Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

UK government approves plans for new golf destination

Plans to transform the Hulton Park estate in Bolton into an international golf destination, capable of hosting the Ryder Cup, have received approval from the UK Government.

The aim is to create a new national parkland golf venue in the north of England with capacity for over 70,000 spectators and located close to the sporting and cultural assets in Greater Manchester and the North West. European Golf Design and European Tour Properties are both involved in the project.

The proposals – submitted by development company Peel L&P – were called-in for a decision by Robert Jenrick, the secretary of state for housing communities and local government, having secured Bolton Council’s approval in 2018. The plans also include a luxury hotel, spa and conference centre, and an academy.

Following a public inquiry and evidence to demonstrate the scale of the social and economic benefits of the development, amounting to a £1.2 billion boost to the national economy, Jenrick has now given the planning application his seal of approval.

Richard Knight, director of land and communities for Peel L&P, said: “We take great pride in creating projects that can leave a positive legacy. Our plans for Hulton Park can deliver an amazing global sporting destination capable of hosting major tournaments as well as a catalyst for positive change, healthy living, heritage restoration and tourism in Bolton.

“The proposals can also bring much-needed housing to the borough and the development is both respectful to the area’s heritage and the environment with original roads and footpaths retained and the creation of new wildlife habitats to enhance biodiversity.”

Watch: animations created for the project by Harris Kalinka.

The project has the support of a wide range of sports and tourism bodies, local universities, and business groups. It has also had evidence prepared by ecologists and heritage experts to show that the project would have a positive environmental impact on the site.

Transport evidence, including a link road to benefit the wider area, show how the site will be highly accessible.

Peel L&P hopes to have the golf destination open in 2025, with the approved proposals subject to a restriction regarding the award of the Ryder Cup.

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Slideshow HTML
  • Hulton
    Harris Kalinka

    Plans to transform the Hulton Park estate into an international golf destination have received approval from the UK Government

  • Landskrona
    Harris Kalinka

    European Golf Design is responsible for designing the course (visualisation of eleventh hole)

  • Landskrona
    Harris Kalinka

    Approved proposals are subject to a restriction regarding the award of the Ryder Cup (visualisation of thirteenth hole)

  • Landskrona
    Courtesy of Peel L&P

    Peel L&P says the development could bring a £1.2 billion boost to the national economy

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Harris Kalinka
Richard Humphreys

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