A Vision for Wallasey - CDP

CLAYTON, DEVRIES & PONT

A VISION FOR

WALLASEY

THE OPPORTUNITY

Wallasey is already a truly excellent golf course. Nevertheless, in this report, we will consider significant changes to the links.

Around the world, it is estimated that there are in excess of 35,000 golf courses Of these, it is generally accepted that fewer than 250 of these are links. Through a quirk of geography, geology and history, this rarefied landscape is generally found on our islands, and almost nowhere else.

Links courses spawned the original form of the game, and as soft and verdant inland courses that consume too many natural resources are ever more overpowered by professionals, their existence is perhaps more important than ever.

Normally, ‘big dune’ links are found on the west coast of Ireland

The enormous fetch of the Atlantic has battered that coastline for millions of years creating a landscape of tremendous scale.

On our side of the Irish Sea, links land tends to be more mutedthink of the subtle but rolling contours of The Old Course, Carnoustie, Deal and Troon.

In England, the courses that equal Wallasey’s grandeur of dunescape can almost be counted on one hand Locally, Royal Birkdale and Hillside are obvious examples. Burnham & Berrow and Saunton are two in the south west, and Royal St George’s another in the south east.

Beyond that, there are glimpses of big dune land at Silloth and St Enodoc,

but not to this degree

Making the most of this dune land will be a feature of this report.

This is not a frivolous exercise. After countless hours walking the links and considering alternative configurations, we are excited to share our conclusions with you

If it is unaffordable and too onerous for the membership to endorse, even the best plan in the world is pointless. We have therefore considered not just the golf itself but the factors that surround it - the Club’s key facilities - some of which will need to be upgraded in the coming years irrespective of what happens to the course.

The course is a three dimensional puzzle. Ensuring that its pieces are in the right places and, if needs be, how they could be moved with minimum disruption, is paramount

We believe that Wallasey is a sleeping giant. Its land is not being used to its full capacity. Whilst there are excellent holes, too many could be considered average.

We shall present a vision for creating more of the former, one which is eminently achievable with only modest disruption to play and a lower net cost than one might imagine.

C O N T E N T S

Frank Pont

After qualifying as a civil engineer from Delft Technical University, Frank worked for Shell before earning an MBA from the University of Chicago

This was followed by a career in the consulting sector and investment banking, culminating in him overseeing Deutsche Bank’s global telecoms team in London In 2001, he left London to study golf course architecture in Edinburgh specialising in the work of Harry Colt and Tom Simpson.

Working with seven of Golf World's Top 50 Courses in Continental Europe, Frank is an expert in restoring classic courses He has worked on classic links courses in Ireland, Scotland and across the Continent He and Sam have developed the proposals within this report

Sam Cooper

To our knowledge, Sam is the only person to have played and studied every links course in Great Britain

He left a background in real estate development to pursue his passion for course architecture and, along with his wife, spent two years travelling the British coastline on his well documented 'Links from the Road' tour.

He is our lead associate in Great Britain and Ireland and writes extensively for a number of magazines.

He and Frank have designed the proposals within this report

Edward Cartwright

A lifelong golfer, Edward developed a passion for architecture over a decade ago. Coming from a successful career in investment banking and fund management, he runs our head office in London and is responsible for our business development

When compiling our course reports, he oversees our historical research. Scouring national photographic and press archives, meticulous research is an important aspect of our activities when working for clubs whose courses have a significant architectural heritage.

Edward has helped compile the analysis included in both this and our previous report

Joe McDonnell

Joe is based in Britain but supports our team globally.

Supremely talented, he is our Head of Imagery, producing world class renders and CGIs that help showcase our designs to new clients, members and key stakeholders

Joe is the newest member of our team, joining from a successful career at the digital agency, Monterosa. He is a long time member of Royal Liverpool Golf Club and has a genuine passion for strategic golf design.

He has produced the visualisations of the proposed amendments to the course

THE LAND & THIS REPORT

Every golf course has a unique limiting factor. Some are well routed but overgrown with mismanaged vegetation. Some have lost a parcel of land and have a poor stretch of holes

Wallasey’s problems stem from its embarrassment of riches

Not all of its land is equal. Surrounded by roads, there is flatter terrain on the southern section of the course. Elsewhere, however, there is some of the very best dune land in England

Of the 145 acres that comprise Wallasey’s golfing land (clubhouse and car park excepted), 80% of it is excellent. 20% is of a lesser quality. In an ideal world, this would be the supporting amenity land

A driving range, greenkeeping compound, turf nursery, aggregate store, reservoir - these things are all important and should, we believe, be built on the flatter land.

At the moment, a good portion of the 6th, all of the 7th and parts of both the 8th and 15th holes are

located on this lesser land.

The great terrain comprises 116 acres. If well routed, this should be enough for an excellent course.

The world's most famous links, The Old Course at St Andrews, sits on 92 acres Blackwell Golf Club, one of the most ingeniously routed courses in England, manages with 95. Neither site has the grandeur of the dunes nor the seaside aspect of Wallasey.

Using the Land Intelligently: The objective of this report is to

Weakerland

Underutilised, exceptional land

consider how Wallasey could make the most of its land.

Of its 116 acres, we think about half (52% or 60 acres) is well used. This area includes holes such as the 11th and 16th In our opinion, the other 56 acres is largely wasted

In short, some of the very best

Next, we will examine the 'Impacts of History' that drove the 'Evolution of Wallasey' , the historical issues and pressures that defined the modern course

We will then try as objectively as possible to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the holes and the routing in its present format.

The findings of the ‘Analysing the Course’ exercise are then considered as part of the main section of the report, ‘Phase 1 Proposals’ . We believe major enhancements can be made with modest effort. Making better use of some of the fabulous land not currently used is the key

As part of our Phase 1 Proposals, we shall consider how the ecology and aesthetics of the south west section of the property could be enhanced. In addition, how the proposed 'Dune Development' can actually generate capital to fund the Phase 1 Proposals

A key consideration of the proposals is how play could continue whilst ‘Minimising Disruption’ , the value of ‘Getting to 20’ holes and why that gives the Club options going forward

We truly hope this will be seen as a course plan not just for 5 years but for the next few decades.

To achieve this, and in preparation, we must consider future headwinds and how we can embrace technologies and sustainability practices This is discussed in ‘Rain and Shine’.

Finally, we offer an example of a final routing. It is a vision for where the course could be in the future - a high ceiling indeed

As you look at a proposal that is shamelessly bold, please remember that the steps from now to then are viable.

