Construction of a new short game area, designed by Mackenzie & Ebert, at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Deal, England, is approaching completion.

The club, which hosted the Open Championship in 1909 and 1920, and has been a final qualifying venue in four out of the last five years, identified a parcel of land for a short game practice area.

“There is a triangle of land into which we have designed two greens and three bunkers. Links-like undulations have been incorporated throughout,” said Martin Ebert. “There will be areas of surrounds, semi rough and rough cut to practice from. We have tried to provide surrounds and bunkers which replicate the shots which are found around the wonderful links greens at Royal Cinque Ports.

Construction work began in October 2018.

“Despite being so close to the sandy links of the eighteen holes, it has heavy clay lying under the area, rather than good links sand. We imported a huge amount of sand to raise the levels of the greens and surrounds from an area to the right of the second hole, which has been transformed into wetland which will provide a rich, ecologically-friendly wildlife habitat.

“It has just been great to turn a wet, low lying area into what will be a well-used and stimulating area for short game practice.”

Shaping was done by Marcus Terry and Raf Oczkowski of 1st Golf Construction. The greens staff prepared and are turfing the entire area, under the guidance of course manager James Bledge and deputy Lee Campany. Ebert expects turfing to be completed by the end of November.