Stoke Park has always been an elegant place. With a mansion for a clubhouse and a history dating back 1000 years, few golf facilities can claim such an interesting heritage. In recent years the historic clubhouse has been the setting for many major films, and few will forget Goldfinger losing to James Bond in the mid 1960s.
As with many great things, it is important to keep renewing even the most traditional facilities, otherwise they can be bypassed by better products. A visit to Stoke Park has always been special, but it would be fair to say that the course has, until recently, been a fairly sedate affair, offering beautifully conditioned fairways and immaculately groomed grounds, but not so much of a difficult challenge for the better golfer.
This had become quite apparent and so plans were put in place to transform all 27 holes by reconfiguring all of the bunkers on the course. This was done nine holes at a time, with the work being carried out in-house during the winter months. The front nine were the first holes to get the magic treatment, and the back nine of the Alison course has now just re-opened to the public and members, completing the refurbished 18 hole layout. Work on the final nine will start this autumn, with all 27 holes being fully refurbished and in operation by the spring of 2018. Often clubs decide to increase the length of their course when seeking to update, but thankfully this has been resisted at Stoke Park. The remodelled course has quite enough challenges and a variety of tees to offer a real challenge to all standards of player, without resorting to adding length. As there is so much emphasis on length in the professional game and the US Open at Erin Hills, being played over a brutish 8000 yards, many would think a major hike in length was required for any major course in the UK. But these over-long courses are charmless and no fun to play week-in - week-out. Stoke Park wanted something a little more sophisticated than just added length and they have delivered a gorgeous renewal of a wonderful course.
So have the new bunkers improved the golf course? The answer is a resounding yes. Every tee shot is now defined with the opportunity to drive into the premium area, stray off-line and the bunkers may well catch your tee shot. On your approach to the greens, there are no blind bunkers, but clearly defined sand traps now highlight the best place to hit the ball. This may sound as if the course has become substantially tougher. It is a fair point, but the course has become so much more enjoyable to play and so much more rewarding for a well struck golf shot. There is now more skill required to play the course and so to have this additional level of enjoyment called for by the course can only enhance the golfers' enjoyment.
Some of the bunkers are still a little soft, so plugged balls are a real possibility particularly from a shot entering a bunker from on high. As the bunkers bed in, they will become even better and easier to play from. The visual treat that they serve up in defining the target line and hitting areas is quite exceptional. Best of all, the work was done in-house with the designers being the director of golf and PGA professional, Stuart Collier and the head greenkeeper Alex Millar. Both have worked at Stoke Park for years and know the courses like the back of their hands. They very carefully worked through the original Harry Colt design theme and made a plan for each hole, completely unafraid to be bold and daring.
John Greasley Ltd, the renowned golf course constructors, carried out the specialist bunker work, with the rest of the labour being provided by the Stoke Park team. Stuart Collier elaborates:
"We are thrilled with the finished product, and the response we have had from our members and visitors has been most appreciative. On the whole everybody loves the new challenge that the course offers, and whilst handicaps may rise a little, everybody acknowledges that the course is more visually appealing and also a better challenge for all levels of player."
What is particularly clever is that the bunkering affects the lower handicappers more, while there are still plenty of options for the less experienced golfer to enjoy the game without being over punished for the errant shots. But to score well you have to take on the danger line set by the bunkers. Visiting a bunker probably costs most players half a shot not ensuring a bogey for a good player, but definitely making it harder to make par.
The design and construction team decided not to touch any of the putting greens in their work. This was very important, as they did not wish to lose the feel and historical make up of the excellent greens at Stoke Park. It also meant that the scarring would be minimal and the course will quickly be ready for full play again.
Elsewhere at Stoke Park there is a constant theme of improvement and reinvestment and next month we will have a look behind the scenes at the golf range, which has just installed a new robotic collection system.
To stay as a premium venue, you must reinvest if you want to be considered seriously in this rarefied group of exclusive facilities. Stoke Park has completed this new round of refurbishment in great style: it is a practical and fascinating set of improvements and well worth a visit.
For those wishing for more details or to play the course, please visit the website: www.stokepark.com