The cost has been considered. We have worked closely with the Club to ensure there is a financial pathway to our ‘Vision for Wallasey’ which doesn’t cost members money and, equally, one which allows 18 holes to be in play at all times.

We think the scope of this report is unique Our Vision for Wallasey doesn’t need to be considered at this time The membership may decide that our Phase 1 Proposals are sufficient. But the potential is there to be realised.

PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

The most important thing to consider is the course itself We shall consider in detail whether it is making optimum use of the fabulous dunescape Wallasey possesses.

In addition to this, we shall consider the following:

Driving Range:

Whilst we want to create the most enjoyable course possible for the Club’s members, we are also aware of Wallasey’s championship pedigree From hosting Bobby Jones for Final Open Qualifying and staging Amateur Championships, Wallasey should seek to return to the limelight. A key factor in achieving this is addressing the long known but never solved problem that is the Driving Range

Greenkeeping Compound:

While undertaking research for this report, we have been most fortunate in being able to liaise closely with the Club's Course Manager, John MacLoughlin

Ambitious projects without a

similarly ambitious and competent Course Manager have little chance of success We can say with conviction that John is one of the finest we have encountered

His team's compound is too small, too old and, if the course were laid out from scratch today, in completely the wrong location. It occupies some of the very finest land To replace it in its current location would be limiting

Reservoir:

A good course plan should consider as many variables as possible over the longest time horizon It does not need to implement everything simultaneously but it must ensure that, in the future, if something does become necessary, it has already been considered. A good example of this is a reservoir.

Currently, the club takes its water from a bore hole The amount that can be extracted is managed by the Environment Agency Abstraction licenses were more readily granted in years gone by than today. Wallasey currently enjoys a license for 49,000 cubic metres of water, more than most courses.

At the time of the Club's renewal of its license, it will be challenging to maintain the same volume Documented proof of the total amount used over the last 3 years will be averaged and if this is less, the license will likely be reduced to this lower amount.

In the future, if water scarcity becomes an increasing issue, its use will likely be prioritised based on need

During sustained periods of drought, it is not hard to imagine that industrial, agricultural and residential usage will be considered ahead of golf

Furthermore, studies have shown that rainfall patterns have changed over the past decade. Rather than smaller amounts falling more regularly, the trend is now towards more extreme events - flash floods followed by long periods without rain

For these factors, it would be beneficial to have a reservoir to future proof the course and become ‘water neutral’.

Irrigation & Drainage:

Less of a consideration in terms of space utilisation, future irrigation requirements must also be considered

Generally, an irrigation system would always be designed around its source of water While the bore hole is currently sufficient, an irrigation system usually has a life span of 20-30 years.

It would be prudent to consider the reservoir alongside the irrigation system rather than trying to retrospectively amend a future system

Income Generation:

These ideas will be expanded on later in the report but we think it is important to introduce them at this stage. Wallasey was excellently described to us as ‘cash poor and asset rich’. Whilst ‘poor’ is probably not quite the correct term, we are acutely aware that there are some who will read these proposals and think ‘how are we going to pay for all this?’

We shall set out three scenarios. Each is more expensive to implement but frees up opportunities to generate revenue and monetise some of Wallasey’s immense assets. This should never be done just for the sake of doing so but we shall demonstrate the benefits of undertaking matters in a structured and strategic way.

The specifics behind such revenue generation will be covered extensively in the sections of this report entitled ‘Dune Development' and 'Rain & Shine’.

THE IMPACT OF SAND BLOW

The early image from Harrison Drive shows the extent of the open sand

It is quite clear that with low budgets and limited machinery, there was no prospect of playing golf on certain areas of the site.

There are records of sand blowing right into the town of Wallasey during storms, clogging up the New Brighton railway line and generally causing disruption

In 1917, gales covered the seaside holes completely. When WWI was over, a club depleted of members and finance sought to rebuild the course and, with this additional hurdle, chose to do so away from the sea.

Former secretary Charles Limouzin advised on an 'inland course', spending no more money than was absolutely necessary His report talks of using the wheelbarrows

and spades belonging to the members in order to save money.

The holes of this era moved away from the coast, However, even then, the 1st green was subjected to sand blow. For a while, golf was played from the 1st tee to the 2nd green.

It is important to note this phase of the Club's evolution We must understand how the links evolved and issues arising from sand were clearly a driving factor

THE IMPACT OF BOUNDARY CHANGES

The image above shows the current boundary of the course in lighter red, overlaid on the original boundaries in darker red.

The change in size of the site is significant.

Note that Bayswater Road and the houses between the links and the railway line did not exist in the Club's early days. The clubhouse was the sole building in the area.

For the first portion of the Club's existence, this was its prescribed site

The Church of St Nicholas was built in 1911 and accessed from Groveland Road (marked with a white line on the right hand side).

Leases were granted to the Club for only short periods. The links' land was purchased by The

Wallasey Coporation in 1922, and the eastern part of the site was taken to develop Bayswater Road

In 1925, the western section beyond the 6th was also taken.

The site was reduced from 240 to 145 acres in a matter of just a few years.

During WWII, this land became a military base, easily seen in the aerial images of the period to follow.

THE IMPACT OF WATERFRONT

as the Sahara . By 1938, over half a million tonnes of sand had been removed from the Sahara and used to backfill the concrete promenade.

The promenade and sea defence can be seen in both images and

concrete embankment means that Wallasey is in a far more favourable position to withstand climactic pressures than many of the country's other links courses.

Due to the significance of the docks in Liverpool and Wallasey's proximity to them, it is little surprise that the links was significantly impacted during WWII.

In the image on the previous page from 1941 and the one here from 1945, there are lines of dots visible beyond the 1st green and along the 4th fairway This was a large minefield.

Gun turrets were constructed and a network of trenches and ditches

THE IMPACT OF WORLD WAR II

dug across the long, flat fairways (7, 13 & 14) to deter gliders from landing.

The land that was due to be lost at the end of the negotiated lease (beyond the present 6th fairway) was requisitioned by the War Office and a significant antiaircraft gun site was constructed

In spite of it all, golf continued to be played during this period on a 15 hole course. When the military were training their rifles, the members of the day simply

avoided that part of the course!

