ROYAL HOBART TO GET FACELIFT
TASMANIA’S Royal Hobart Golf Club recently announced the appointment of course architect Richard Chamberlain in its first step to a significant upgrade of the course and facilities.
Having celebrated its centenary in April last year, the Seven Mile Beach club is looking forward to the next 100 years and sees a bright future for golf in Tasmania. But the club also recognised its course had changed dramatically from the original design and Vern Morcom’s later work.
A club committee made a comprehensive study of the original design, Morcom’s work and the evolution of the course over time. The committee found parts of the course were built differently to Morcom’s intended design and identified that the layout had become significantly narrower over time. The impact of tree encroachment within the original corridors and shifting mowing lines was something that was noted by several Golf Australia ranking judges back in 2014.
Since then, the club began making changes with a tree removal program and, to date, more than 200 Blackwood trees have been removed.
The new Chamberlain masterplan will build on the work done so far and make it more interesting to play – not longer and more difficult.
Club Captain Dr Colin Buxton said the new masterplan which would ensure the club keeps pace with the changes in the game and the expectations of its members.
“The current course is now 60 years old and is in need of a facelift” Dr Buxton said. “We want to ensure that Royal Hobart is a premier golfing experience for members and visitors alike” he said.
Key elements of the planned course upgrade by Chamberlain include: • Development of state of the art practice facilities at the club that include all weather tees, indoor teaching studio equipped with modern coaching technologies, as well as short and long game practice precinct. • A comprehensive review of greens and bunkering, both intended to introduce more strategy into the course thereby making it more interesting and exciting to play. • A nine-hole pitch and putt designed to encourage greater family fun and to provide options for kids who are taking an interest in golf.