Approximately 120 miles due south of Poole, England, sits the Channel Islands, where two of the islands – Guernsey and Jersey – have been a focus for MJ Abbott’s construction and irrigation teams in 2024. On Guernsey, we have installed a replacement Toro fairway irrigation system for both Royal Guernsey and L’Ancresse Golf Club. Along the coast at Vazon Bay, La Grande Mare Golf Club is being redeveloped by European Golf Design. Originally a hotel and timeshare resort, this very short and compact course on tidal flood land has been lengthened and rebuilt with USGA greens, comprehensive new drainage infrastructure, increased lake areas with timber sleeper perimeters, a new Toro irrigation system and large sandcapped approaches and surrounds. A new driving range and short-game practice area has also been constructed. Weather and ground conditions on Guernsey proved challenging. Choppy conditions in the channel disrupted machinery and deliveries of materials, which mostly had to come from ports on England’s south coast. Sand came in bulk deliveries, transported and stockpiled at Shoreham before loading onto 1,800-tonne barges and shipped to the port on Guernsey, before being offloaded and transported to the site. The clay- and peat-based subsoils also became incredibly unstable in inclement conditions and could only be moved effectively in drier weather. On Jersey, we are back at La Moye Golf Club where we last worked in 2012. Clay capped areas are being MJ ABBOTT Building on the Channel Islands Steve Briggs of MJ Abbott talks about the work the contractor has been executing at golf clubs on Guernsey and Jersey. 14 MJ Abbott has been working with European Golf Design on the redevelopment of La Grande Mare on the island of Guernsey
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