The historic Woking Golf Club in Surrey, England, is sporting a rather different look this season, after staff embarked on a major tree clearing programme during the previous winter.

Led by course manager Andy Ewence and secretary Richard Pennell, club staff, working with contractor Surrey Forestry, and with the advice of golf course architect Tim Lobb, cleared around 1.5 hectares of trees from an area bounded by the second green, fifth green and eleventh fairway. The clearing has resulted in an open hillside replacing the previous forest, which the club hopes will be repopulated with heather over the next few years.

Club sources report that the work has been extremely well received by members, and that it is likely further clearing will take place over future winters.