Infinite Variety Golf Holland has started renovation work at Twentsche Golf Club in Ambt Delden, Netherlands.
The design firm’s plan was created with the aim of ensuring the course, located in the east of the country, is playable for all, as well as improving the quality of the green complexes and optimising each hole’s strategy.
Overseen by IVGH’s Jurrian van der Vaart, all green surrounds and greenside bunkers will be renovated this year with Vos Groen en Sport handing construction.
“We have started energetically with some large earthmoving operations,” said van der Vaart. “Many hills and humps had previously been built around the greens. They didn’t enhance the course either from a visual or playability perspective. We will be using the reclaimed soil to fill in a large number of obsolete bunkers, after which we will construct beautiful sloping surrounds that will offer a much wider variety of short game options.”
Assisted by club staff, Vos Groen en Sport will then focus on greenside bunkers. “Our methodology for building bunkers will allow us to construct faces at a steeper angle than before, partly helped by the use of fine angular bunker sand,” said van der Vaart. “As a result, the bunkers will pose a much more visual threat and their playability will be significantly enhanced. Combined with infiltration crates where necessary, the sand’s drainage capacity will ensure a reduced level of maintenance throughout the year.”
Alongside the work completed by IVGH, a member of the Clayton, DeVries & Pont global partnership, the course’s irrigation will be updated by Aquaco with back-to-back Perrot sprinklers being installed on all greens, providing sufficient water for both greens and their surrounds. “This will give the green staff the opportunity to irrigate the surfaces very precisely and allow them to get the surrounds to a quality that is very rarely seen in the Netherlands”, said Van der Vaart.
Rob Ticheler, member of the club’s board, said: “The main reason for this renovation is to make the golf course more enjoyable and varied. At present, the hazards on our long championship course really come into play for the average member, leading to a rather boring and dull round of golf. We may be one of the oldest clubs in the Netherlands, but we want to stay relevant in comparison with the ‘new’ generation of courses. For the past five years, IVGH has worked on a plan to achieve this aided by an enthusiastic group of dedicated members. After the plan’s full implementation, we would expect the course to return to the country’s top 20.
“As part of the current work, our driving range and practice facilities will also be receiving a massive upgrade."
The project will continue in 2022 with the construction of 35 new tees and 17 fairway bunkers. Work will conclude in 2023 with a renovation of the second and third holes.