Foxhills – Golfing Agency

Foxhills unveils plan to renovate both championship courses

detlef32 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:47:54 +0000

Foxhills Club & Resort has begun work on a major golf course modernisation project that has seen £1.5 million already invested – and has announced a new director of golf to help oversee the improvements.

Following the opening of the club’s dedicated short game area, The Practice Den, and significant driving range enhancements, the Surrey venue will be undergoing a major investment and golf course improvement project over the next five years, which will see the biggest structural changes in the Longcross and Bernard Hunt courses since they were designed by Fred Hawtree and opened for play in 1975.

As part of the significant upgrades, the 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 – renowned as one of Surrey’s top tree-lined layouts and consistently featured in UK top 100 rankings – is already underway and will continue throughout the winter under the leadership of new director of golf, Sean Graham.

Sean Graham has been promoted from golf operations manager at Foxhills to Director of Golf, and part of his new role will see him oversee the renovations being carried out to the club’s two championship layouts

European Golf Design (EGD), which has redesigned several of Europe’s most exciting golf courses including 2023 Ryder Cup venue Golf Club Marco Simone 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.

But it is on the 16th hole where the most complex part of the renovation project will take place, with work already having begun to transform the par-three into a signature hole. A pond, which currently sits too far away from the green to influence club selection, will be extended to the putting-surface edge to create a more dramatic hole. The size of the green will also be increased to provide room for additional pin locations and a new bunker will be built on the left side of the green to remove the temptation of bailing out.

Phase two is scheduled to begin in summer 2023, with attention turning to improvements across the rest of the back nine on the Longcross before moving onto the Bernard Hunt in 2024.

Overseeing the work will be new director of golf, Sean Graham, who has been promoted after spending nearly five years working at the Ottershaw-based venue as head of golf operations and retail after returning to the UK in 2018 from three years in Saudi Arabia.

The 29-year-old’s new role caps an incredible rise in the industry for Graham – who graduated as a PGA professional in 2014 from the University of Birmingham.

Graham said: “Being given the opportunity to become director of golf here at Foxhills Club & Resort is a really proud moment for me. It’s reward for how hard I feel I’ve worked since joining Foxhills five years ago and it’s also hopefully a reflection of my relationship with the members. I feel like I have a real connection with the club, so it’s a really gratifying moment for me and I can’t wait to get started.

“This is an extremely exciting time for golfers at Foxhills. The course changes are going to make a big difference to the playing experience. It’s important to us that the courses are enjoyable for all levels of golfer, from low handicappers to mid-high and the masterplan for this project was designed with this at the front of our mind.”

Tej Walia, Foxhills’ general manager, said: “We are constantly striving to improve the member and guest experience. This golf investment plan, the largest scale of investment we have ever put into the courses, is going to raise golf at Foxhills to a new level. The work that’s being carried out is testament to our owner’s commitment to continued improvement and desire to be up there in the conversation with the best courses in the country.”

Alongside two 18-hole championship layouts and the Manor Course, a par-three nine-hole course, as well as a short game practice area and driving range, Foxhills offers an award-winning gym and Health Spa, five swimming pools, 11 tennis courts, a packed schedule of weekly fitness classes, three restaurants and a 66-bedroom hotel.

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USA claim 30th PGA Cup with 15.5-10.5 win at Foxhills

detlef32 — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 22:42:48 +0000

The United States recorded back-to-back PGA Cup victories over the Great Britain & Ireland following a pulsating clash between the two nations at Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey.

Led by PGA of America Honorary President Suzy Whaley, the United States overcame a brave fightback from David Russell’s GB & I team to capture the Llandudno International Trophy and claim their first away win since 2009.

Russell’s side knew they had it all to do heading into the Sunday singles. A weekend full of twists and turns saw them trailing by three points – 9.5-6.5 – knowing seven wins were needed to regain the Llandudno International Trophy.

GB&I captain had spoken about the importance of getting some blue on the board in the early stages of the match and Ashley Mansell did just that, racing out of blocks to go three up on Michael Block through after the opening nine holes.

Mansell, who is based at Clevedon GC, extended his lead to four with six to play and looked set to earn GB&I their first point of the day. But Block had other ideas, holing five birdies in the final six holes to complete a remarkable turnaround and ensure the first point on the board went to the Americans.

Matthew Cort (Beedles Lake) was next out for the home side and was looking to carry the form he showed yesterday on his birthday having won his two fourball and foursome matches. He trailed Ben Polland for much of the match, but a double bogey on the 15th allowed Cort to cut the deficit to just one with three to play. Another bogey by Polland at the 17th set up a tense finale, but both players made par and the match was halved.

James Ruth (China Fleet) headed into his contest with Larkin Gross having won one of his three matches so far this week. Having gone one up after the second, Gross reversed the scoreline and the American went to up heading into the back nine, but Ruth showed his quality to fight back and earn the GB&I another half-point.

The Americans added to their tally after Simon Thornton (Tulfarris) fell to a 4&3 defeat to Ryan Vermeer, but GB&I got some blue back on the board with Adam Keogh (Woodhall Spa) coming from behind to beat Frank Bensel Jr. It was a bittersweet victory for Keogh, who ended up on the losing team, but remained undefeated on is PGA Cup debut, claiming 3.5 points from four.

GB&I captain DJ Russell: “We let ourselves down in the foursomes”

“I do feel disappointed,” said Keogh. “The boys gave everything and I’m disappointed to be on the wrong side of the result, but that’s golf. The game was played in the right spirit and congratulations to the opposition. For someone who works in the industry as we all do, it’s an incredible honour playing in this event. We have 8,000 Members so to be one of the 10 players here representing the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, it’s a good achievement and I would encourage anyone to do the same thing.”

