 2020. A stunning sand area sets the scene from the tee and the 

green falls away from the golfer slightly. 

In October, another phase began, this time involving the creation of dunes between the 

7th Shore (which will become the 8th) and 7th Dunes holes. The theme of tee adjustment 

continues with a number of holes receiving new back tees and adjusted main tees to 

produce more attractive views of the holes. The expansion of the sandy landscape also 

continues with a number of low lying sandy areas added on both the Shore and Dunes 

nines. These are likely to sit wet in their bases in the winter leading to dune slacks being 

developed, a valuable ecological habitat. 


Reykjavik, Iceland 

Reykjavik Golf Club is negotiating with the City to broker a deal that would allow it to 

rebuild its Grafarholt Course, which is the oldest in Iceland. A further meeting was held 

with the Club to discuss the project but it will not progress until the deal is finalised.

Kent, England 

This classic parkland course was redesigned in the 1990s when the Channel Tunnel Rail 

Link was routed through the edge of the Club’s property. This led to a major 

reconfiguration of the course layout and a new clubhouse location. The Club will host 

Regional Open Qualifying from next year, so a visit was made to assess a few areas of the 

course. One theme was to remove some greenside bunkers, turning them into closely 

mown green surrounds instead.

Leicestershire, England 

Bunker work was completed on the 7th and 12th holes following the recommendations of 

the Course Audit adoptedd in 2017.

Kent, England 

During the winter of 2018/19, three major projects were carried out at this past Open 

venue. Firstly, the par 5 3rd hole was realigned from the tee and extended. 

Secondly, the 16th has finally been settled as a par 5, with the restoration of a left hand 

fairway option for the second shots. Once the left hand fairway route on the 16th was 

discovered in aerial photographs from the 1940s during the historical research carried out, 

the Club decided to set about its restoration. The left hand section of fairway provides a 

great view of the green from high ground and also a dry route to play the hole should the 

low lying right hand route suffer flooding as is inclined to happen on occasions. This new 

arrangement is much more appropriate for a hole enjoying such a fantastic green 

complex. 

Finally, a new short game faciity has been built close to the Clubhouse. This offers a large 

area with two greens. This has allowed the Club to more than double the size of the 

practice putting green. 


County Down, Northern Ireland 

The world famous reputation of this great links has not stopped the Club from taking an 

admirably forward thinking approach to the course. A historical assessment and 

subsequent full review of the course were commissioned and a set of proposals provided 

for the Club’s consideration. Some smaller projects have been undertaken at the end of 

the year and into 2020.

Sutherland, Scotland 

The idea of moving the 7th hole to the right was included in the Vision Document that the 

members of Royal Dornoch approved in 2015. Work started on the new hole in 2018 and 

continued apace this year with the fairway and drive bunkers and the main tees being 

built. The programme was accelerated as the new green had established so quickly that it 

was entirely feasible to have the whole hole ready for the Boys Home Internationals next 

September and for the Senior Amateur in 2021. 

The hole plays along the top of the scarp offering the same incredible view along the 

length of the hole that visitors have long enjoyed and photographed on the 7th tee. Sea 

and sky are the backdrop to the green, which is a copy of the old green. The new hole is 

now being played over the winter, albeit using mats to protect the young turf. 

Plans for the new clubhouse are also far advanced and the autumn saw a huge new 

practice putting green being built, moving it away from the proposed clubhouse working 

area. The turf from the old 7th green was used to turf it.

Wirral, England 

The Club and The R&A have undertaken a full review of Royal Liverpool as an Open venue 

with the return of the Championship in 2022 in mind. This has included an assessment of 

the course, leading to the implementation of some adjustments through the autumn / 

winter of 2019 / 20.


Advice has continued to be provided to Royal Lytham through 2019. The work has 

included the reconfiguration of the 1st tee and the creation of bare sand areas at the 15th 

and 17th holes. This restores features which were created originally before the 1926 

Open, which was won by Bobby Jones.


A stark reminder of the challenges facing many links is illustrated at Royal North Devon. 

The Club has lost its 8 th tee and the 7 th green is having to be abandoned because of coastal 

erosion. A plan was drawn up and approved by the members in 2018. This year, work 

started on bunker construction on the new par five 7 th and the 9 th which is dropping down 

from being a par five to a par four.

Wales 

On entering the changing rooms at Royal Porthcawl, there is a fantastic plan of the course 

on the wall which was drawn by the great Golden Age architect, Tom Simpson. This shows 

beautiful bunker shapes, with no formal lines or shapes. The advice to the Club has been 

to return the bunkers to these irregular forms and the Club has been implementing this 

for many of the existing bunkers. The overall plan drawn up for the Club includes 

additional bunkers and the re-opening of old ones and work was underway at the end of 

the year to complete the set of proposals which also includes the formation of a dune 

ridge to the left of the 6th fairway.