In the archive room, there are thick books containing letters of members' resignations By the end of the war, there were only 145 full members remaining The make do and mend attitude of Britain at that time also applied to the links

When the Club rebuilt its course (FG Hawtree having issued a report in 1947), it is important to remember the circumstances

EVOLUTION OF WALLASEY

Note only 2 long holes played over the area currently given to 7, 13 & 14

Bearing these evolutionary pressures in mind, this section explores how the routing of the course has altered throughout the years

A range of architects have made recommendations. In 1891, it was Old Tom Morris who laid out a course of short holes full of blind shots The old 1st featured a blind drive and a blind approach. The present 12th hole featured in the routing and greens including the modern 2nd, 7th & 8th also remain

In 1901, Sandy Herd (who would

win the Open the following year at Hoylake) lengthened the links beyond the Old Tom's 5,500 yards

In 1913, it was the turn of Hoylake's second great son, Harold Hilton. He built the famous par 3 9th hole (described later) and was undoubtedly a successful choice

During WWI, CW Limouzin, the Club's former secretary, re-routed the course away from the problematic sand hills (as already discussed) to form his inland links of 1918.

Around this time, the great HS Colt was consulted. His plans to re-route the course were deemed too expensive and, most unfortunately, did not progress In 1929, James Braid was consulted. By the time of the lease negotiations of 1936, he was working alongside Hawtree and Taylor The changes started were paused during WWII and an interim 15 hole routing played.

Stripping 350,000 tonnes of sand from the Sahara is hard to imagine

The 1st was still the 'double blind' hole ultimately lost to sand blow

Old 14, future 8th, plays straight but with a greater boundary to the right than present

Very little golf played in some of the best golfing land due to technology, irrigation and sand blow

4 was an Old Tom hole called 'Foxhill' - one we'd have loved to see

The pink line shows the present boundary, with the holes that played beyond it still visible in parts. in 1941

nowadays. It is the reason the 4th and 17th fairways are flat, surrounded by towering dunes

Once these holes were built, there were generally only minor tweaks thereafter. The great par 3 17th hole was ultimately lost and the Club looked to make better use of the land around the clubhouse in the 1980s

In recent years, Wallasey's routing has remained pretty static. Whilst Donald Steel changed a few greens in the early 2000s, for

most of the members, it has remained consistent.

Some of Wallasey's best holes no longer exist The original straight 8th hole was far superior to the current one, but the loss of the parcel of land where the A554 and primary school now stand meant it was no longer viable

The par 3 from the current 9th tee to the 10th green was once described as 'the greatest one shotter in the country'

Changing leases and the impact of the wars were massive drivers behind the early changes to the routing But while the Club's forefathers adapted to challenging circumstances, it is interesting to note they always seemed to do so when resources were at their lowest

Hopefully, the lessons of the past are that making proactive improvements rather than retroactive fixes is preferable. Today's Wallasey is as much a product of circumstance and events than good design

16 another great lost hole, from a tee still visible by current 8th green to current 15th green

Wallasey's famous lost par 3 Played as the 9th for many years Current 9th tee to 10th green

17 played from a tee by 15th green backwards down present 11th, towards a green near 18th tee.

Perhaps the most significant routing to understand how modern Wallasey navigates its terrain Limouzin's one pulled the golf away from the exposed sand hills and on to the flat land on the agricultural side.

This was done for reasons of economy, not in the name of creating the best course possible.

1918 1929

Better use of the land around the current holes 1-3 has been made 9 holes from the modern routing can be recognised

The number of holes played in the style of the modern 7th, 13th & 14th is extreme

The sheer concentration of holes in the bottom corner of the course is reduced but still an obvious feature.

12 of the holes are located on just 36% of the total area.

With the onset of war, the land beyond the present boundary was lost The modern 6th hole was not yet built and a par 3 7th hole was used to link the dune land to the flat holes

Note only 15 holes were played during this period

1940

Still too much open sand to use this area of the links, plus separation required from lido

Almost all

Modern 9 and 10 not yet built, still using Hilton's famous par 3

1955

The modern holes along foreshore are included in routing for first time

holes are recognisable except for par 3 17th.

ANALYSIS OF THE COURSE

X-Score

When it comes to predicting how elite golfers will play a course, yardage is the main determinant.

The holes' design does of course come into play, but distance is the biggest factor Good design will stimulate the mind, coax people into hitting shots they have no business playing It will catch out the ill disciplined and the emotional. But if you take a big enough field and give it enough rounds, yardage will be the biggest determinant of score.

That is not to say longer courses are harder There’s more to it than that

Fortunately, the PGA Tour produces an enormous amount of data on its players scoring ability per yard of approach shot faced We have developed a formula for quantifying the difficulty of a course based on the expected score a PGA Tour field will shoot, on average, for a particular course.

We call this ‘X-Score’. It is by no means infallible, but it gives us a great tool to objectively compare different versions of courses

Wallasey’s X-Score is 66.98 - or 5 under par.

Q-Score

Whilst the challenge for the very best players is important, it should be a distant second to enjoyment for the majority of us ‘normal’ golfers who play the links. This is the measure of a golf course

In a similar way to the established ‘Doak Scale’ of rating courses, we believe it is a worthwhile exercise to consider each individual hole as objectively as possible. Doak would say a ‘3’ is an average course, a ‘6’ very good, ‘8’ one of the best in a region and a ‘10’ essentially perfect

It was a system designed to split hairs amongst the very best courses, and we think it can be well adapted to identifying the stronger and weaker holes on a golf course

In reality, a great golf course is more than the sum of its parts. The flow, the conditioning, the overall experience – all matter. For the purposes of comparing the current course to the alternative routings we will describe later in this report, we think this is as good a method as any

Wallasey's Q-Score is 6.3.

Variety

At the beginning of this section, we described the many ways great courses employ variety in their design. You’ll recall in Report 1, a large chunk of the comment and recommendations was based on this very aspect Each hole provided a way for the Elite, Modest and Bogey players to play the holes‘a course within a course’, as the great American architect George C. Thomas would have said.

This same approach will be given in due course to the specific hole recommendations Until that point, we can consider the variety of hole types The table shows long, medium and short par 5s, the same for par 4s, as well as driveable, and 5 different styles of par 3s.

Remember, a well rounded course will require mastery of a wide range of shot types to play it well For everyone, it will provide greater mental stimulation and enjoyment.

Initial assessment shows the current routing lacks variety in a few key areas, most notably in its par 5s These generally play on the flattest ground (with the tee shot of the 4th excepted), and all are sub 550 yards. It is also of note that of the 10 par 4s, half of them are in the ‘Drive and Pitch’ category.

SUMMARY OF ANALYSIS

Par 3s:

We think it is fair to say that most members and visitors to Wallasey would comment on the strength of its par 3s. The view from the elevated 5th tee is exceptional. The 12th is one of the best known holes on the course. The 16th plays among some of the very best sand hills in England

This hole type scores well through all categories In terms of X-Score, the value was only 0 04 under par For Q-Score, it was 6 5 Above the average of the course as a whole (6 3) Finally, in terms of variety, it is clear the holes offer up a range of shots, with three different brackets covered.

