The Hotchkin course at The National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa is renowned as one of the best golf courses in the world, much of it owed to a redesign between 2016 and 2020. Focused on returning the course to its authentic heathland roots, the project added 43 bunkers, a major tree clearance programme and the rebuilding of three greens.
But as the new layout gathered acclaim, a quieter problem was building beneath the surface. “From my first day three years ago, stone ingress into the bunkers and the erosion of hazard walls and the surrounds were clear priorities for the course,” said Peter Moore, courses director at Woodhall Spa. “The playability and the aesthetics of the bunkers were falling, so we needed a solution that protected Doak’s design for the long-term while preventing all the erosion factors that were causing us real issues.”
The task was complicated by Woodhall Spa’s status as a site of special scientific interest, meaning any plan required Natural England approval and had to account for sustainable materials and construction techniques sympathetic to the natural environment.
Moore completed a full assessment of all 143 bunkers on site and presented his findings to the board, prioritising action before seeking a partner capable of meeting the technical and environmental demands of the project.
The solution that emerged combined a very low, virtually invisible synthetic edge with a full bunker liner system, creating a sealed unit resistant to erosion and free from contamination below the surface. In high-traffic areas around the bunker surrounds, a separate stabilisation technology was deployed to prevent the wear patterns that had previously caused sand to crumble into the hazards.
Work began on three trial bunkers in January 2026. “The results have been remarkable,” said Moore. “The look of the bunkers is exactly the same. They look so established and natural, and the issues have been completely eliminated. We’ve added a heavier sand that interacts beautifully with the liner, making them so consistent and playable while retaining every bit of challenge that [course architect Tom] Doak originally intended.”
The improvements have held up through a difficult summer for course maintenance. “Everything has dried out, making it more prone to erosion, but the bunkers are still so solid,” Moore added. “Perhaps most impressive is the areas where the surround stabilisation has been used. These high-traffic areas would crumble into the hazards quite easily and create worn patches. But not only has it provided the stability we need, the grass growth has been superb.”
The trial’s success has led the Woodhall Spa board to expedite the wider programme, cutting the timeline for completing all greenside bunkers from five years to two. Combined with strongly positive feedback from golfers, the next phase of work is now highly anticipated.
“We can’t wait to get on to the next phase,” Moore concluded. “As we continue the work, we’re delighted with how it’s progressing and beyond happy that we have been able to lock in Tom Doak’s design for the long term, ensuring that the Hotchkin continues to be regarded as one of the best golf courses in the world.”
The bunker renovation has been delivered in partnership with EcoBunker, whose CEO Richard Allen worked alongside Moore and course design consultant Clyde Johnson – who had worked with Doak on the original redesign – to develop the bespoke combination of synthetic edging, EcoTec™ bunker liners and LOKSAND™ surround stabilisation, marking the first large-scale UK use of the latter technology.