With a rich history dating back more than 1,000 years, Stoke Park has been at the forefront of golf over the last century. The original Harry Colt design has served the course well and has evolved over the decades to become warmly embedded in the hearts of members and others privileged enough to play golf here. It is also the setting for numerous Hollywood movies including Goldfinger’s famous showdown with James Bond. 

But, in truth, the golf at Stoke Park had been trading on its reputation for a while, with many other courses offering a tougher challenge and greater visual appeal. The course condition could not be faulted, the clubhouse could not be more fabulous, the leisure facilities have everything imaginable and the hotel and restaurant are exquisite. The course, though, had become too easy and something had to be done. The decision was taken to overhaul the 27-hole layout, with each of the three nine-hole loops being taken out of play for the winter whilst the work was done. 

When you have Harry Colt as your original designer it is hard to appoint a greater authority to oversee the improvements and modifications, so the reshaping of the course was designed by Director of Golf Stuart Collier and Estate Director Alex Millar. Neither are trained architects, but both have a wealth of knowledge on Stoke Park and they deserve much credit for the way they have implemented the changes. Stuart Collier expands:

 

“When it was decided that we were to overhaul the courses over a three-year period, we had an enormous number of options. At the heart of our decision to design the changes ‘in house’ was that we did not want to change the whole feel of the course, so we have limited ourselves to adjusting the bunkers alone. The scale of the re-bunkering is substantial and we are very pleased with the results and feedback to date.”

 

John Greasley Ltd have been involved in the construction of courses for many years and have been engaged to carry out these very specific changes. Charlie Greasley spoke to Golf Features:

"We are delighted to work on one of the iconic venues in world golf. We are also very pleased with the results and the response from all those affected by the disruption has been understanding and surprisingly accommodating. “The first nine have proved a great success and the work on the second nine is ahead of schedule thanks to the dry autumn weather we have had.  We aim to complete holes 10 to 13 by Christmas."

 

With a new array of bunkers, the front nine has opened to great acclaim and now it is the turn of the second nine. The key to the changes has been to provide a better visual definition and therefore challenge for each shot. From every tee the new bunkers now require the golfer’s attention. To score well, these new, beautiful, but awkward bunkers must be avoided. They are designed to pose a threat and draw better crafted shots from the players. The green-side bunkers too, offer more of a penalty for an offline shot, but the real point of these improvements is to the eye. Visually, the shot now offered is more interesting, more demanding and far more rewarding. The course is better company for a golfing connoisseur and these changes will be appreciated for many decades to come. 

It is working well and the front nine has already opened to rave reviews. With the new 18-hole course opening in the spring, the main course at Stoke Park will have changed totally. But – and this is the very clever bit – it will have lost none of its charm and feel. 

To construct modern bunkers, there are a huge number of options and issues to overcome. Creating the shape is just one aspect, but the sand must be retained, the bunkers must drain well and the surface must offer a consistent density, so golf shots are still playable and the punishment for a mishit shot is not compounded by inconsistencies within the hazard. (Ed – Personally, I think bunkers should be left un-raked and have the odd dead fox in them to add to the punishment, but my views are not mainstream on this and I do understand that the golfer of today wishes to enjoy their bunker shots, not be overly tortured). 

The project has involved the very careful removal of the turf, most of which is then stored close by before being relaid. A lip is created around the hazard so that the bunker can keep its line and the fairway and green surround can then be carefully blended into the golfer’s experience. Whilst the second nine is closed, the greenkeeping team have taken the opportunity to overhaul paths and wooded areas and other projects not easily accomplished with golfers in close proximity. John Greasley Ltd have done a remarkable job and their finishing skills with large diggers show a delicacy and touch that would shame many a private dentist. 

Golf has been repositioned at the heart of Stoke Park and it is brilliant. Golf Features will return to cover the re-opening in the spring.