Foxhills sets out £1.5m course renovation plans

Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey has appointed Sean Graham as its new director of golf, with the 29-year-old set to oversee a major golf course modernisation project which has seen the club already invest more than £1.5 million.

Having spent almost five years working at Foxhills as head of golf operations and retail, Graham’s promotion has come at an exciting time for the club as he leads the golf team through the significant golf course improvements.

Following the opening of a dedicated short game area, The Practice Den, and significant driving range enhancements, the Surrey venue has committed to major investment in its Longcross and Bernard Hunt courses over the next five years which will see the biggest structural changes in the layouts since they were designed by Fred Hawtree and opened for play in 1975.

As part of the significant upgrades, best-in-class greenkeeping equipment has been purchased from leading suppliers, Toro and John Deere, which will elevate the conditioning and maintenance to even higher standards. Work on several holes on the back nine of the Longcross is already underway. European Golf Designs, which redesigned 2023 Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone G&GC and the West Course at Wentworth, was selected for the work following a full review of both championship courses with agronomy experts Turfgrass. The assessment highlighted where playing conditions can be improved and how the courses can better challenge the modern style of the game.

Bunker shape and positioning, green size, shape and contouring, as well as herringbone drainage and irrigation upgrade work on holes 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the Longcross will take place over the coming months, while tee positions will also change on several holes to bring hazards more in play and encourage more strategy and creativity throughout the round.