21st Century Golf in Full Swing
A new golf course built by Kestrel Contractors has opened just outside Guildford that promises to cut out the expense and hassle associated with the more 'traditional' golf courses.
Clandon Golf, situated next to Merrow Park in Guildford, Surrey offers two 9-hole golf courses and operates on a 'Pay and Play' basis. It has no membership base, club house or other facilities normally associated with golf clubs, all bookings and payments are made online, then golfers just turn up and play. The first 9-hole course was opened to the public on May 15th by Councillor Pauline Searle, the Mayor of Guildford.
Guy Buckley, formerly of IMG and the Clubhaus Group and owner of Clandon Golf says it is, 'a golf course that has been 12 years in the making. It has been a long road to get to this point where we can now open. It gives me so much pleasure to see the course developing into one of great natural beauty that will be an absolute pleasure for any golfer to play. My vision has always been 'Jaguar golf at Ford prices' and the whole idea is to give people who are passionate about golf the chance to play a fantastic course without burning a hole in their pockets on membership fees."
Clandon Golf has been constructed by Kestrel over a period of 2 years to the highest specification with some very challenging holes. The course offers various stunning views across the Surrey and Hampshire countryside.
Booking and paying for your game is all done on-line. Turn up for your chosen time slot and start playing the course, the whole process has a very relaxed feel to it. Appealing to the skill levels of all golfers, no handicap certificate is required and there is no discrimination on the basis of age, experience or dress code.
The course offers some challenging holes, not least the fifteenth, requiring a terrifying tee shot over an old chalk quarry, putting fear into most who stands on the tee.
With a high-spec design and a beautiful environment, Clandon Golf is Ideal for those who simply want to play golf without the expense and ties of club membership.
In 2008 the construction of the front nine holes of the golf course commenced on the chalk based site. Thousands of tons of chalk was excavated and those areas capped, thereby ensuring consistency of the playing surface and drainage. Above and beyond this, massive amounts of earth moving took place to create great golf holes. Each hole has three large teeing areas, huge greens with tantalising slopes and brand new Sportcrete bunker systems.
In essence the course is made up of two loops of 9-hole golf, built and maintained by Kestrel to a condition equal to the very best private members club. The second of the two 9-hole courses is due to be ready for play in early 2011.
To find out more about Clandon Golf and Kestrel Contractors log onto www.clandongolf.co.uk and www.kestrelcontractors.co.uk