The par 3s are one of the course's strongest elements. That said, Wallasey's large, choppy sand hills are a natural canvas for such holes. We would expect the course to have truly excellent short holes and would suggest there is room for further improvement

Par 4s:

The performance of the par 4s through the various critiques is less favourable. They are not necessarily too easy - they yielded 2.07 under par for their X-Score - but they do lack a variety of hole type and yardage.

Of the 10 par 4s, half would be categorised as ‘Drive and Pitch’ holes There are two requiring mid iron approaches and two long irons We are big fans of Driveable Par 4s, one of the hole types to have actually been improved by the increase in ball distance of recent years

However, there must be a difference between a great ‘driveable 4’ and a ‘short 4’. We would suggest the land the 6th hole plays over means it will generally feature more in the latter column than the former.

Like the par 3s, the collective QScore of the par 4s is above the course average A score of 6 6 is strong

Par 5s:

Unfortunately, it is the par 5s which let Wallasey down. These yielded a Q-Score of just 5.25. With the obvious exception of the tee shot on the 4th, in general, they are on the flattest and least interesting land.

In terms of challenge, the X-Score of 17 09 is almost 3 under par for just four holes They do not take in the great land Wallasey possesses and offer little variety All of them are under 550 yards - short from the back tees of a modern par 5

We do not advocate length for the sake of it but do think this is the largest opportunity to increase the course's overall interest.

Overall:

Par 5s are quite clearly the weakest hole type at Wallasey.

Considering how the course has evolved, it is no surprise that it is this type of hole which has lagged behind

Par 3s were straightforward to build in sand hills, also shorter par 4s. Without earth moving equipment, longer holes were more challenging to construct.

When the boundaries changed and the land beyond the current 6th hole was lost, the longer holes were relocated on to the flat land for a number of reasons, namely, an availability of space, to shield play from the sea and sand, and it being easier to grow grass on heavier soils

As these considerations are no longer applicable, there is a real opportunity to consider alternative configurations.

For us, the 11th & 18th are the undoubted highlights. There is simply no substitute for exceptional golfing land.

Beyond this, the 3rd, 12th and 16th holes are also excellent

The weaker holes are the 7th, 8th and 14th While the 8th has a

lovely green site, it was designed for a hole that played straight over the current practice area. The crossing over with the 15th tee, its proximity to the busy road and a tee shot along the range are detracting features.

With the above in mind, we are now in a position to pull together our wish list of features the best versions of Wallasey would possess While reading this section, please do not consider the cost and disruption of getting to such a point

We have given a significant amount of thought and research to these issues and are confident they can be achieved We hope you’ll keep an open mind.

Here are a number of statements which we will expand on in due course.

1. Wallasey’s best holes are located in its best land (3, 11, 12, 18) and its weakest holes are on the weakest land (7, 13, 14)

2 Too many holes reside on the

weaker land and not enough on the very best.

3. If building a range, this should be located on the weaker land.

4. If building a reservoir, this should be located on the weaker land.

5. If building a new greenkeeping compound, this should be located on the weaker land

6 If considering re-routings, holes 1, 3, 11, 12, 16 and 18 should be kept or, ideally, enhanced

In order to free up space on the flatter ground for a driving range, reservoir and greenkeeping compound, we must look for opportunities to develop areas currently out of play.

PHASE 1 EXISTING

In order to unlock the potential of the wider Wallasey site, we believe making better use of this section of the course is key

The 1st hole needs attention for reasons laid out in Report 1.

The 2nd hole has a great history, and this must be considered, but we believe making better use of the land that surrounds it is absolutely fundamental for Wallasey's long term success

Also to consider is the land around the 3rd and 18th holes. This is some of the very best topography on the course and should feature more in the layout.

PHASE 1 PROPOSED

Our proposals are to make better use of the land around the current 2nd hole.

Historically, it wasn't available for golf as it comprised an enormous open sand dune This caused issues in the early days, explored earlier in this report

The land to the right of the 2nd is some of the very best on the course.

There is a further opportunity to improve the current 3rd and 18th holes by increasing their length and fairway areas, converting them both into par 5s We strongly believe these would go from being great holes to world class ones

The land between holes 2, 3 and 18 is wonderful, but only a spectator to the course's design.

The marsh area has grown in recent years. It detracts enormously from the opening hole.

The unnecessary bunker highlighted in Report 1 has since been closed and reshaped

Scrub and trees to the right of the current 2nd cover some of the best links land on the course

Proposed Holes:

1 - Par 4 - 362 yards

2 - Par 4 - 414 yards

3 - Par 3 - 165 yards

4 - Par 4 - 382 yards

5 - Par 5 - 528 yards

18 - Par 5 - 547 yards

HOLE 1

Par 4 - 362 yards

The opening hole has some wonderful features and some obvious shortcomings.

The location of the tee relative to the clubhouse is iconic Yes, it means the hole cannot be lengthened but on an opening hole, is this an issue?

The green site is first class. The half punchbowl from the front and round to back left is a great feature Having now observed the reshaped right hand contours since the bunker removal took place over the winter, we are delighted with how

this more subtle hazard will influence play.

The issue is in the recent formation of the marsh This is quite clearly water collecting in a low point not an intended design feature, the run off from the roundabout and road drainage likely being contributing factors.

We propose to use sand taken from a dune adjacent to the car park and more from well behind the green to fill this low area There is the additional benefit of increasing the size of the car park.

At the same time, we propose new fairway bunkers at a more appropriate yardage. A new approach bunker would be positioned to give the effect of three bunkers in a row from the tee This would, of course, be a visual trick, there being a good degree of separation between them.

The axis of the two fairway bunkers is angled with fairway beyond to encourage longer players who wish to take driver to aim further left, away from the road

Repositioned approach bunker challenges those who have played away from bunkers on the drive, and visually lines up with fairway traps from tee

Cut the dune adjacent to car park for spoil to fill in low point. Allow for car park to be extended by doing so.

Cut a high point currently covered by gorse, opening up the corridor for proposed 2nd. This sand to be used in building up low point.

Reposition the fairway bunkers into the face of the existing ridge 235 - 260 from the back tee

New fairway in the current marsh coupled with angled fairway bunkers encourage longer hitters away from road

HOLE 2

Par 4 - 414 yards

To the right of the current 2nd hole is some of Wallasey's best land.

Fortunately, the Course Manager had the foresight to clear a lot of the non-indigenous scrub. In doing so, he has exposed a hole that’s sitting there waiting to be played

100 years ago, this area was open sand hills with no vegetational covering. Not only was it impossible to build holes here, the open sand blew across the course, causing problems.

