We hope to be Woll rightby resetting membership

Now it is re-setting the membership clock to keep things moving forward.

The owners at New Woll Estate were showing great confidence in the golf market, with their growing membership at Woll and increasing visitor numbers.

Together, this encouraged them to continue developing the course over last winter.

But now they are having to take bold moves to help their members and ensure the course keeps moving forward.

The work took on the redevelopment of two more greens, the green complexes (surroundings of the greens), new bunkers, three new tees and new irrigation. But it didn’t stop there.

Additional changes are being made, with more new tees coming into play – some specifically to encourage the lady golfers.

There are also new paths designed to improve movement around the course and help in the winter, where the course is able to stay open and playable all year round with normal greens and tees.

Since 2013, 16 holes on the 18-hole course have been redeveloped.

However, now the course is looking better than ever – and there are no golfers.

Like all the courses in the Borders, it is being looked after by a skeleton staff with essential maintenance until the green light is given to re-open.

Everyone is desperate to welcome golfers back to enjoy it, when it is safe to do so, and the owners are trying to help.

They have confirmed to all their members and potential new members that they are re-setting the membership year.

So, depending on when restrictions on golf are lifted in the Borders, their membership year will restart, so no one loses out.

Essentially, existing members’ membership year will be extended, while new members will benefit from their membership lasting from the date of restrictions lifting for an entire year.

David Brown, one of the owners, said: “Up till now, continuing investment and development in the course and all the facilities has seen real benefits with our strong and growing membership.

“In the current environment, though, we are trying to do what is best for members and look to the future.

“We are trying to offer the best course, playable all year round, and enjoyable and accessible, to golfers of all standards.

“We are lucky to have such good and hardworking teams throughout the business giving us great end results.

“We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to golf.

Another owner, Nicholas Brown, added: “We believe it is important to move forward actively and ensure we improve all golfers’ enjoyment of the game, with the best course possible and facilities to match.

“Sometimes, though, it is not all about these large developments but also continued small improvements, robust ongoing maintenance programmes and, most important of all, looking after the members.”

The redevelopment work has all been completed with the same team to ensure consistent high quality results.

Ringwood Golf Construction, the international shaping specialist, has been pivotal in ensuring the designs are finished to the owner’s specifications and has been design and build architect as well as shaper-designing the new holes with David and Nicholas Brown.

Shane Ringwood, who has worked on courses all over the world for designers such as Nick Faldo, Gary Player, Paul McGinley and Arnold Palmer, has worked on every redevelopment phase of the Woll golf course and he will be involved in its future plans in the coming years.

The second major part of the team is all in-house headed up by Tommy Yeomans the head greenkeeper, along with Gary Lackie, Ian Riddell, Thomas Bell and Thomas Yeomans Sr, who have worked on all the development projects at The Woll and gained great experience.

Obviously, the greenkeeping team has not only been involved in the redevelopment, with greater investment in the annual maintenance programme. A new and natural approach to looking after the greens and the rest of the course is also reaping huge benefits.

It is hard work, say the course bosses, but the results are worth it.