Vast new dune system for next stage of Prince's works
The ongoing renovations at Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England, are moving on to the next stage with the construction of a 200 yard long dune system between the seventh hole on the Dunes nine and the eighth on the Shore. This new dune system, which general manager Rob McGuirk told GCA was to add interest to what had been a flat, bland area of the links, is the latest stage of a multi-phase renovation by architect Martin Ebert of Mackenzie and Ebert.
Work started in late November and is expected to be complete by Christmas. McGuirk said: “We toyed with the idea of a big sandscape in this area – we have exposed quite a lot of sand on the course during these works, which is ecologically important – but we realised that the area was too low lying and would therefore be wet.” As part of the new dune system, a large WW2 bomb crater will be dug out and turned into a feature blowout bunker.
The new dune will spread across a width of 40 metres and, at its highest, will be 2.7 metres. The peak will be vegetated with pure marram grass from around the Prince’s property. Contractor GolfLink Evolve, which built a new par three hole on the Shore nine in last year’s work, is handling the construction. “This is the single biggest piece of work on the Shore and Dunes. But hopefully then we’ll basically be finished,” said McGuirk.