New course provides real test

The holes, designed around a large water feature, creatively incorporate varying gradients and contours so the RJL technical team can thoroughly test and demonstrate their extensive range of products as well as train potential new users.

The course has been laid out by Howard Swan and project architect James Edwards on two hectares of heathland and scrub.

Each of the greens and teeing areas was constructed with differing profiles and, importantly, different grass types, fescue, fescue and bent and creeping bent.

The project also stands as an example of what can be achieved on such a small parcel of land by creating a challenging and distinctive course - which can now be enjoyed by RJs' personnel as well as their many visitors coming to the factory from all over the world.

David Withers, managing director of Ransomes Jacobsen said: "I am delighted with the result. I knew that Howard and his team would be perfect for this project and that we would be guaranteed a challenging variety of landscapes on which to test our product range."

The sustainability of the design was key, with expert input from the Golf Environment Organisation, of which Swan Golf Designs was the original technical supporter from the architectural field.

These recommendations included cutting and saving heather turf and reusing effluent water for irrigation purposes.

Howard Swan said: "Creating a natural and challenging golf course was some test, but doubling its design with a machinery test bed and training ground, with varied slopes, contours, sizes, corners, was just something else. Setting that in the natural environment with indigenous grasses, plants, and of course the restoration of the heathland was a great experience.

Seeing it open and work successfully was immensely satisfying."

November 10, 2008