June 24, 2020 - Turf Matters

Chart Hills announce renovation project: Ramac Holdings Ltd, the new owners of Chart Hills Golf Club, today announced the commencement of major redevelopment works across the picturesque Kent facility.

Since the company acquired Chart Hills in December 2019, the in-house team, led by James Cornish and Anthony Tarchetti, have been working tirelessly on a strategy that will see the extensive redevelopment and improvement of the entire 250 acre property.

Chart Hills announce renovation project

From mid-to-late July the golf course will officially be closed to allow green staff and industry-leading contractors to work seamlessly to complete work on all 18-holes with the renovated Nick Faldo Design course ready for play at the start of the 2021 golf season or sooner if growing conditions are favourable.

The first steps taken to elevate the visual and playing aspects of the course include extensive irrigation and sand-capping to the fairways with over 20,000 tonnes of sand. Once seeded, grown and manicured, the new fairways will enable members, guests and visitors to enjoy improved playing surfaces year-round.

During this period, Chart Hills will also be making large-scale changes to the remainder of the facility including a purpose-built driving range, upgraded short game area, additional practice putting green and a refurbished clubhouse.

“It is extremely exciting to see this project get underway”, said Anthony Tarchetti.

“The investment that we are making is significant. It is going to take time, but we are confident that the end result will cement Chart Hills’ place among the very best golfing destinations in the South East.”

In order to ensure the most efficient return to regular golf for members and guests, it was decided that all 18-holes should remain closed until the point of completion, shaving an entire year off the original projected completion date. Initial work is underway on the front nine holes with the back nine set to be completed by winter to allow for a significant period of growth prior to the scheduled reopening.

Ramac Holdings Ltd are also the owners of Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich Bay, Kent. Over recent months and years, the company has proven itself to be more than capable of maximising the potential of a golfing venue having made significant renovations at Prince’s which have been lauded by many. So much so, that the club has recently re-entered the UK & Ireland top 100 lists in Golf World, National Club Golfer and on top100golfcourses.com.

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Carnoustie announces John Deere partnership: Carnoustie Golf Links Chief Executive Michael Wells announced today that a strategic partnership with John Deere has been secured, following a detailed period of exclusive discussions between the two organisations, whose joint vision laid the groundwork for today’s announcement.

The formalisation of the partnership will harmonise flagship greenkeeping practices with leading technology and R&D, as this alliance looks to lead the conversation in sustainability and best practice in golf course maintenance.

Carnoustie announces John Deere partnership

For both organisations, this important development will further enhance their significant independent successes in this area and combine two leading industry names to maximise opportunities and aid innovation.

For staff in each organisation, this will also see significant value investments designed to create new professional development and learning opportunities, in addition to supporting a wide range of charitable and apprenticeship programmes, including Carnoustie’s 250-strong junior golf development hub The Carnoustie Craws.

Today’s announcement is a meaningful new chapter in Carnoustie’s story and sees the merging of two historic organisations. Carnoustie held the first of its eight Open Championships in 1931, but it was long before this that a great many young clubmakers, golf professionals and greenkeepers (known as The Carnoustie 300) left Carnoustie to take golf worldwide, helping to change the face of the game forever.

This eight-time Open Championship venue is known for delivering change in the game of golf and is held by many to be the ancestral home of American and Australian golf.

“Our goal was to conceive a partnership based on shared values that went well beyond the provision of greenkeeping equipment,” said Carnoustie Golf Links Chief Executive Michael Wells. “Carnoustie and John Deere can now work together to lead the conversation as the golf industry looks to modernise its approach to golf course management, with a partnership that will focus on innovation and development.”

John Deere’s European Golf & Turf Sales and Marketing Manager Carlos Aragones added: “John Deere is fully committed to the manufacture and support of advanced, high quality equipment for the world’s best golf courses. We will be honoured to see our machinery at work on the Championship, Burnside and Buddon Links Courses at Carnoustie Golf Links, and look forward to establishing a close and fruitful partnership with this historic club.”