Caddington Golf Club in Bedfordshire reopened to the public earlier this month following several years of extensive redevelopment work.
Located minutes from the M1, near Luton, the previous club has been completely transformed, resulting in a remodelled 6,011-yard, 18-hole course and a nine-hole, 1,424-yard academy course. Extended to USGA standard, the 18-hole course has newly constructed greens, tees, fairways, bunkers and water hazards.
The mammoth project at the Chiltern Hills venue was overseen by golf course architect Jonathan Gaunt and golf course shaper Ian Futcher.
The original nine-hole course, which was formerly known as the Griffin Golf Club, was owned by Vauxhall Motors, and served employees of the nearby Luton car plant. Extended to 18 holes in the early 1990s, the 140-acre site was bought by McGee Construction Group in 2008, with the aim of making a substantial investment to upgrade facilities, bringing the club in line with recognised standards for golf, and enabling it to compete with other venues in the area.
The redevelopment has included providing wildlife habitats, and the planting of more than 6,000 trees, including oak, hornbeam, hazel and wild cherry, along with other plants and wildflowers as part of McGee’s commitment to the environment and sustainability.
Gaunt said: “Around two thirds of the site is brand new, while the remaining third has been tweaked. The result is a full-size 18-hole course, plus a nine-hole academy loop comprised of one par four and eight par threes. Eight holes on the main course are entirely new, while three more have been substantially altered. On the academy course, six holes are new, while three have been rebuilt.”
The site will soon include a nine-hole FootGolf course and a new chipping area. Head greenkeeper Adam Henderson said: “The FootGolf course adds another dimension – if parents want to play golf, children can enjoy FootGolf, which combines football and golf skills, using your feet to get a football into holes the size of a bucket using only your feet.”
To book a tee time, visit www.caddingtongolfclub.co.uk.