Fortunately, the development of

the promenade stabilised the area and it is now a golfing canvas. We propose a hole playing through the existing valley before doglegging slightly to the left as the fairway climbs steadily to the green

A drive down the left will be blocked out by both a dune ridge and the approach bunker. The feature of the drive will be the fairway neck to the right hand side - difficult to access but, from here, an enticing approach.

There is far more space than most would imagine, with almost 145

yards from the right hand edge of the current 2nd fairway and the boundary. The drive would be played through the valley to further create a sense of isolation from the road

The view from the green set into the hill would be truly panoramic, providing an extraordinary vantage point of Liverpool Docks to one side and the Wirral to the other.

Only one bunker is needed to defend this mid length par 4, the topography of the hole being its main defence.

The green's position would be at the end of a riseoffering a near 360 degree panoramic view

A single bunker, when coupled with the angled ridges of the fairway, protects the green

Accessing the naturally protected shoulder of fairway (just over 300 yards from the very back tee) gives the optimum angle to approach the green.

The range of teeing grounds would allow the hole's strategy to be enjoyed by all classes of player

Apart from a small amount of cut and fill in the first part of the hole, the natural valley the fairway would play through is naturally existing.

The dune ridge cutting diagonally across the fairway the strategic challenge of the drive

HOLE 3

Par 3 - 165 yards

If you venture beyond the proposed 2nd green, you’ll come to a series of natural bowls.

This is on the ‘other side’ of the ridge There is a natural point just short of the Derby Pool building which, with the tees set into the hill, is obscured by the natural topography. The boundary ridge would need to be slightly extended to cover the building fully, but this is a small alteration

Our ideal location for a green can’t

quite be seen from here. There is a smaller crater, a ridge and then a larger bowl beyond. The proposal is to break through this ridge, exposing a green set into the side of the larger escarpment with short grass flowing down in the base of the bowl below.

The hole doesn’t need to be long –165 yards from the back tee. A lot like the proposed 2nd, it is a hole made by the natural shapes of the land in this part of the property A single bunker allows the pin to be

tucked tight but with space around the green to play conservatively for an easy bogey.

Classic in style, this hole would feel like a more dramatic sister to the 11th at nearby Hoylake –‘Alps’. The long view from the tee to the sea beyond will frame the shot and the green will provide a sense of seclusion from the rest of the course (and the blowing wind).

Green set halfway down the main ridge giving shelter from the wind and seclusion from rest of course

Boundary ridge drops down here to give sea view

A well placed bunker allows for pins to be cut close to the front, while contours allow a ball to feed round from left.

The existing boundary ridge to be extended slightly to further obscure the Derby Pool.

The apron to be cut into the bowl before the green It is sufficiently large and undulating so balls that finish short don't collect in the same place

The tees are half a step down from the top of the boundary ridge, so Derby Pool is obscured

HOLE 4

Par 4 - 382 yards

From the tranquility of the sheltered 3rd green, the proposed 4th tee will be the highest vantage point in the opening section

With the prevailing wind now on your back, there is a choice of routes available - a wide expanse of fairway broken by a central hill.

The line of instinct will be to the right, directly at the green tucked among the ridges We foresee the majority of visiting golfers taking aim at the church beyond and letting loose

However, the savvy Wallasey member will know to play left of this rough covered hill. The route is narrower but represents the line of charm

The visitor will find their route to the green obscured by the right hand ridges, most likely approaching the green blind, their approach finding either the bunker or being deflected left.

The drive out left has opened the approach, a clear line in to a green framed by natural dunes There is also more fairway here than first

appears from the tee.

The hill is angled back and fairway kicks out immediately past it

This is another classical hole, drawing inspiration from the likes of the 15th at Royal Dornoch and 17th at Cruden Bay.

We think it has the potential to be one of the stronger holes on the course

Central hill to be constructed Sand to do so accounted for in the cut/fill calculations for filling the marsh

The green to be stepped into the dune ridge A short grass run off the likely collecting point for many of the approaches that have erred away from the unknown.

The 'line of charm' to the left of the hill. From here, there is an unobscured route into the green

Protruding ridge blocking the line of site from the right hand path

A range of teeing grounds from the high ridge allows the hole's strategy to be enjoyed by all classes of player

The right hand route is the 'line of instinct', the direct route to the green, on line with the Church beyond View from here obscured by protruding ridge

HOLE 5

Wallasey’s 3rd hole is one of our favourites. The objective here wasn’t to change a good hole for the sake of it but to study it and, if possible, enhance it

There are several great attributes With the narrow channel running through it, the land is wonderful. There aren’t many holes with such a distinctive feature.

Next, the green

On early inspection, we noted it was one that better suited a long iron or wood approach than a shorter iron.

It is built on a hog's back. The back portion is the real putting area and anything that fails to make it to this plateau will fall away The fact that the hog's back lurks before the green is what makes it interesting

If the approach demanded a long club to be hit into the green by the best players, the ball would have to run up and along this ridge. If not perfectly executed, it would be deflected left and right. No bunkers are required to defend this green.

By expanding the fairway short and left and linking with 18, higher handicaps have a wonderful

feature to drive towards.

From here, the approach in two would be particularly challenging There would be a good area to lay up to, however, just beyond the valley The pitch from here is tricky, but a par is eminently achievable.

Our earlier analysis of the hole types identified par 5s as a current shortcoming of the course We believe in allowing this good hole to embrace more of the wonderful topography of the area and play to its strengths, it can go a long way towards remedying this deficiency.

Par 5 - 528 yards

The hog's back ridge extends short of the green. A wonderful feature for those approaching with a long club Deflecting balls away from the putting surface

Now the bunker has been closed, as recommended in Report 1, the green is to remain unchanged

Beyond the valley, the fairway opens up to provide a lay up area for those sensible enough to take it.

Linking the fairway with 18 would create a beautiful feature. Playing left off the 5th tee would make the approach blind and more challenging, however

The unused dunes here provide a natural teeing ground. Also, another starting point accessible from the clubhouse

The longer drives will still experience the bottle neck of the valley

HOLE 18

Par 5 - 547 yards

Rollin’ Home. One of the great closing holes in British golf. Much like the proposed changes to the current 3rd/proposed 5th, these recommendations are designed to enhance rather than compromise it

The long walk from the 17th green to the 18th tee has evolved as a consequence of the re-routing that saw the loss of the par 3 17th in relatively recent times. It is worth noting that we take this long walk through some of the very best land on the property.

