Cumberwell Park begins construction on nine more par threes

Cumberwell Park near Bath, England, is extending its par three course to 18 holes
The site for the new nine provides long views over the surrounding hills
A visualisation (bottom image) of the meandering stream in front of the eleventh green
A visualisation of the seventeenth shows how mature oak trees will be planted
The island green on the front nine, where wildlife habitat has been successfully introduced

By Toby Ingleton

Fri 29 Jun, 2018

Cumberwell Park Golf Club near Bath, England, is in progress on the construction of a second nine holes for its par three course.

The club opened a nine-hole par three course in 2016, designed by James Edwards of EDI Golf, and also has two full-length eighteen-hole courses designed by Adrian Stiff.

Edwards has returned for the second nine of the par three course where, as with the front nine on the par three course and the Orange and Blue nines on the full-length courses, the importation of inert landfill is driving the project.

Plans include the planting of three mature oak trees to provide feature for the holes, a strategy that – with specialist landscape advice – was also successfully employed on the front nine. And a meandering stream will become an integral part of the design on a number of the holes, most notably on the eleventh and twelfth, where it runs in front of and alongside the green.

Like the front nine, Edwards again expects the back nine project to see the successful introduction of wildlife habitat. “If managed correctly, inert fill importation can be a mechanism for wildlife establishment, enhancing the environment in every way.”

General earthworks have been completed for holes ten, fourteen, and sixteen to eighteen on the new nine, which occupies high land and provides views over the surrounding hills. Holes ten and eighteen are now ready for fine shaping and detail work.

Edwards described a fluid design process: “The routing, major earthworks and centre points are all designed in advance, but I’m creating the fine details of the shaping while walking alongside a 20-tonne bulldozer.”

Construction is being handled in-house by shaper Charlie James and course manager Matthew James, both members of the James family that has been responsible for the development of the club since it opened in 1994.

“It’s an incredible facility that’s really popular thanks to great golf that’s good value,” said Edwards. “

We also designed a 1,700 square metre academy green on a two-acre site that is classed by many as the finest short game area in the country. I’m very proud to be working alongside the talented and visionary team at the club.”