£3M COURSE INVESTMENT

The Buckinghamshire is investing £3 million to upgrade its major championship qualifying course and enhance year-round playing conditions.

The private members’ club, home to the Ladies European Tour and which has previously hosted qualifying for The Open and US Women’s Open, completed a renovation of all its 68 rivetted bunkers this spring. The Club says they are now adding more than 100,000 linear metres of piped and secondary drainage, and looking to increase its water capture capabilities.

A new championship tee has just been built for the par-three finishing hole, which runs alongside the River Colne, with a complete upgrade of the practice range now planned.

The investment by owners Arora Group follows a £10 million 2024 renovation of the historic 17th century clubhouse.

Gerry Ivers, managing director of The Buckinghamshire said, “Our members’ playing experience is paramount, which is why this is an important investment. The frequency of wetter winters is increasing due to climate change, so we are taking steps to ensure playing conditions remain at a very high standard all year round.

“With the wonderful support from our owners, the Arora Group, there is complete focus on facilities at The Buckinghamshire for our members and their guests, both on and off the golf course.”

Gerry Ivers added, “The renovation of the bunkers and the return to shorter, native rye caps around their edges, replacing longer fescues, is something we are especially pleased with. Our greenkeeping team played an important role in this work and it has significantly improved definition and playability.” 

The full schedule of course works includes:

• Bunkers: full renovation of 68 rivetted bunkers; sand exchange, with 750 tonnes of new China clay sand added by hand (jagged sand particles to better hold bunker faces); longer fescue grasses replaced by native rye caps around bunker edges
• Drainage: Upgrading of piped drainage to over 20,000 linear metres and 91,000 linear metres of secondary drainage; enhanced water capture capabilities, increasing sustainability
• 1st tee: Repurposing of the 1st Tee environs to now include a compact warm-up putting green allowing space for a fourball to practice putting before teeing off
• 18th tee: Back Tees (Black) now extending to 220 yards on this great par-three finishing hole running alongside the River Colne
• Practice range: a full upgrade to the range is planned, with the introduction of new state-of-the-art performance technology, reshaped target areas and great new hitting surfaces.