When reaching the current tee, the distance the ball now flies means

longer hitters will often be playing over the fairway to the rough beyond. This can be dangerous if the blind area has not been fully vacated The rough short of the green also means that higher handicappers have a disproportionately challenging approach.

Our proposal is to extend the hole to a par 5. Tees positioned on the hill between the 17th and proposed 5th greens - one of the highest vantage points on the course - will command a fabulous view down this rollicking fairway to the clubhouse beyond

Only a small amount of fairway would need to be extended back towards the present 18th tee. Driving the ball left off the tee will mean the approach in two is blind and from an unfavourable angle The green wants to be approached from the higher right hand side of the fairway.

If a drive has been played out left, it affords a more straightforward layup, a gap likely visible between the hills towards the clubhouse beyond.

We think that with land this good, more shots deserve to be played on it.

Combining the fairway with the proposed 5th will provide an aesthetically beautiful feature from the clubhouse and space to drive into for the mid handicap players

The bunkering and angle of the green encourages a long approach from the right hand side of the fairway

Reinstated fairway beyond the rough clad shoulder provides a lay up area for those who have driven out left and find themselves out of position

Tees located on the hill, offering a commanding and panoramic view in all directions

Accessing the right hand portion of the fairway to set up an angle for approach is challenged by the neck of fairway and diagonal ridge before it

The natural shapes of the proposed fairway extension are largely there already

DUNE DEVELOPMENT

Wallasey has some of the very best dunescapes in the country. It also has flat areas which, we believe, would benefit from a Dune Development scheme

In the fullness of time, there are three principal areas that would transform the landscape both ecologically and visually.

We propose trialing the scheme in the flat area around the 7th's tees and along the right hand edge of the hole Now that the non-native and invasive trees and scrub have been cleared, it is apparent just how much flat, unused land exists.

Those who have studied the historical analysis will know how integral this area has been for golf over the years, but will likely agree the character of the land is lacking

Creating a landscape to border the 7th hole would have a number of significant benefits.

Environmentally, an artificially created dune would be capped with sand, giving it the same appearance, and flora and fauna as the natural dunes themselves The habitats, carbon sequestration and aesthetic benefits would undoubtedly enhance this flat area.

Contractors should be able to gain access from Green Lane. The sand below the ground would be excavated to a depth of c 2m and replaced by inert and locally provided soils Taking soil from local construction and infrastructure projects (tested and monitored closely by the Environment Agency) has a financial benefit to the Club.

Once the dune is constructed from the soil, the excavated sand would be used to cap the dune giving it the same characteristics as the site's natural ones. Surplus sand not required can be screened for dressing the course or sold.

The depth of the sandcapping would be specified by the Club’s consulting agronomist and ecological advisors

Beyond the significant ecological benefits, creating visual interest in this part of the course would be a further enhancement The rough renders illustrate this

Financial Considerations:

In The Netherlands, we have had significant success in funding projects through soil importation.

In Britain, we have witnessed a number of clubs complete similar projects with great success

Amongst others, Burnham & Berrow has built a dune feature as part of an overhaul of its 12th hole. Stoneham has recently completed a multi-million pound overhaul of its practice facilities funded entirely by a similar such project

The business case is reasonably simple. When construction or infrastructure projects are under way, it is better for their economics and the environment if spoil from excavations is moved locally An intermediary company will charge the developer or contractor for the processing and removal of the spoil, locating and transporting to a

Proposed

donor site This fee will then be split with the site

There are significant regulatory tests to pass and laws to adhere to prior to receiving permission to move soil between sites.

If Wallasey were to pursue a permit for Dune Restoration, the Environment Agency would require significant ecological studies to be carried out It would then assign a narrow band of acceptable soils based on the land profile.

The intermediary company would fund the 'at risk' costs of permitting, etc , not the Club

Proposed view from 7th tee

MINIMISING DISRUPTION

Within our proposals, you will note that the vast majority of work can be executed while the 2nd hole remains in play.

However, that is not the case when work is undertaken to the 1st hole

Unfortunately, to build up the marsh's levels will require the closing of that section of the hole for a period of time. We anticipate this work being a priority, as the hole as it stands poses issues.

For the proposed new holes, all but one small section of fairway can be built without any impact on the current 2nd hole. Likewise, the proposed 3rd could be constructed in its entirety without causing any disruption.

The proposed 4th hole's green, surround, approach and tees could all be constructed at the same time while play on the 2nd continues.

Constructing the greens on holes that are out of play means they can be built and grown in over a longer period of time

Rather than laying with turf, the Club could opt for seed to be sown. The grow-in period would be longer but it is more economical.

In addition, the new tees for the proposed 5th and 18th holes as well as an amount of fairway shaping can be built during the above body of work.

Disruption will only occur for a few months as the final tie-ins are constructed. The central hill on the proposed 4th hole can be built quickly, its tees and fairways completed with minimal disruption to play

Deliveries of soil would gain access to the course directly from Green Lane. Hoardings would be constructed along the edge of the 7th hole to reduce the visual impact of trucks arriving.

A new tee would be constructed short left of the 6th green in order to allow uninterrupted play on the hole while work is ongoing.

GETTING TO 20

As readers may have already surmised, our proposals for Phase 1 would leave Wallasey with 20 holes.

It might seem frivolous to target 20 holes as a first step We would argue it is logical and necessary

We would like to think Phase 1 might be successful enough for the Club to consider subsequent steps towards our vision. If it is to be the stepping off point, on a standalone basis, we believe it alone will deliver a significant improvement

First, the extraordinary land around the current 2nd hole will be utilised, replacing the current hole with three which, we humbly believe, will be among the course's finest.

Turning the very good par 4s of 3rd and 18th holes into spectacular par 5s by making better use of the landscape would also be a significant improvement. In ‘Analysing the Course’, we identified the par 5s as the weakest hole type. This would change matters, elevating the entire course in the process

Crucially, having 20 holes provides options

The current 13th and 14th could become spare holes. For elite competition, this spac used as a temporary ra spare 14th green prov wonderful short game duration of the event

It has been 23 years since, alongside Royal Liverpool, the Club hosted the Amateur Championship Resolving the critical infrastructure required for such an event would, we believe, allow Wallasey to become a host again almost immediately thereafter.

We appreciate that this wouldn’t be the best ‘permanent’ range solution Our ideal one is presented in the 'Vision for Wallasey'.

If this vision were embraced, having 20 holes is crucial to its implementation 20 holes

would allow for two to be taken out of play and ‘worked on’ at any given time whilst still allowing a full round to be played.

lost dunescape, the ‘Sahara’ Controversially stripped away by the Local Authority in the 1930s, reinstating it would elevate the course still further.

