Belleisle Golf Course ‘Masterplan’ - Public Engagement
A new era for Belleisle Golf Course
Golf South Ayrshire is excited to be working with the talented team at Pangaea Golf Architecture, in association with Paul Lawrie, on our course renovations.
Belleisle Golf Course has a rich history – opened in 1927 and designed by one of the world’s most influential architects, James Braid, Belleisle Golf Course once hosted prestigious competitions including the Penfold Scottish Open (1932) and the Swallow-Penfold Tournament (1963). The course hosted its final major professional tournament in 1967 when it staged the PGA Seniors Championship.
As we embark on this new chapter, Stuart Rennie and Jeffrey Danner of Pangaea Golf Architecture have been tasked with creating a more strategic and enjoyable golfing experience for all our valued customers.
They have set about designing a golf course which retains and enhances many of the risk and reward features once envisioned by the original architect, James Braid, whilst placing sustainability and the future in their approach.
A full remodelling of the bunkers will now take place. This will include reintroducing the construction style intended by James Braid, while using modern materials to ensurethey become more playable and consistent throughout the course, and reduce the need for regular and labour intensive rebuild programmes.
Managing water is key to ensuring the fine turf remains in optimal condition, particularly at times when natural rainfall cannot be guaranteed. A new automated irrigation system will be installed, providing more attention to detail to greens, surrounds and tees, and in turn releasing Greenkeepers to undertake other tasks on the course.
Many of the original clay field drains are still in place on the course. While most of these are still functioning, they are increasingly struggling to cope with the intense rain events experienced in recent years. Pangaea will be looking at better ways of managing the water throughout the course by utilising the new ponds created in 2023, and introducing additional wetland features, soakaways, and modern drainage methods. It is hoped that these rain events will result in fewer course closures.
Whilst renovating the golf course is essential to retain the reputation of Belleisle Golf Course for decades to come, our thoughts must turn to developing the next generation of golfer who will enjoy this fantastic golf course.
The current practice facilities are simply inadequate and do not provide a safe, year-round opportunity for our PGA Professionals to engage with young people and those looking to take up the game.
Pangaea and Paul Lawrie have identified a suitable location, close to the existing off course facilities, which will be further developed, and a planning application will be submitted in the coming months to progress this further.
To view the masterplan as a pdf: Belleisle_Masterplan_Web
You can view how the bunker reinstatement will look : Belleisle_Bunker_Reinstatement
The architects impression of the new 3rd hole: Belleisle_3rd Hole_Artist Impression
The architects impression of the new 18th green: Belleisle_18th Green_Artist Impression
Golf Course Redvelopment – Background Summary: Belleisle Public Engagement Booklet
Belleisle Public Engagement Sessions – Update
The initial design concepts for improvements to Belleisle Golf Course were on display at Belleisle Club House during the month of October.
We’d like to thank those of you who took the time to provide feedback on the concepts, both during the public engagement sessions and via the online form.
This feedback is currently being reviewed by Pangaea Golf Architecture, and they’re working hard to consider how best to incorporate your views in to the initial proposals.
While we did provide a potential start date for some of the works, we want to make sure that there is enough time for the architects to review the feedback. Therefore, the first phase of works will not commence in January 2025.
Once the review is complete, we’ll be able to provide clubs and customers with a revised programme of works. More information about this will be available soon.