Recent new and exciting developments at Teign Valley Golf & Hotel include a 16 bedroom hotel, conference facilities and state-of-the-art gym.
Set in the beautiful Dartmoor National Park, the privately owned club is run by a small team of dedicated and enthusiastic people with a passion for golf and is conveniently located just minutes from the main A38 between Exeter and Plymouth.
The 18 hole course with stunning views is designed to sit naturally with the surrounding rolling hills, unspoilt woodland, streams and mature trees making it challenging for the talented yet not too daunting for the beginner. The standard of the course has been significantly improved and the greens now rank among the best in the county. Front and back nines both start and finish by the clubhouse.
Oxford based owner David Hughes purchased Teign Valley together with Falmouth Golf Club in the neighbouring county of Cornwall 3 years ago. David had grand expansion plans and wanted to make significant improvements utilising green and sustainable methods. He felt it important to utilise the services of local consultants and contractors who shared his ethos and vision.
Lead architect was Andrew Field of Exeter based Heighway Field & Associates. The team also included four structural and drainage engineers from Case Consultants, Torquay, and project manager / quantity surveyor Alun Lewis of Taylor Lewis from Exeter together with Paignton based contractors Fraser Langdon.
Andrew Field became involved with owner David Hughes when the club was purchased in early 2005. Following a period of assessing how the club was running and what future potential there was to improve viability, enhance and update the existing facilities, it was concluded that the inclusion of ancillary accommodation / treatment / training rooms would be essential together with enlargement of existing restaurant and bar facilities.
Sketch proposals were drawn up and an informal meeting with the local planning authority was arranged to discuss the principles of any redevelopment. This produced a positive response enabling a detailed planning application to be drawn up to attach an extension containing the bedroom accommodation, treatment / training rooms, additional staff facilities and restaurant extension together with enhancement and enlargement of existing external areas for parking and servicing.
Part of the planning application involved the use of sustainable methods of construction which the new owner was fully committed to in order to enlarge the commercial organisation and in a green and sustainable manner.
The main sustainable items included were solar water heating, rainwater re-harvesting, use of a highly insulated timber frame construction and sustainable surface water drainage disposal. Other sustainable features were also investigated and eventually decided against such as ground source heat pumps and wind turbines.
Throughout these consultations and feasibilities studies consideration was given to the sensitive nature of the golf club in the protected Dartmoor National Park and many consultations were held with the planning department throughout.
As part of the overall project the existing building required remediation from inherent defects due to excessive ground water and retaining walls. Natural materials were used throughout to enhance the new extension in relation to the existing buildings using Western Red Cedar external cladding, natural slate and timber windows.
The last word goes to Andrew Field who says, “It all goes to show that green pays!”
Teign Valley Golf & Hotel www.teignvalleygolf.co.uk