Having two spare holes and the routing flexibility that that would offer will help with maintenance and conditioning

If the Club were to opt for a lesser subsequent phase of work, it could be easily achieved. We have developed alternative configurations which still deliver a permanent range and better use of other (currently) fallow areas These are not included here but could be implemented

Without financial contribution from the members and whilst always playing 18 full holes, the future is there for the taking.

We strongly believe that the key to unlocking Wallasey’s potential is by getting to 20 holes following the execution of Phase 1

RAIN AND SHINE

We believe that there will be an ever-increasing clamour for sustainability.

Golf courses are often viewed as negative contributors to the environment's ecology and climate As users of chemicals and water, they are seen as habitat destroyers

We believe there is an opportunity to turn this perception on its head. This isn’t for altruistic reasons. There are pragmatic solutions and opportunities available for Wallasey

The R&A’s Sustainable Golf committee commissioned research into the future of sustainable golf It considered which issues will be faced as well as the potential opportunities.

We hope this report will help Wallasey over the long term For it to fully do so, we must consider the course's future requirements

Water:

Water scarcity is forecast to be one of the great issues faced by golf courses in the coming years

Over the past 20 years, annual rainfall has remained stable

However, the way in which it occurs has changed We now experience many more deluges, where enormous volumes fall in short periods, followed by long spells of far less. Flooding in the winter and droughts in the summer are increasingly common

As evidenced on the 1st hole in recent years, Wallasey is particularly susceptible to flooding. When the course was laid out, there was no urban development to the west of the railway line. Now, there are large roads and hundreds of houses Higher rainfall over these concreted areas increases the risk of more of it flowing on to the links

The drains to the sea pass through land maintained (or not) by the Local Authority.

Dry ground conditions are essential to the agronomy of a links course. The Club must be aware of the impact of drainage

While draining the links in winter months is challenging, irrigating it in the summer is equally difficult.

At present, the Club has a large Abstraction License provided by the Environment Agency to draw water from a bore hole In 2022, the underground reservoir from which it is drawn was at its lowest level for many years After a dry

start to 2023, this remains low

Clubs tend to irrigate their courses from one of three sources - mains supply, licensed abstraction from a creek/bore hole or from their own reservoir Of these, the most ‘at risk’ source is of course mains supply

Bore holes were once seen as robust but this is no longer the case. Course managers must keep detailed records of the amount of water they draw from a bore hole for irrigation purposes When it comes to renewing the license, they must demonstrate that the level of their license is essential Anything they don’t use is increasingly removed from their allocation.

If the water scarcity issues faced in recent years (2018, 2020 and 2022 in particular) continue or increase, it is likely bore hole access will not be as robust as it is today Agricultural, industrial and residential users will all draw their supplies from the same source.

There is a risk golf will be considered a luxury rather than a necessity

We believe it is prudent, therefore, to consider the installation of a reservoir. We are not suggesting it needs to be built tomorrow, but considering it now gives the opportunity to incorporate it into the Club's long-term plans should it become a necessity

From a sustainability point of view, the links can play a role in the area's water cycle, giving surface water space and time to be absorbed. Draining the playing areas to ensure water not absorbed by the grasses is fed back into a reservoir would allow Wallasey to be most efficient

Allied with a well-considered drainage network, a reservoir would allow Wallasey's irrigation source to be robust and sustainable.

Sand:

Another issue identified in the R&A's ‘Golf Course 2030’ project is sand.

Sand is essential for the agronomy of a golf course. Without regular applications to the playing surfaces, decaying grasses will

naturally enrich the soils. This higher level of organic matter (OM) changes the profile of the soil and the types of grasses that will grow in it

The fine leaves of the fescue and bent grasses, so important to the playing character of links courses, would be outcompeted by more ‘agricultural’ grasses

Regular sand applications can reduce these levels of OM over time and encourage better playing surfaces.

As part of the Dune Development proposals in Phase 1, we would look to mine a significant amount of sand. This can be screened and stored on site, allowing the Course Manager and his team as much as is required Most courses without such a ready supply would need to purchase sand at a price of over £50 per tonne. With hundreds of tonnes needed to be applied each year, the saving is significant.

Energy:

We would imagine readers will be well aware of the rising cost of electricity in recent years

In addition to the clubhouse's usage, course maintenance's requirements are considerable. Over the coming years, the Club's electricity consumption will undoubtedly increase significantly

Greenkeeping equipment is rapidly shifting from diesel power to electric. Quiet and without risk of fuel/oil leaks on prepared surfaces, there are many benefits beyond simply the environmental.

With this shift in mind, the cost of renewable energy production has reduced enormously in recent

years

Between 2010 and 2019, the cost of solar panels decreased by 82% and more novel installation options have been developed. One such example is in floating arrays on irrigation reservoirs. Similar installations yield more than 750,000kWh per annum

A solar array on the reservoir has the further benefit of reducing the evaporation of its water in hot summer months.

'Golf Course 2030' was produced to identify critical issues clubs will face in the future We have attempted to consider and plan for them now.

The cost savings for the Club from mining its own sand, from generating (and selling back into the grid) its own electricity and guaranteeing water access will no doubt have future value. For this plan to be relevant over the long term, we must plan for the environmental challenges Wallasey will face

A VISION FOR WALLASEY

In the opening section to this report, we considered Wallasey's landscape and how efficiently it is being used.

Of the 145 acres given over to golf, we suggested 20% of the land would be better used for ‘amenity' 80% of it is excellent, yet nearly half of this amount is underutilised

In 'Pieces of the Puzzle’, we considered what amenities the course could have. Over the length of the report, we’ve identified further items which would, in the ideal world, be in the red shaded

A reservoir with a solar array would ensure Wallasey was one of the most sustainable courses in the country, the strategic risk of water access and flooding mitigated and an income stream produced from the surplus electricity generated The obvious location for this would be in the red shaded area

The greenkeeping compound is in the wrong part of the property, dated and in need of upgrading. It is far below the level a club of Wallasey’s stature should demand. It is too small, and the team must cross the 8th fairway to venture

For the course's conditioning to continue its recent rate of improvement, a renewed compound will soon be necessary.

This will not be an insignificant investment, and we believe it would be a mistake to renew in the same location. For a larger, modern replacement, the logical location is in the red shaded area

Finally, a permanent location for a driving range should be

Weakerland

Underutilised, exceptional land

sought While the temporary location, playing backwards over the 14th (as shown) ticks the championship box, it would not be ideal. Again, the logical location is in the red shaded area, the closer

to the clubhouse the better

Using the Ground:

You'll note the area around the north east section, the current 2nd

hole, now occupies far more of the white shaded area of the plan The proposed 2nd and 3rd are constructed entirely in this otherwise overlooked area.

