Kristine Kerr of Kura Golf Course Design has prepared plans for the remodelling of six holes at Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Club near Wellington, New Zealand.
This story was originally reported by Golf Course Architecture magazine.
In 2010, the nine-hole Boulcott Golf Club (1938) merged with the 18-hole Hutt Golf Club (1909), following the sale of land to retirement village provider Summerset and to the Greater Wellington Regional Council for flood protection of the Lower Hutt Area. As part of the flood protection work, an embankment that runs through the course was expanded.
The merged club was named Boulcott’s Farm, with an 18-hole layout, six-hole short course, chipping green and driving range. Six holes of the former Hutt course – which now play as the fifth, seventh and tenth to thirteenth were left untouched during the merger and are therefore quite different from the other 12.
Having already completed a new putting green in front of the clubhouse, Kerr has developed plans that included relocating hazards, updating shaping and completing work that would provide a consistent and uniform style.
“During the merger, holes five and thirteen were partially remodelled as they weren’t affected by the embankment works and their layout fit the new routing,” said Kerr. “The club has recently sold some land in the vicinity of holes nine and ten. This means the ninth fairway will need to be relocated – the tees and green will remain in place.
“The embankment runs across the ninth so shaping plans involve raising the landing area beyond for better visibility from the tee. The tenth will also be shortened from a par five to a four.”
The project is awaiting council consent, with construction on these two holes potentially starting around March 2025. Kerr hopes the next two holes will be completed in 2027 and the other two in 2029.
“These six holes are on flat existing land near to Hutt River and have little contouring in comparison to the remodelled 12 that have more movement and undulation,” said Kerr. “Tees and greens for the six are also quite small. The bunkers are a bit shallow and cut into the relatively level ground. Our remodel will set bunkers into created landforms to enhance visibility and provide a different challenge.
“Also, the project will ensure maintenance is more efficient and simplified,” said superintendent Mark Whalen. “Currently, there are two different playing surfaces, which require different inputs and practices. Trying to keep consistent putting surfaces – poa annua on the old six and creeping bentgrass on the newer 12 – is tough.
Kerr said: “The remodel will create a coherent style by introducing more contouring and elevation change, more strategic bunkers and undulating greens in a variety of sizes.”