County Antrim, Northern Ireland 

It was quite an experience to be present at Royal Portrush for the full week of The Open. 

In many ways, this saw the culmination of the project to make the Dunluce Course ready 

for the greatest championship in the world. There was a ‘feel good’ feeling about the 

project from its inception and that continued through to The Open itself on so many levels 

and particularly with the performance of Shane Lowry in lifting the Claret Jug. 

For the Club, an assessment of how the Valley Course could be improved has been the 

subject of a comprehensive report.

Kent, England 

The golfing world will descend on this wonderful corner of Kent for The 149th Open next 

July. The magnificent dunes will be covered with spectators given the sell-out of tickets 

which has already occurred. Adjustments to the course have been minimal but an old bare 

sand area has been restored at the 5th hole and bunkering revisions will mean that there 

will be an opportunity for a more aggressive strategy at the 18th hole than before. The 

practice facilities have also been upgraded in a quest to take The Open experience for 

players and spectators to the highest level possible.


A long term project at Royal Troon has been to see how the Club’s third course, the 

Craigend, can be improved significantly and to ensure that it does not suffer damage when 

The Open visits as the TV Compound sits upon it. The solution, which has been generated 

following discussions with the Club and The R&A, will see the Craigend Course relocated 

on the current 9th hole of the Portland Course and the Portland Practice Area. Hence, 

there are some layout changes to the Portland required, which will also be beneficial to its 

layout. A further advantage of the scheme is that some of the Craigend greens will work 

perfectly as the target greens for The Open Practice Ground.

Norfolk, England 

The Club commissioned a Historical Research Report in February of this year. Aerials from 

as early as the 1920s alongside archive ground photography painted a picture of a course 

not dissimilar to the one seen today. The landscape used to be much sandier in nature, 

however, and many large, dramatic bunkers have been lost. The Masterplan produced in 

May used this information for inspiration with the restoration of a number of lost bunkers 

and sandy waste areas being at the core of the proposals.


Phase Four of the extensive restoration and renovation of Royal Wimbledon is nearing 

completion, with the 2 nd and 5 th holes being worked on. Bunkers are being re-sited and 

rebuilt, greens extended and paths removed and others rebuilt along with a further round 

of heathland restoration.

East Sussex, England 

Advice has been provided to the Club regarding long term planning issues.


Ongoing advice is being given to Saunton on its courses. This follows a really successful 

hosting of The R&A Boys Amateur Championship in August 2019. In recent years, 

bunkering work was carried out on the 11 th , 14 th and 16 th on the East Course and an 

extensive package of work was undertaken on the West Course.

Cumbria, England 

A further visit was made to Silloth to advise on ongoing improvements and how best to 

address some safety concerns.

Fife, Scotland 

The Short Game Area at the Practice Facility underwent a major reconfiguration prompted 

by an extension of the car parking area. More greens have been added and green surfaces 

and green surrounds shaped to give a greater variety of links shots to practise, replicating 

those found out on the courses at St. Andrews .

Berkshire, England 

General advice was provided at this classic Harry Colt heathland layout., who described it 

as his 'least bad course'. Many regard it as one of the very best examples of his great 

work.

Sitges, Spain 

Terramar enjoys a beautiful coastal setting and has now hosted a European Ladies Tour 

event in each of the past three years. At the same time, a project to improve the course 

with two new holes has been undertaken and the holes are now growing in well despite 

experiencing some exceptionally heavy rains during the grow-in period. The new holes will 

open after next year’s Ladies tournament and the next phase of the development of the 

course is now being planned.

County Dublin, Ireland 

The first visit made to The Island was in late 2016 and a Masterplan report was produced 

for the Club soon after. The winters of 2017 and 2018 saw minor alterations to the 

bunkering on a number of holes, including the 5th, 10th and 15th. 

2019 has seen a major project undertaken. The dramatic links is known for its strong back 

nine, so the Masterplan focused on raising the standard of the front nine so that it will 

match the same high quality. The key to this was the incorporation of the ‘19th’ hole par 3 

as the 4th hole, allowing new 8th and 9th holes to be built replacing the old 7th to the 9th 

holes. This phase of the project is currently progressing well with the new 5th, 8th and 9th 

greens completed and turfed. The new holes are due to be open in May 2020.

Cornwall, England 

The penultimate stage of the ambitious reworking of Trevose took place in the autumn, 

with the reconstruction of the 11 th green complex. It was a long par three with a brutally 

unfair green that punished shorter players particularly harshly. The new green is much 

fairer and more forgiving as befits a long par three. 

The European Seniors’ Staysure Tour event, the Farmfoods European Legends Links 

Championship, was played here in June and was a great success. The event returns in 

2020. Further work on the Environmental Management Plan continues and it is great 

news that the Club has been nominated for the Outstanding Environmental Project of the 

Year 2020 in the Golf Environment Awards.