The fairway extensions to 3rd and 18th holes as part of our proposed 5th and 18th changes also allow more of this unused topography to be brought into play

The green of the proposed 4th hole utilises a section of the wonderful dunes.

We are confident that none of the proposed holes will appear cluttered or overly developed The new fairways - especially the shared one of the 5th & 18th - will be wider than those existing at present.

In the fullness of time, if the Club wished to locate the amenities (range, reservoir and compound) in the red shaded area, it can be done

Firstly, we identified which holes and features from the current routing we thought should not be touched.

Top of the list was the 11th hole, for us, the strongest on the course The tweak by Donald Steel in the early 2000s to move the green to its present location was excellent

Next, the 12th - Old Glory - one of Old Tom's original holes. We thought this essential to preserve

Beyond that, the 16th green is excellent While we believe the hole itself is good, we think the

green site is just wonderful

It is our opinion, there are a few key areas where the routing could be further improved. The stripping of 350,000 tonnes of sand from the former Sahara area has been called by some an act of vandalism

Should the Club elect not to reinstate it, there is an opportunity to better use it as part of the routing

Returning to the coast for the 15th, 16th and 17th holes as part of the 'Vision' plan would create a

wonderful climax to the round Put simply, it brings more golf into the great land.

Again, this is not the proposal we wish to present today. It is a vision of what can be created if the Club wishes to realise its full potential

The golf on the fabulous land, efficiently used A class-leading suite of amenity facilities on the flatter land.

A range, a reservoir, a compoundand a course which maximises the land at minimum cost with the minimum of disruption.

ANALYSING THE POTENTIAL COURSE

Q-Score (Proposed)

In ‘Analysing the Course’, we attempted to objectively consider the current routing by seeking to define the quality of the individual holes and overall quality of course (Q-Score), how challenging they were for elite players (X-Score), and how much variety they offered

This analysis suggested a Q-Score of 6.3, with a much stronger back 9 (6.7) than the weaker front (5.9). The par 3s were the strongest aspect, the par 5s the weakest

This course has no driving range and no reservoir The irrigation system is aging with only a single row of heads.

It’s a little over 6,500 yards and, statistically, a field of elite golfers would likely score 5 under par (XScore, page 19) The par 5s offered little variety nor challenge for the best players. Too many of the par 4s would be classed as ‘Drive & Pitch’.

To renew the greenkeeping compound and irrigation system in the coming years will likely cost around £2m

Without an amount of re-routing, there would still be no space for a reservoir, the compound would be inconveniently located and there would be little prospect of generating revenue to cover these costs

But there is an alternative vision which takes account of these items and more.

If the Club so desires, additional revenue through the proposed Dune Development scheme could be used to fund these above costs, as well as further enhancements to the course.

We predict the Q-Score of Wallasey would rise from 6.3 to 7.7 – leading to a jump in the rankings larger than we originally thought possible

Furthermore, the X-Score of the proposed 7,001 yard par 72 course would be 70.72. To shift from 5.02 under par to only 1.28 under is a significant increase in challenge for elite players. It would ensure Wallasey could reclaim its position as a true championship links

Most importantly, the course would use more of the extraordinary land that is currently underutilised. The variety of holes on offer would be broad. On a course which returns to the clubhouse after nine holes, members could enjoy one of the most complete set of hole configurations of any top ranked course in England

It would allow for a reservoir to ensure Wallasey is fully water self sufficient. It would deliver a 350 yard range just a short walk away from the clubhouse It would give space for - and even fund - an upgraded greenkeeping compound in an appropriate location

It can provide all of this over a number of steps with 18 holes in play at each stage.

We think Wallasey’s potential is unmatched

X-Score(Proposed)

Variety (Proposed)

CONCLUSION

The brief for this report was to consider how Wallasey could make best use of its land.

As we have suggested throughout, the Club has some of the very best golfing land in England Not all of its land is equal, and about one fifth is of a less interesting nature. Due to various events throughout the course's evolutionary history, this land has been disproportionately used.

Holes 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15 all play over flatter land which would be ideally suited for amenity use A driving range, reservoir and classleading greenkeeping compound could all be located on this part of the course. We will refer to these as ‘utilities’.

Of the 116 acres of great land, almost half (48% or 56 acres) is underutilised. Shifting the golf from the weaker land to the very best would free up the southern boundary for the utilities Simultaneously, some of the weaker holes would be replaced by some of the strongest.

The potential for Wallasey is vast. Our vision shows a course which is much more interesting for member and visitor play whilst also being far harder for the very best players It would likely be one of the very best courses in North West England and demand a premium green fee comparable with the Royal clubs.

But the focus here is in the Phase 1 proposals They unlock the

course's potential. They provide options for enhancing the ecology and visual interest of the site, all while generating further revenues via Dune Development Crucially, there would always be 18 holes available to play during this process

Should the Club decide to complete Phase 1 and no more, the course would still be improved. Elite competitions could be hosted as a practice range could be set up over ‘spare’ holes Maintenance can improve, as holes in play can be rested and rotated The course would improve by having more golf in the fabulous land.

We are of the opinion that the proposed 2nd, 3rd and 4th would

be amongst the strongest holes on the course.

Converting two good par 4s into two world class par 5s would allow the weak par 5 issue to be remedied

While this section of the course is being better utilised, the Dune Development scheme will transform the site's ecology. The outlook behind the 6th green and along the boundary alongside the 7th is weak It is flat ground without any of the links attraction of the rest of the course The visual interest here would be transformed.

The fact that this enhancement can entirely fund the wider Phase 1 project will, we suspect, be warmly

welcomed by the membership.

Another key part of the plan is managing disruption. Constructing almost the entirety of Phase 1 out of play, only tying in at the end, allows inconvenience to be kept to a minimum

Our historical analysis has shown that Wallasey has always made changes to the course reactively. Due to events, often those which might have caused a lesser club to fold - lease changes, war, extraordinary sand blow - changes have been carried out with little money and little choice.

Now, the Club is in a strong position. The challenges of the past have been overcome.

With minimal disruption and no net cost to the membership, we present a proactive vision.

To be sustainable - in water, sand and electricity.

To make a net difference to the environment.

To host elite competition again.

To make full use of one of the best dunescapes in English golf.

To begin the process of allowing Wallasey to reach its full potential.

CLAYTON, DEVRIES & PONT