GOLF: Burghley Park unveils a big improvement programme

Members agreed the significant improvements at last night’s AGM. The course improvements include new greens complexes, improved bunkers, a new tree management programme, renovation of three holes, and other initiatives for the course, including a new practice ground.

Plans also include a major redevelopment of the club’s greens compound.

The developments will confirm Burghley Park’s status as one of the finest courses in the region.

The club, which stands in the grounds of Burghley Park, Stamford, next to the A1, secured professional advice from the internationally renowned course architect Tom Mackenzie and top European greenkeeping consultant Gordon Irvine.

Irvine said: “I was surprised when I first visited Burghley. It was like finding an old Ferrari in the corner of a barn, and I look forward to helping restore the course to its rightful place in the higher echelons of English golf.”

Mackenzie, who is part of the team who’ve delivered improvements to Open Championship courses including Turnberry and Portrush, said: “It’s always exciNng to work with a club who really want to improve their course.”

Club chairman Peter Beeke said: “Never has there been a more exciting time to be a member of Burghley Park Golf Club. I’m delighted that our members have approved the budget for us to start to unlock the club’s amazing potenNal.”

Recent investments in the club’s technology, website, marketing programme and social events are attracting new members and visitors to Burghley Park Golf Club.

The improvement programme will be managed by general manager David Ford.

He said: “We’ve been delighted with the number of applications for membership throughout the last year and it appears that we’ll be bucking the recent trend of decline in memberships at many other members’ golf clubs across the country.

“I’m pleased that the club is working closely with the team at Burghley Estate and I should like to thank them for the support.

“I’m personally committed to driving this programme to make Burghley Park one of the finest courses in the region. The major course work will be carried out during the winter months over the next four to five years to minimise the impact on our members and their guests.”

The improvement programme will get underway immediately, and comes just after the club celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2015. The announcement for the 18-hole, 6,296-yard course comes as the Estate celebrates the 300th anniversary of Capability Brown, who designed the parkland surrounding Burghley House on which the golf course is situated.