Golf Course Architecture - Green Pages 2021

20 GOL F L INK EVOLVE A European tour GolfLink Evolve’s Esie O’Mahoney considers an unusual and busy year for the contractor D espite a most unusual year, we have worked all around Europe. Our highlights include Le Golf National in Paris, France, where we were appointed to construct a new 25,000-square- metre, high-performance training facility for the French Golf Federation. Even with Covid-19 restrictions we managed to finish on time in early June with the facility opening in September 2020. The facility will most likely also be used during the 2024 Olympic Games. We have also completed a project in Zurich, Switzerland, for Brientloo Golf Club. The club contracted GolfLink to carry out a full restoration of all their bunkers from July to October – a huge undertaking. It was also our first project working with Christoph Städler, the current EIGCA president. It was a very successful project, with club, architect and contractor all working well together and we managed to deliver all bunkers on time, with play on the course continuing during work. Another first for GolfLink was to work alongside architect David Jones. At Glasson Golf Club in Ireland, we took on the daunting task of remodelling five holes at the Christy O’Connor Jnr-designed course. Starting in August, it was a huge task to complete the project by the end of September. The sun eventually shone on us with the entire project seeded by early October, with the new holes bringing a whole new finish to the course. Also in Ireland, we have constructed a new ninth hole at Trump International in Doonbeg, which has been described as the best par three on the course; that is some feat considering the strength of the others. We have also been busy in the UK, including continuing with the final phase of the Loch Lomond rebuild in Scotland, which should be completed by February 2021 and fully open by April. GolfLink has also started the third phase of work at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent. The course is simply going from strength to strength. In this busy year, we also completed projects at Turnberry, Milltown GC, Hankley Common GC and Portmarnock GC. Meanwhile, at Royal Troon GC in Scotland, we are under way with a large project that includes a huge upgrade of the driving range facilities for The Open, which is scheduled to take place in 2024. As well as work on the range, the opportunity to upgrade holes on the Portland course was taken up by the club and Martin Ebert has added two entirely new holes (the ninth and eleventh) and an amazing new nine-hole course known as the Craigend, which includes a replica postage stamp green. For more on GolfLink Evolve , turn to page 41 or visit www.golflinkevolve.com GolfLink Evolve is under way with a large project at Royal Troon in Scotland