09.11.2015

County Louth GC appoints SVV to create masterplan

Historic County Louth Golf Club in Baltray, Ireland, originally designed by legendary golf course architect Tom Simpson, has hired Spogárd & Vandervaart to create a long term Development Masterplan for the 18 hole golf course. Furthermore SVV has been commissioned to add an extensive chipping and pitching area to the practise facilities as well as help with suggestions to optimise the entry road leading to the clubhouse.


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09.11.2015

Laytown & Bettystown GC commissions SVV to create masterplan

Historic Laytown & Bettystown GC in Ireland has appointed SVV to create a full masterplan for their 19 hole (!) golf course.


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20.01.2015 - continued


County Louth and SVV continues course improvements

During the autumn of 2014 Spogárd & VanderVaart were commissioned to look at how to improve the 18th hole on the links courses which ranks among the Top 100 courses in the World. The 18th hole was changed about 10 years ago, but never really met the satisfaction of the membership.

"I think one of the main reasons, why golfers seem to dislike the hole, is that it doesn't provide the golfer with different options of how to attack the hole. Instead it actually punishes the golfer with blind hazards and an unclear strategy. The lack of strategy is also not in tune with the design philosophies set out by the original architect Tom Simpson, who laid out the course back in 1938" says Philip Spogárd, Principal architect of SVV. "The hole has changed significantly over the years and was originally a dogleg left. However, it can not be restored to its original layout due to the safety concerns towards other holes on the course. Our proposal includes rearranging the teeboxes to create a better view of the fairway and a more links feel. In the first landingzone the fairway will be widened to offer more lines of play around a central fairway bunker. Golfers now have to choose if the will play short, over, left or right of this hazard. Keeping down the left side of the hole is more challenging, but rewards the successful golfer with a much better angle to the green. You will also have the chance to go down the safer right side, but ultimately you will be challenged with a more difficult angle to the well-defended green."

SVV have worked with County Louth Golf Club since 2012 and have so far made alterations to the 2nd and 5th green as well as an alternate green on hole 17.

"Working on a course like County Louth GC is a great experience. You simply don't get a better piece of land to play golf on. The history of the Club and course is intriguing and fits well with other historic courses we are currently working on - such as Hilversumsche in the Netherlands and Helsinki GC in Finland" ends Philip Spogárd.

The photo shows the proposed 18th hole as seen from the tee.


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