Improving Golf @ Richmond Park

14 March 2008

What’s happening?

Glendale Golf in partnership with The Royal Parks will be submitting a planning application to build a new clubhouse located adjacent to the Nursery Site, Chohole Gate, Richmond Park Golf Course. This will integrate the golf courses and facilities better within the landscape of the Park.

- The £3.5 m investment in the golf facility has been designed to be accessible to all.

- The golf courses will continue to operate on a ‘pay and play’ basis.

- A golf development programme will improve access to golf among local people and nearby state schools.

- There will be facilities to encourage the development of young golfers.

- The bespoke clubhouse design, in keeping with the park landscape, will be environmentally friendly and sustainable.

- Improvements will be made to cycle access; new trees and shrubs will be planted and lake/pond areas created.

- A new egress point is being created on to the A3 (planning permission has already been granted); this will take traffic out of the golf course and improve traffic flows. A new car parking area will be created beside the clubhouse exclusive to golfers.


Benefiting golfers and the community

The two existing golf courses will be redesigned yet will retain the unique character of the original Hawtree-designed facility.

Play will be reversed from its current starting position to begin at the new clubhouse; circulation for players (as well as health & safety) will be improved.

The Academy golf course and 20-bay practice range have been designed to enable children, adults and those with disabilities to play and improve their golf.

The Clubhouse will comply with the Disability Discrimination Act; wheelchair uses, for example, can exchange a conventional wheelchair for an outdoor type for mixed surfaces. As well as being a unique resource for local people, around 10 jobs will be created (OR how many jobs it will sustain).

The non-floodlit practice range is intended for the former Hyde Park Nurseries, facing away from the Park boundary.

“As the largest Green service provider in the country Glendale is committed to Richmond Park. The new clubhouse design will create a world-class facility to match the two fantastic golf courses at Richmond Park.’ Nick Temple-Heald, Glendale’s Managing Director

"This excellent development will deliver better golfing facilities in the unique setting of Richmond Park. This major investment will provide long-term improvements for what is already one of the best pay and play facilities in the south east.` Mark Camley, Chief Executive, The Royal Parks

"The Richmond Golf Course scheme will bring needed improvements to an important area of Richmond Park … the sustainable Club House looks really exciting. The Royal Parks decision to keep this as a public course and the new focus on introducing youngsters to golf means this remains a community facility.` Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park


If you would like to know more about all the things there are to do in the Park, including places to eat out, wildlife watching, guided walks, Visit www.royalparks.gov.uk/parks/richmond_park