West Midlands: Ambitious greens team get to work on Cotswolds course
The green keeping team at a Cotswolds resort has doubled in a year as the course bids to become the best stay and play course in the country.
The 282-room Heythrop Park Resort near Chipping Norton has boosted its course management team in what has been described as a “major statement of intent”.
Steve Cherry has been appointed estate manager after a 25-year career during which he prepared 17 European Tour events at Woburn.
His charge will be Heythrop Park’s 7,088-yard Bainbridge Course, and said: “Heythrop Park can surely now be classified as one of the UK’s highest-quality ‘stay and play’ venues. Our greens are superb now, but by May of this year we’ll be in a position to invite golfers to judge us against anything in the south of England.”
The Tom Mackenzie-designed course opened in 2009 and is named after Thomas Bainbridge, who originally landscaped the estate in 1706.
‘They have the experience to take us to the next level’ Renovation projects to have take place since Cherry was appointed include tee work and bunkering and greater care given to greens.
Cherry added: “We now have a passionate, hungry course management team here at Heythrop Park. We have an amazing layout and I can promise all golfers that they will not be disappointed when they visit us during the golf season.”
In addition to Cherry, 34-year old Brett Smith has been appointed as deputy estate manager after 14 years at Windmill Village in Coventry.
Assistant greenkeepers Tom Coleman, James Rodley and Ivor Hopkins have also joined the team.
Director of golf Tim Good said: “I am delighted that we now have a full team on board. They have the experience to raise Heythrop up to the next level. Steve and Brett are already producing great results on the course and we are receiving positive feedback on a daily basis.
“The word is out and many are now saying that Heythrop Park has the best greens in Oxfordshire at this time of year.”
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