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A new grass roots golf facility at Coed Helen Recreation Park in Caernarfon is one of several initiatives intended to encourage people to take up the sport and improve their fitness and general wellbeing in the build up to the 2010 Ryder Cup, which will be hosted by Wales.
National property and construction consultancy Wakemans was employed as designer and project manager by Golf Development Wales, a partnership between the Golf Union of Wales, the Sports Council for Wales and The Golf Foundation.
The existing pitch and putt facility at Coed Helen Recreation Park was removed and replaced with an open access ‘golf course’ comprising three greens and nine tees, positioned at varying lengths, to help beginners and seasoned golfers alike develop their short game.
Designed in consultation with specialists Huxley Greens and landscaped using recycled materials, local stonework and low maintenance artificial greens, the new facility also benefits from a larger parking area.
“This was one of the more unusual projects Wakemans has been involved with of recent months, but demonstrates the scope of our consultancy service and our ability to handle small projects that are turned around in just a few months, as well as major mixed use developments with construction programmes that run into several years,” says Wakemans director Gareth Jones.
Gwynedd Council took the opportunity to carry out additional landscaping, fencing and planting on the site, while the Coed Helen Recreation Park project received a welcome boost when the council secured a financial contribution from the Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Fund.
The Legacy Fund is a £2m investment provided by the Welsh Assembly Government to “inspire a new generation of local golfers” and is one of the commitments made after Wales was successful in its bid to host the 2010 Ryder Cup.
The fund will enable local authorities, schools and golf clubs throughout Wales to develop the kind of publicly accessible facilities which are vital if we are to encourage youngsters to take up the game.
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