Architect to put Royal Hobart back on track

THE Royal Hobart Golf Club at Seven Mile Beach has appointed golf course architect Richard Chamberlain as the first step in its plans to upgrade club facilities.

“Richard was chosen after a thorough search in which the club received presentations from a number of Australian firms,” club vice-captain Matt Blackburn said.

“We were spoiled for choice because all of the candidates interviewed presented very well and would have produced excellent results.

“However, we chose Richard because we felt that his ideas were a perfect fit with the needs and aspirations of the club. After several years of reviewing the course, examination of historical photos and our original plan, we came to the view that the course had lost some of its design principles and the time was right to fix this.”

Having celebrated its centenary in April last year, the club is looking forward to the next 100 years and sees a bright future for golf in Tasmania.

Club captain Colin Buxton said Royal Hobart was fortunate to have a solid membership base and was in sound financial shape at a time when many clubs were struggling with dwindling numbers.

“We want to ensure that we keep it that way and believe the only way to do so is to present our course in the best possible shape,” Buxton said.

“The current course is now 60 years old and is in need of a facelift. We want to ensure that Royal Hobart is a premier golfing experience for members and visitors alike.”

Key elements of the planned course upgrade include all-weather tees, an indoor teaching studio equipped with modern coaching technologies, as well as short and long game practice precincts.

A comprehensive review of greens and bunkering are aimed at introducing more strategy into the course, thereby making it more interesting and exciting to play.

A nine-hole pitch and putt is designed to encourage family fun and to provide options for children who are taking an interest in golf. TASMANIAN professional Ryan McCarthy was in action last week on the European Tour in the $2.7 million Made in Denmark.

The 28-year-old British Open qualifier was equal seventh after a first-round fiveunder par 66 at the Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort.

However, a seven-over round of 78 saw the former Tasmanian Open and amateur champion miss the cut at twoover-par in 94th position.

STATE team and Tasmania Golf Club member Mark Schulze captured the Royal Hobart Cup recently. He won the Toogood Trophy event with rounds of 71 and 70, a three-under-par total of 141.

Local member Josh Hill and Launceston Golf Club’s Mitch Van Noord placed equal second on even-par 144 after both carded rounds of 72 and 72.

Tasmania Golf Club’s Andrew Phillips placed fourth on two-over-par followed by Riverside’s Isaac Pinnington in fifth on three-over-par.

Sixteen-year-old Prospect Vale Golf Club junior Ryan Thomas took out the 18-hole Royal Hobart Junior Cup with an even-par round of 72.

Tasmania Golf Club’s Timothy Smith placed second on five-over-par and Prospect Vale’s James Fiddian was third on seven-over.