Golf Course Architecture: Issue 57 - July 2019

45 Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design has returned to Verdura Resort in Sicily, Italy, where 14 of its 36 holes were damaged by significant storm events in autumn 2018. “Within the context of the existing golf course, we are working in concert with what nature has given us to make the two courses even better than before,” said Phillips. Eighteen holes remain open for play, with the restored holes scheduled to reopen in 2020. Photo: Thomas Himmel Robe Golf Club in South Australia has added six new holes to extend its course to a full eighteen. The club collaborated with golf course design firm Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies and the District Council of Robe on the expansion project. The course originally consisted of fourteen holes. To help fund the expansion, two holes were closed so the land could be rezoned for residential development, topped up with funding from the Federal Government. The new holes – the seventh through to the twelfth – are routed within an area which follows the natural contouring of the dunes, along the coast. Construction of the new holes was completed in December 2018, with the new holes opening for play in November 2019. Photo: Robe Golf Club Robe Golf Club extends course with six new holes The nine-hole Golf Club Leitershofen near Augsburg, Germany, reopened in June following renovation work by Thomas Himmel. “The brief was to renovate the old and unsatisfying greens in order to enhance the variety and strategy, which led to a complete redesign,” said Himmel. “An important point for this project was to create nine visually different and strategic green complexes, as all greens are played twice during a round of 18.” The project has also seen the addition of a new lake alongside the first and sixth greens and the rethinking of all bunkers – some have been removed, some relocated, and some new ones have been added. Photo: Verdura Resort Leitershofen reopens following renovation Kyle Phillips returns to Verdura following 2018 storm damage