Trump Turnberry continues to strive to improve both the Ailsa and King Robert The Bruce 

courses. It shows that however highly a course is ranked, keeping an eye on how to take 

the facilities to the next level is always important. The Ailsa will benefit from the opening 

up of some more sand areas and the rough edged bunkers have been made more playable 

where the lips had become too eroded by the wind. The King Robert The Bruce will 

benefit from some bunker and tee changes.

Finland 

The Classic Course at Vierumaki, which enjoys a wonderful combination of sandy 

heathland, pine trees and rock outcrops, now has a full set of reconstructed greens. The 

programme, carried out over a number of years, had the objective of improving the 

greens agronomically and also from a design perspective.

Wirral, England 

Wallasey, where the Stableford scoring format was invented by Dr. Stableford in the early 

1930s, has long been known as one of the great links. The course enjoys some excellent 

duneland. The project which has been assessed for the Club is in its formative stages, but 

would potentially provide a good practice ground close to the clubhouse.


Work continued advising Walton Heath on its courses. A presentation was made to the 

members on the results of the Historic Research Study and on layout options. Work will is 

ongoing in 2020 on all aspects of the courses to allow a long term plan to be drawn up.


West Byfleet is working away at its bunker renovation programme and is also adding back 

tees on a number of holes. This follows the production of a Course Audit in 2011, which 

was then updated in 2017. It is the bible for the work. 

The 7th, 8th, 14th and 17th were tackled in 2018 and re-opened in 2019. This year, back 

tees are being added on the 9th, 15th and 16th and bunkers reworked on the 2nd, 9th, 

15th and 16th.

Ayrshire, England 

A full review of Western Gailes was carried out this year and work started on improving 

the practice facilities in the autumn with a new short game green being built and the 

practice ground being widened and a new practice tee being created. Work was also 

undertaken on the 6 th and 7 th holes. 

A large package of work is to be executed in the New Year to convert the fairway bunkers 

into a naturalised style. Work will start on the front nine and the 18 th .

Sussex, England 

The Club has now been renovating its bunkers, as the budget allows, for the past 3 

winters. These alterations have been inspired by the findings of the Historic Research 

Report completed in 2017. A process of returning the bunkers to a style similar to that 

seen when Harry Colt completed the course in 1923. The current work involves the 2nd, 

9th, 10th and 18 holes. 

An active programme of tree management is also taking place in order to return the 

course to its downland character. 

Photo by Kevin Murray 

From Worthing Golf Club

Hirono 

Appendix 1 - Hirono Portfolio 

The Restoration Of Charles Hugh Alison’s Hirono Reimagined By 

Mackenzie & Ebert

Contents 

Historic 1933 Photos 

Before, During & After Photos 

Timelapse Video For Holes No.5 

Timelapse Video For Holes No.18 

Photos By Miyamoto-san 

Hole By Hole Drone Photos 

Hole By Hole Drone Comparison Videos 

PLEASE CLICK A TITLE

Historic 1933 Hirono Club Opening Photos

No.1

No.2

No.3

No.4

No.5

No.6

No.7

No.8

No.9

No.10

No.11

No.12

No.13

No.14

No.15

No.16

No.17

No.18

No.18

Before, During & After Photos

Hole No.5

1933 

Restoration Of The 5th Hole At Hirono Golf Club

November 2017 

Before Restoration 


April 2019 


June 2019 


1933 


June 2019 


Hole No.7

1933 

Restoration & Improvement Of The 7th Hole At Hirono Golf Club

Restoration & Improvement Of The 7th Hole At Hirono Golf Club 

November 2017 

Before Restoration


April 2019

Restoration Restoration & Improvement Of The 18th Of The Hole 18th At Hole Hirono At Hirono Golf Club Golf Club 

October 2019

1933 




Hole No.13

1933 



November 2017 

Before Restoration


March 2019



1933 




Hole No.18


Construction

1933 



November 2017 

Before Restoration


April 2019



1933 




Hole No.5 Timelapse Video

Hole No.18 Timelapse Video

Photos by Miyamoto-san

No.1

No.2

No.3

No.4

No.5

No.6

No.7

No.7

No.8

No.9

No.10

No.11

No.12

No.13

No.13

No.13

No.14

No.15

No.16

No.17

No.18

No.18

No.18

Hole By Hole Drone Photos

No.1

No.2

No.3

No.4

No.5

No.5

No.6

No.7

No.8

No.9

No.10

No.11

No.12

No.13

No.13

No.14

No.15

No.16

No.17

No.18

No.18

No.18

PLEASE CLICK A HOLE NUMBER TO VIEW THE VIDEO

Appendix 2 - Liphook Drone Video

Appendix 3 - The Island Timelapse

Thank You For Your Attention 

RETURN TO START 

OF REVIEW

Mackenzie & Ebert 2019 Annual Review

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