Golf Course Extensions, Re-routing and Reconstruction

Gaunt Golf Design provides golf course extension, re-routing and reconstruction advice for clubs, developers and landowners where existing golf facilities need to be expanded, altered or protected.

Course extensions are often more complex than new golf course design because they must work around existing boundaries, established holes, member expectations, safety issues, planning constraints, infrastructure schemes, residential development or environmental requirements. A successful extension needs to feel like part of the existing course while solving the practical problem that made the project necessary.

Gaunt Golf Design can help with masterplanning, member presentations, 3D visualisation, planning support, routing studies, hole redesign, construction documentation and site-stage design advice.

Course Extensions

At Gaunt Golf Design we’ve been working on numerous course extensions since the late 1980’s in Europe and USA. Some projects happened due to a desire (of the club) to provide a wider range of facilities, others to accommodate changes to the course as a result of major infrastructure projects (High Speed 2, Environment Agency, Highways Agency and now, more so, residential and commercial developments).

These projects are often more complicated than the design of a new course, because the boundaries are often not extended to accommodate the changes, which involves a re-arrangement or re-alignment of existing holes to create the final solution.

Added to this, is the need to get the Club Committee and Members “on-board”. We invariably undertake presentations to illustrate our proposals and this often involves 3D video fly-throughs and photo-visualisations to help explain the concept.

Course Extensions FAQs

What is a golf course extension?

A golf course extension is the addition of new land, new holes or new facilities to an existing golf course. It may also involve re-routing, reconstructing or realigning existing holes.

Why might a golf club need a course extension?

A golf club may need a course extension because of infrastructure works, highways, rail projects, housing or commercial development, safety issues, new practice facilities or a desire to improve the course layout.

Is extending a golf course harder than designing a new course?

It can be. Course extensions often have to work within existing boundaries, established playing corridors, member expectations, planning restrictions and the character of the original course.

How can members understand a proposed course extension?

Member presentations, plans, photomontages, 3D visualisations and fly-throughs can help explain how the changes will affect the golf course and why the work is being proposed.

Can course extensions respect the existing design style?

Yes. A well-designed extension should feel integrated with the existing course and should consider its landscape, playing strategy, maintenance needs and architectural character.

If you are planning a golf course improvement, remodelling project, course extension, soil importation scheme or specialist consultancy matter, contact Jonathan Gaunt for an initial no-obligation discussion.

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