LATEST
NEWS

Alex Smith
/ Categories: News

Real Club Puerta de Hierro under way with Colt restoration work

Infinite Variety Golf Design, led by Frank Pont, is making progress with restoration work on the Harry Colt-designed Upper course at Real Club Puerta de Hierro in Madrid, Spain.

“Real Club Puerta de Hierro is truly an amazing club located right in the heart of the city of Madrid,” said Pont. “From an architectural perspective, its two beautiful courses have very compelling and historic pedigrees. It is an honour and privilege to have been entrusted with the responsibility of helping slowly restore Colt’s Upper course. The intention is to bring back important features of his design and, in the process, make the course more fun to play by reinstating some strategic options which had been lost over time.”

Most of the Upper course was originally designed by Harry Colt, while the club’s Lower course features different sections designed by Colt, Tom Simpson and Kyle Phillips. The club also has a nine-hole Buena Vista course, designed by Phillips.

Pont was contacted when the club began the process to select an architect to consult on the restoration of the Upper course. “Prior to the selection process, I had visited the club several times as part of my research into the work of both Colt and Arana in Spain,” said Pont. “In the end, IVGD was selected from a shortlist of three architects. This was, I believe, in part due to our proven track record of successfully restoring other high-profile Colt courses throughout Europe and the British Isles.”

Pont produced an extensive course plan that showed the historic changes made to the course, allowing the club to understand how each hole had evolved over time. The firm also made several recommendations for the actions required to bring the course closer to its original style.

“One of my key conclusions was that the bunkering had lost its original Colt look and was now rather generic and American in style,” said Pont. “Also, the green surrounds had too many ornate mounds rather than short grass run offs. The course plan recommended rectifying both issues.”

Once the club had approved the plan, work began in summer 2018 on the tees of the second and tenth holes, with Pont supported by architect Mike DeVries.

In summer 2019, fairway and greenside bunkering and green surrounds on the tenth hole were addressed. The club’s greenkeeping team, led by course director Javier Martinez Ramos, removed sod throughout the working area in mind-July, then in early August shaping of the green surrounds, plus fairway and greenside bunkers, was completed by Conor Walsh and crew.

“This involved recreating the original asymmetry of defence to the hole’s bunkering both at the green and on the fairway,” said Pont. “The green used to have two large bunkers left of the green and one right. We reversed that, putting two bunkers right and one left. At the same time, we returned the bunkers’ style to one more in keeping with what Colt had designed originally. Furthermore, we made significant changes to the green surrounds by removing several mounds and ridges around the green and replacing them with short grass run offs – a feature much more in keeping with Colt’s design philosophy. Shaping took two weeks, after which the greenkeeping team finished the process by re-turfing the large working areas.”

“The membership has reacted very positively to the first phase of our restoration project. Specifically, people like the cleaner visuals and the asymmetry of the hole’s defence. Members also like the fact that by paying homage to Colt’s original architecture, their short games now require an increased level of creativity given the amendments that we have made to the green surrounds.”

Work will now continue over the coming years, with approximately two holes expected to be restored each summer.

Previous Article New golf course in the Czech Republic nears opening
Next Article Construction begins on Rijks’ new designs for Schaerweijde
Print
3974 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Hierro

    The renovated tenth hole at Real Club Puerta de Hierro

  • Hierro

    The same hole pictured before renovation work began

Alex Smith

Alex SmithAlex Smith

Other posts by Alex Smith
Contact author

Contact author

x
The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Magazine, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!

Includes reports from Maggie Hathaway and Apogee, interviews with Martin Ebert and Dave Axland and a feature on golf art

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now
Magazine, News | Fri 14 Mar, 2025

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now

New issue asks whether the golf boom has led to an increase in municipal golf investment

FEATURE
ARTICLES

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good
Stephen Barton – Second Collective
On site | Adam Lawrence

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good

The reconstruction of the nine-hole course in Los Angeles is the golf industry at its best, says Adam Lawrence

Designs for the big screen
Pizá Golf
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

The ties that bind
Crooked Stick
Opinion | Justin Olmstead

The ties that bind

Justin Olmstead of Profile Products talks about the relationships behind the renovation of Crooked Stick in Indiana

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz
Konrad Borkowski
Interview | Adam Lawrence

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build
Kinsale Golf Club
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build

Florida course is a tribute to the Golden Age designs of Raynor and Macdonald

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?
Larry Lambrecht
Feature | Adam Lawrence

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?

Is the beauty of bunkering being over-emphasised at the expense of its function, asks Adam Lawrence

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor
Grant Books Ltd
Good Read | John Moran and Rand Jerris

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor

John Moran and Rand Jerris share insight into their book about Seth Raynor’s design at Chicago Golf Club

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam
Vinpearl Golf Leman
Report | Richard Humphreys

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam

The first of two Golfplan-designed courses at club near Ho Chi Minh City has opened for play

Seven Canyons: Desert drama
Brad Klein
Report | Bradley Klein

Seven Canyons: Desert drama

Brad Klein reports on a Phil Smith Design renovation in Sedona, Arizona

Golf Club Föhr: Reinvented for a new century
Stefan von Stengel
On site | Adam Lawrence

Golf Club Föhr: Reinvented for a new century

Adam Lawrence reports on a visit to the far north of Germany where Christian Althaus has completely rebuilt the 27-hole course over the last 15 years

Nauka Nayarit: Welcome to the jungle
Harris Kalinka
Report | Richard Humphreys

Nauka Nayarit: Welcome to the jungle

Ten holes of a new Fazio Design course on Mexico’s Pacific coast have opened for play

Gopher Watch Competition – January 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

Gopher Watch Competition – January 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

MOST
POPULAR

FEATURED
BUSINESSES