Daniel Whitby-Smith (Drayton Park) picked up his first full point of the weekend after beating Wyatt Worthington II 3&2 and Greig Hutcheon (Torphins GC) followed that up with another GB&I victory.

At this point in the match GB&I had important points on the board, but the scoreboard was not looking in their favour. Defeats for Simon Lilly (Wellingborough), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) and David Higgins (Waterville) followed, which led to joyous celebrations from the visiting team.

“We let ourselves down in the foursomes which made it difficult to come back in the singles,” said Russell. “The singles could have gone one way or the other really, at times we were on top but they’re quite a strong team.”

Despite the defeat, Russell feels his GB&I team, which contained no fewer than seven debutants, can leave Foxhills with their heads held high having given everything for the cause. Russell continued: “The team have been absolutely amazing. They’ve come together brilliantly, there’s been no individuals within the team. The ten of them have all got together and been brilliant. It really has been a wonderful experience.”

Reflecting on the whole PGA Cup experience, Russell added: “I can’t believe how much I have enjoyed it. It’s nice to bring my experience into fruition into something like this. It’s lovely to get the opportunity to do it.”

Whaley, the winning captain, who also led the US side to victory in 2019, said: “It started to get a little dicey out there. But in the end, we got it done. I have been lucky to have been able to do a lot of amazing things in my career, but this ranks right at the very top.”

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DJ hopes to call the tune for GB&I as PGA Cup tees off at Foxhills

detlef32 — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 19:45:03 +0000

The GB&I PGA Cup team is looking for a win on home soil at Foxhills in Surrey

Both Great Britain & Ireland and the United States will wear black ribbons this week as they prepare to face each other in the 30th PGA Cup matches which begins at Foxhills Club & Resort, Surrey from today (Sept 16) until Sunday (Sept 18).

The hosts will be led by former European Tour player and ex-Ryder Cup Vice Captain David ‘DJ’ Russell, while the America Captain is Suzy Whaley, who in 2018 became the first woman elected to serve as President of the PGA of America.

The event is seen as the pinnacle for any PGA Professional as both teams go head-to-head in a Ryder Cup format to win The Llandudno International Trophy.“I’ve been very fortunate in my career in golf, and this is very much a high point in my career,” said Russell, whose son Chris will serve as Vice Captain. “I’m honoured to be captain of Great Britain & Ireland in a PGA Cup.”

“It’s a tremendous honor to serve as United States Captain for the 30th PGA Cup, as we come together at a magnificent venue to celebrate the game of golf,” said Whaley. “We’re certainly aware of the formidable challenge we will face from another talented GB&I squad and the difficulty that comes with winning on foreign soil.”

Speaking ahead of the 30th PGA Cup matches, Russell said: “It’s a massive honour anyway, but particularly with what’s gone on over the last few days. Queen Elizabeth II has always been around for us, so from a personal point of view it’s almost like losing your grandmother or the grand-figure in your family.”

Whaley added: “I knew coming over here it will be historic time. I was thinking about how we would handle the matches and would they be able to go on. I was thrilled that they could go on because she loved sports, she loved sporting events and I’m hopeful that she’s thrilled that we’re having this competition.”

Foxhills will make PGA Cup history this week when it becomes only the second venue in the tournament’s 49-year history to host the matches twice, following the lead of 2006 Ryder Cup host venue The K Club in Ireland (1992 and 2005).

The PGA Cup was first played at Pinehurst (North Carolina) Country Club in 1973, with the Americans winning the first match 13-3. GB&I notched their first PGA Cup win 1978 with a 10½ – 6½ victory at St Mellion, but overall the history books make grim reading from a British and Irish standpoint, with the Americans winning 18 times compared to GB&I’s seven, while there have been four draws.

Great Britain & Ireland team

Matthew Cort (Beedles Lake Golf Club) – Played in PGA Cup 2017 & 2019 (6-3-0)
David Higgins (Waterville Golf Links) – Played in 2017 (3-1-1) Vice-Captain 2019
Greig Hutcheon (Torphins Golf Club) – Played in 2013 & 2017 (3-4-1)
Adam Keogh (Woodhall Spa Golf Club) – Debut
Simon Lilly (Wellingborough Golf Club) – Debut
Ashley Mansell (Clevedon Golf Club) – Debut
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills Golf Range) – Debut
James Ruth (China Fleet Golf & Country Club) – Debut
Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort) – Debut
Daniel Whitby-Smith (Drayton Park Golf Club) – Debut

United States team

Alex Beach (Stillwater, Minnesota) – Played in 2019 PGA Cup (2-2-0)
Frank Bensel Jr. (Jupiter, Florida) – Debut
Michael Block (Mission Viejo, California) – Played in 2015 PGA Cup (3-1-0)
Larkin Gross (Center Cross, Virginia) – Debut
Jared Jones (Houston) – Debut
Jesse Mueller (Phoenix) – Debut
Ben Polland (Jackson, Wyoming) – Played in 2015 PGA Cup (0-3-2)
Omar Uresti (Austin, Texas) – Played in 2015 & 2017 PGA Cups (4-1-3)
Ryan Vermeer (Omaha, Nebraska) – Played in 2019 PGA Cup (3-2-0)
Wyatt Worthington II (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) – Debut

CLICK HERE to follow live scoring from Foxhills.

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