Mackenzie and Ebert addressing nine key “shortcomings” — including “healthy and safety” — for Co Louth
County Louth Golf Club
Golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert are sifting through 94 slides as they prepare to present their proposals for course changes to the members at an information evening on May 31.
Judging by the brief from the club about its areas of concern, the health and safety aspect looms large on the horizon and many changes appear to be presented to the members for approval before the diggers set to work at the wonderful Baltray links.
According to the club’s Course Development Project Team, a huge number of areas of “concern” will be addressed by the architects, who first visited the club on 30 May 2019 to walk the course alongside Course Manager Wayne Murray.
A formal visit was made by Ebert on 26 January 2022 to review the brief agreed by the Management Committee.
A follow-up visit was carried out by Ebert and his assistant Mike Howard on 21 July 2022 to review the course again and to present the initial concepts to the Management Committee.
The 14th green at County Louth
The club’s brief was as follows:
To get Mackenzie and Ebert to provide recommendations that would address present issues and shortcomings relating to the course:
Entry to and exit from the golf course, including walkways and the area of ground between the 18th Green and the 1st Tee
Walkways from 2nd Green to 3rd Tee and 11th green to 12th tee, which are currently dressed in gravel
A solution to the congested areas on the course and the related health and safety issues for players
The area to the rear of 6th Green
The embankment crossing the 11th Fairway
Low-lying areas of the 16th Fairway
To strike a better balance of the par 5 holes on each nine
That the par 3 holes would alternate for match-play purposes
Address the lack of definition/challenge of tee shots on some of the par 4’s and 5’s
The club also requested M&E’s feedback on the style of bunkering throughout the golf course, and how best to address the situation that has evolved at the Par 3 17th where there is an alternate hole.
M&E has provided County Louth with a master file of ninety-four slides and the club’s project team has been working with M&E to clarify these slides and to provide presentation materials to facilitate member engagement.
Costings for the proposed works will not be available until late April as tender documents are currently being reviewed.
According to the club, there will be a high level of “collaborative member engagement” throughout, similar to the successful irrigation project:
“It is intended to engage with selected focus groups including Ladies, Gents, Junior Committees, Club Trustees, Presidents, Ladies and Gents Senior Cup panels in early May. A summary presentation booklet and Q&A will be issued to members in May. Members will be invited to submit additional questions which will be answered before the information evening is convened.
“The member information evening is planned for May 31st in the D Hotel where Martin Ebert and his team will be presenting the proposed recommendations. No changes to the course will occur without formal member approval via a Club SGM.”
