19 Himmel begins renovation of Bad Ems Photo: Kurt Lischka Thomas Himmel has started renovation work at Bad Ems Golf Club near Koblenz, Germany. The course – originally designed by Karl Hoffmann, Charles A. Mackenzie and Major Fahrenholtz – fell into disrepair following World War II. “The facility was getting old and out of shape due to lack of investment,” said Himmel. “And some beautiful, old oak trees were visually lost due to the wild growth of plants around them. The redesign will give the course a more open, parkland feel and other alterations to ensure the course is suitable for the modern game. Changes include expanding the greens to add more strategic variety and spread the wear, as well as improve their drainage and to extend the playing season.” Himmel will work with Josef Poetter Golf on the renovation, which will involve the redesign of greens, the installation of CapillaryFlow in all bunkers, selective fairway regrading, new forward and back tees and a new Rain Bird irrigation system. There will be significant changes to holes two and eleven. “The second green will be raised by three-and-a-half metres to lift it out of a shady and humid sink surrounded by trees,” said Himmel. “And the eleventh will be significantly flattened to improve playability across what is currently an almost unplayable cross slope at the first landing area.” Photo: Thomas Himmel In the last issue of GCA, Sandy was to be found on the tee of the par-five fourth, Trá Mór (meaning ‘big beach’), on the St Patrick’s Links course at Rosapenna in County Donegal, Ireland. Rosepenna, essentially the world’s oldest golf resort, waited a long time for its best course, but Tom Doak’s design of St Patrick’s has been universally acclaimed, currently ranked as the 49 best course in the world by Golf magazine; a lot of us who have seen it think it will go higher. Self-confessed ‘links lover’ Peter Stead of Kirkbymoorside in Yorkshire, England, provided the first entry out of the hat, and wins the much-prized golf shirt. This month Sandy is a little further afield, but the same architect has been involved with this course. For a chance of winning one of our golf shirts, let us know which course it is, in an email to gopher@golfcoursearchitecture.net. GOPHER WATCH
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