London to get two new 18-hole golf courses in next five year
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London is set to get two new golf courses in the next five years, in addition to further course developments at The Shire London.
Golfers in the south east of England will soon get two new 18-hole courses to play on, plus improvements to one of London’s most prominent existing golf courses, in a partnership announced today between USA golf architects the Dye family and UK golf course developers the Menai-Davis family of north London.
The Dye family of golf course architects are renowned throughout the sport for courses such as the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, which is the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2020.
“It is certainly an exciting time to be a golfer in London” said Perry Dye.
“Both of our new courses will echo the sort of golfing tests which Tour superstars face in Major championships” he said, “but thanks to multiple tees golfers of all levels and all ages will be able to enjoy them. We have some real treats and surprises in store for London’s golfers, and hopefully our new golf courses will also attract visitors from much further afield, like The Shire London has been doing since we opened it in 2007.”
West London Links
In Northolt, north-west London, the West London Links will open in the summer of 2020 to offer golfers a modern vision of links golf not far from Wembley Stadium.
Dye family member Matt McGarey is teaming up with golf course construction expert Nigel Ely, former Chairman of the British Association of Golf Course Constructors, to shape its greens, bunkers and undulating fairways.
Ceri Menai-Davis, director of The Shire London, West London Links, West London Golf Centre and The Dye London, said: “West London Links is a bold, brave design. We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible as regards sculpting a golfing landscape, with dramatic shaping which UK golfers have not seen before at an inland links.
Matt McGarey, Cynthia Dye, Tony Menai-Davis, Perry Dye, Ceri Menai-Davis and Nigel Ely during a course inspection at West London Links in summer 2018. Photo by Robert Parfitt.
“The Dye family and Nigel Ely are bringing a huge amount of collective experience of links courses around the world, and will be applying everything they have learnt to West London Links.
“Expect surprises! Golfers will encounter imaginative new green shapes, surrounds and run-offs, and a variety of authentic links golf hazards including pot bunkers and steep revetted faces.
“We will have fast-running fairways, slick greens, multiple tee positions and classic links-style blind shots, plus extensive short game and practice areas. It will be a championship-length golf course to test elite golfers from the back tees, but it is also designed to be accessible even to beginner golfers.
The Dye London
The second new golf course is located near Edgware in north London, where construction starts next month on The Dye London, a Tour-style golf course scheduled to open in 2023.
It will be the first UK golf course designed from scratch by Dye Designs, whose architects Perry Dye and Cynthia Dye McGarey will be teaming up on the project. Perry and Cynthia have earnt individual worldwide acclaim for their designs including Dreamland in Azerbaijan, Trump National in the USA, San Roque’s New Course in Spain, Mission Hills Country Club in China, and the magnificent West Cliffs in Portugal, a new course which opened in 2017 and is already ranked inside continental Europe’s Top 30 golf courses.
Dye Designs founders Pete and Alice Dye were also involved in the initial plans for The Dye London in 2011 after meeting Tony Menai-Davis at the genesis of the project.
Pete Dye, venerated throughout the sport, is the only living golf course architect in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame golf course architect Pete Dye (centre) with (from back left) , Cae Menai-Davis, Tony Menai-Davis, Alice Dye, Perry Dye and Ceri Menai-Davis at the Dye family home in Florida, spring 2018..
Developments to The Shire London
To further deepen the partnership, the Dye family are also consulting on further course developments at The Shire London, a Seve Ballesteros design which opened in summer 2007 to great acclaim.
Matt McGarey is consulting with the team at The Shire London on the development of a comprehensive new short game area there, plus the reshaping and reconditioning of several key bunkers on the 7,028 yard par 72 Ballesteros Masters Course. The Shire London’s 13th hole is also being remodelled during the work.
“These two brand-new golf courses will offer player-friendly family golf for all lovers of the sport, and of course we are also delighted to be consulting at The Shire London, which is already well-known for its modern, inclusive nature” said Perry Dye.
“This sport needs more people like the Menai-Davis family, who are among a very small number of people creating original, accessible golf courses in the UK at the moment. We are looking forward to getting started at The Dye London in September, and of course work on the West London Links and at The Shire London is already well underway.”
“Speaking as someone who, in the late eighties, was barred from joining a golf club because my face didn’t fit, I have been fortunate to have worked subsequently with the world’s best golfer, Seve Ballesteros, and with the world’s best golf architects, the Dye family” said Tony Menai-Davis, managing director of The Shire London, West London Links, West London Golf Centre and The Dye London.
“It was a privilege to introduce my sons and fellow directors Ceri and Cae to Pete and his wife Alice Dye at their home in Florida earlier this year, and we are thrilled to be teaming up with the Dye family in bringing these brand-new golf courses to life. It is also special to have their expertise now involved at The Shire London as we enter our second decade there.”
Further announcements will be made about the West London Links over the coming year, as the Dye and Menai-Davis teams put the finishing touches to the new golf course.
