A new par-3 nine-hole course aimed at golfers new and old has opened at Horsham Golf & Fitness in West Sussex.
The new 959-yard Firs Course, which officially opened on August 1, has been built on part of the club’s original nine-hole layout, which was closed following the opening of the club’s new 18-hole Oaks Course this spring.
A significant amount of earth remodeling has resulted in the new par three course featuring lots of contours, ensuring excellent natural drainage, while the greens have been constructed to USGA specifications to enable year-round playability.
The holes, which vary between 65 yards and 160 yards, place demands on precise shot making, with the course featuring significant elevation changes and sloping greens.
The Firs course runs alongside a new short game practice area, which features two new USGA specification greens and a practice bunker.
The club’s Full members can play the Firs at no extra charge, although a new Firs-only membership is being launched. The adult 9-hole green fee is £7 on weekdays and £8 at weekends, and £5 after 4pm. Juniors pay £5 at all times, although just £4 if playing with an adult. Tee times must be booked in advance.
Chris Purton, Director of Golf at Horsham Golf & Fitness, said: “The Firs course will be used for many of our ‘Get in to Golf’ activities, including Junior Golf, Beginner Golf and others – all of which are targeted at growing the game. Together with the new short game area, the Firs is ideal for players of all skill levels, especially those looking to sharper up their short game. It’s also perfect for those wanting a quick golfing fix without carrying a full bag, as nine holes can be played in around an hour.”
Last month saw the course stage its first official tournament, when schoolchildren from the local area took part in the final of the ‘Fairways to Horsham’ competition organised by the MY Golf Academy, which was attended by European Tour star Nick Dougherty.
Dougherty, a three-time tour winner and an ambassador for the Sky Academy, offered a few tips to the children before play got under way, and walked the course to offer encouragement to the youngsters, many of whom had only played the TriGolf or the GolfParc version of the game. A total of 18 schools took part, with the Year 3 team from Leechpool Primary School in Horsham taking the title.