The Grove, in north London, has completed an important renovation and redesign project that has seen major enhancements to every bunker on its 18-hole golf course. In close consultation with original architect, Kyle Phillips and his shaping specialist, Theo Travis, the greenkeeping team at The Grove, in partnership with specialist contractor MJ Abbott, have revitalised all 90 bunkers across the golf course, enhancing playability and aesthetics on each one. The work was undertaken across an intensive ten-week pre-lockdown period that saw the team re-address bunker shaping, repair damaged edges, review grassing lines and re-affirm mown and natural areas surrounding each trap.
The golf course stayed open for play during the whole process, with three holes being worked on at any one time with a temporary green being used on each, while ground staff undertook the necessary work. Phillip Chiverton, golf course manager at The Grove, said: “A project of this scale, and over such a relatively short period of time, took a huge amount of planning, resources, machinery and turf in order to be completed successfully, and on time. Our team worked on an average of 1.8 bunkers a day which is incredible, considering the adverse winter weather conditions we experienced.”
The Grove, open to all and with no handicap or playing restrictions, is the only venue in the British Isles to have staged a World Golf Championship event in 2006 (won by Tiger Woods). It subsequently went on to host its first European Tour event – The British Masters, in association with Sky Sports – ten years later, won by Alex Noren. In addition to the bunker transformation work, a new tee has been constructed on the Par 4, 5th hole, and a 200m2 extension has also been added to the putting green which lies adjacent to the 1st tee.
