Canterbury Golf Club invests £200k in irrigation and drainage

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The Kent club is investing £200,000 in its course, on both irrigation and drainage, to ensure that all 18 holes are playable all-year for the first time in its long history.

A substantial investment of £200,000 by Canterbury Golf Club will guarantee year-round playability for the Kent course for the first time since it was established over 95 years ago.

The unique topography and subsoil, made up mainly of clay, gravel and sand, of this classic Harry Colt layout had regularly led to several holes becoming sodden every winter and, as a result, the 11-, 12- and 13-hole loop had to be closed at times during the wet season while other parts of the course needed irrigating during the summer.

Image by Andy Hiseman

The trigger for the investment plan came from feedback from a survey of the club members that identified the major issue for most was dissatisfaction with the drainage on the course that meant that at times they could not play a full 18 holes during the winter and that the club needed to sort the issue out.

General manager of Canterbury Golf Club, Roger Hyder, explains: “Not only did we want to satisfy the main demand of the members, but it made sense to sort out the course drainage on certain holes as well as the fairway irrigation on others in order to weatherproof the course for visitors and societies as well.

Image by Andy Hiseman

“On occasions during the winter we have had to call up people with tee times and explain that they’d only be able to play 15 holes or so which naturally resulted in a number of cancelled bookings which badly affected our bottom line. However, I am pleased to say that, following the works, we are now very confident that our course will be open every single day of the year, barring a snow blizzard!

“In the long term, this investment will reap rewards from secure bookings and hopefully more of them as golfers get to hear about the huge improvements that our drainage and irrigation has achieved. We also envisage attracting more new members going forward.

“It’s also fantastic to have the members happy and acknowledging the difference that the work has made to the course already.”

Image by Andy Hiseman

The first phase of the work began in August 2021 on holes 6, 10, 14 and 18 whilst holes 12 and 13 were part of the second phase that was undertaken in August this year. It was a huge undertaking; in 2022, for example, a total of 300 tonnes of sand and 400 tonnes of gravel were poured onto the course whilst 400 metres of perforated pipe work was laid.