Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society in Edinburgh, Scotland, has completed the first phase of a £1 million golf course renovation project, overseen by Mackenzie & Ebert.

Several holes have been redesigned and bunkering has been refreshed at the club, which dates back to 1761.

New look eleventh, sixteenth and seventeenth holes are now open for play. The most notable change is the new par three sixteenth, which plays over a large water hazard.

“The introduction of a significant water feature at the sixteenth hole sees golfers face a daunting 170-yard tee shot over a pond to an undulating green,” said club captain Mark Smith. “This has been created on part of the old practice area.

“The new par four seventeenth hole, at 445 yards, will also present a real challenge, particularly when the wind blows in from the east.”

Speaking to GCA when first commissioned for the project, Tom Mackenzie said: “Bruntsfield has always set out to select the best possible golf course architects, with past course work completed by Willie Park Jr, Alister MacKenzie and James Braid. It is, therefore, a great privilege to be appointed to advise Bruntsfield on this project and we are confident that the work will elevate Bruntsfield to be one of the top parkland courses in Scotland.”

Construction work has been handled by 1st Golf Construction, and the club has been pleased with progress despite difficult winter conditions.

“It is truly remarkable the difference that the redesign has made already and while not yet fully complete, the changes already elevate the course quite considerably after 40 years since the last significant project,” said Smith. “It is a credit to our green staff that they have got the new holes, and the course generally, playing consistently well.”

Work now moves on to the ninth, tenth and eighteenth holes, and is expected to be completed in time for a formal opening in Spring 2019.