In anticipation of increasingly wet winters Old Thorns Hotel Golf & Country Club near Liphook, Hampshire, has installed a brand new high-tech drainage system to allow golfers year-round enjoyment of the classic golf course designed by Peter Alliss and opened in 1982. The project was completed just in time for the wettest November in the club’s history
Following a successful trial run with new drainage on the 9th fairway since April, the owners, Kosaido Golf & Resort Management Ltd, decided to install the system on six more fairways so that all the low-lying areas of the course would benefit.
The contractor in April was Kestrel Golf and Sports Limited and, after the job was put out to tender, the golf club awarded Kestrel the main contract partly because it had been so pleased with the company’s original work.
Kestrel’s project team, led by William Buxton, completed the contract in under three weeks and Old Thorns general manager, Ken Flockhart, is delighted. “The investment of some £57,000 has been worth its weight in gold – or should I say golf!” he said. “We have experienced heavy rains in recent weeks and the new drainage system has proved invaluable. We have been able keep holes in play that previously would have had to be closed.”
Old Thorns Hotel Golf & Country Club is secluded in 400 acres of beautiful countryside. Facilities include 33 en-suite bedrooms and a leisure club. There are two restaurants. Sands Brasserie has views over the golf course and beyond while Nippon Kan is acknowledged as one of Britain’s top Japanese restaurants.
Old Thorns www.oldthorns.com
Kestrel Golf and Sports Ltd www.kestrelgolf-sports.co.uk