Top Surrey course gets tougher

Kingswood Golf & Country Club, Surrey, has become more difficult following the construction of new tees to extend the par-5 14th hole .

With the James Braid layout due to host qualifying for the British Seniors Open in July, Kingswood is set to provide a stiff test of skill for those wishing to play in the main event at nearby Walton Heath.

Additional land was purchased to make the hole extension possible, with SGD designing the new tees and gaining planning permission earlier this year.

Golf course construction specialists Speedcut Contractors were employed to put SGD’s design on the ground and, with time of the essence, the entire process took less than two weeks from breaking ground to the completion of turfing.

Previously the shortest par-5 on the course at less than 500 yards, the 14th marks the start of a three-hole stretch known by the members as ‘Murder Mile’.

All three holes play slightly uphill into the prevailing wind, with each providing a different but exacting challenge. Now, with the 14th becoming tougher still, the journey home will become all the more testing.

Swan Golf Designs has been working at Kingswood since 2008, having already completed a bunker renovation programme as well as modifications to the 16th green complex. Now, with the new tee in place, the golf course measures just short of 7000 yards.