Cowdray Estate enjoyed successful summer as greenkeeper-built project proved its worth

By Alistair November 1, 2024 09:17

“We’ve been lucky to be a part of this period of time in the history of Cowdray and we genuinely think it is for the betterment of the future of the golf course.”

It would be nothing new or groundbreaking to say that golf clubs have suffered over the years from a closed-door stigma. Often seen as the ‘house upon the hill’, clubs can be daunting locations for beginners to approach – and even more so when hitting their first tee.

But with golf participation booming, clubs are looking at ways to change that perception and encourage those taking up the sport to feel more comfortable at their venues. If first months are anything to go by, that is certainly something that Cowdray’s million-pound improvement plan has achieved.

A dynamic and progressive country estate and destination in West Sussex, Cowdray’s ownership has invested heavily in its golf facilities over the past 12 months.

Cowdray’s 18-hole course recently reopened following a significant development project by Swan Golf Designs. The most notable changes were to the bunkering, with all having been reconstructed, reshaped and integrated into the downland landscape with native grass borders.

Other changes – including the restoration of the famed double green for holes seven and 14 and installation across the course of new sensitive ‘EcoPath’ recycled rubber pathways – have taken place, however it is a separate golf club project built by the greenkeeping team that has seen more new golfers than ever before visit Cowdray.

In July, the ribbon was cut on the eagerly awaited new Par-3 course. Having undergone extensive planning, the short course is a creation of five new USGA specification greens and greenside bunkers, each reflecting a similar green complex on the main course.

With the support of ownership, and under the eye of Swan Golf Designs, the South Downs club’s greenkeeping team carried out most of the work themselves.

Jonathan Smith, Cowdray’s course manager since 2002, said: “We effectively built the Par-3 course in-house alongside one skilled operator.

“We installed full irrigation on fairways and greens. We did some tree transplanting to give shape to the holes, which has turned out unbelievably.”

With the team on the ground having put such a tremendous amount of effort into the project –working up to 14-hour days near completion – it was only fitting that they were first to play the course.

Director of golf Tim Allen, who has been in his current role since 2016, said: “The idea to let the greenkeeping team play it first was extremely well received by Lord Cowdray. He was adamant as well that the team should be the first to play, before members and the wider public, which is a really classy thing to do.”

Despite only being open for a couple of months, the reimagined Par-3 course – described by Allen as a ‘shop window to the wider club’ due to the thousands of people who drive past every week – has been extremely well received.

“Part of the whole project was about future proofing the golf club. We’ve obviously got to hand the golf club over as one of Lord Cowdray’s 10 businesses to the future generations, but from a short-term return, this August was fantastic. It was just brilliant to see so many people – and a variety of people – playing on the Par-3 course.

“The variety was the main thing for us. Established good golfers, members, and complete newcomers, all playing in harmony.”

As well as providing a great introduction to the game for beginners, the Par-3 course and new practice green have further elevated the member experience at the West Sussex club. Changes on the main course have of course been a talking point among members, but feedback to Allen and his team has been largely positive.

Allen said: “Every one of the members were very positive. They saw the project being developed and were all very keen. Weekend golf was never impacted, which we were quite proud of.

“Some of the positions of the new bunkers were good talking points. There was of course natural concern from some at seeing a new bunker where they were not used to seeing one. It was actually the rough grasses that have caused the most comment – but we were pre-warned by Will Swan of this.

“We’ve been challenging ourselves to instigate more no-mow areas, to let more areas of rough go to rough, to be more natural and ecologically minded. Some of those areas have probably received more comment than the bunkers because certain golfers were used to having intensely managed areas that they don’t have anymore. Listening to feedback, Jonathan and I have had to look at some of these areas and we’ve agreed to go back to reshape some of these to make it a bit more playable – but not taking away our long-term plan for the course.”

The biggest project the golf club has seen during both Allen and Smith’s time at Cowdray, the scale of the project and work of the Cowdray team in making it a possibility has not been lost on either of them.

Allen said: “Naturally I’m really proud of the team and to be involved in a project of this scale, although we probably all underestimated just how much of a project it was. It has been amazing to be a part of it and part of a legacy for the future. We’ve been lucky to be involved in this period of time in the history of Cowdray and we genuinely think it is for the betterment of the future of the golf course which is why we are here really.”

Echoing Allen’s praise for the team, Smith added: “My guys are very proud of what we’ve done. You can feel it within the team, they’re happy with what has been achieved.”