Bunker renovation project takes place at West Kilbride Golf Club
Golf course architect Stuart Rennie of Rennie Design has led a bunker renovation project at the historic West Kilbride Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland.
The first nine holes at the club were laid out by Old Tom Morris in the early 1890s, before a further nine were added in the early 1900s.
Rennie was asked to carry out an analytical study of the club’s facilities and create a series of masterplan proposals. This led to the current work on the course’s bunkering.
The bunkering in general on the West Kilbride course was inconsistent. Rennie therefore spent time over the past winter leading construction work on 37 revetment face bunkers, located on green approaches and surrounds. The scope of work covered 15 holes.
Selected bunkers were strategically repositioned and rebuilt. Work was also carried out to help shape mounding and landforms on the course, while new drainage and irrigation was added in selected locations.
The project’s final phase saw the course’s eighteenth hole completely rebunkered, helping to improve strategy and enhance the hole aesthetically.
A team from Rennie Design worked closely with contractors Souters Sports to carry out the work, which was completed this February, allowing time for grow in ahead of the 2017 season.