Tandridgerestoring an historic colt course back to it’s full glory

Phase I: Holes 3-5

Tandridge circa 1925-30This aerial picture shows the large number of bunkers that were used at Tandridge (more than 200). This picture was used extensively to establish the bunker positions and shapes of holes 3-5 in this restoration phase (at the bot-tom of the picture).

Tandridge green 5 circa 1925A close up of the fifth green with two sand faced bunkers in front left and the original mounding behind the green.

Tandridge circa 1925This picture gives a good impression of how bold the bun-kering was at Tandridge originally. Also notice the exten-sive use of sand faces and the irregular rough edges.

Tandridge hole 3 BeforeThe third hole is a medium length uphill par 4. In the pas it was changed from a relatively straight hole to a quite strong dogleg right hole, due to safety issues with the adja-cent road. The original fairway bunkering had completely been changed, as well as the fact that the new bunkers were not in Colt’s style

Tandridge hole 3 After

The third fairway has undegone several changes. Fist of all the fairway has been extended by some 10-15 yards to the right by taking out of several trees. Second the original fairway bunker patern has been reestablished, plus Colt’s original bunker shapes have been reintroduced

Tandridge green 3 BeforeThe third green had lost the original far right and left bunkers, and on the right trees had encroached into the old bunker! The center bunker had been raised and lost its Colt shape, and the green had been narrowed on the left, where a new snake shaped bunker had been constructed.

Tandridge green 3 After

The green with the three restored bunkers . The center bunker has been lowered so the green is better visible (the sods have not been cut to the shape of the bunker edges yet). The far right and left bunkers have also been restored . Finally a grassy hollow has been created left behind the green. In the future the green will be extended to the left as it was significantly larger in the past

Tandridge hole 4 BeforeThe fourth hole is a typical Colt par 3 with a green on a plateau surrounded by 5 bunkers. The sandfaces of the bunkers had been lost over the years and the bunker left behind the greenb had been closed.

Tandridge hole 4 After

The original sand faces of the bunkers have been restored, and the left bunker behind the green reinstated, giv-ing this hole a much stronger appearance without really changing the playing characteristics

Tandridge hole 5 BeforeThe fifth hole had lost several bunkers and several had been lost their Colt style. The second an the third bunkers on the right were changed and the first bunker on the left closed. Also the trees had been allowed to grow in from the left so the green wasn’t visible from the tee anymore.

Tandridge hole 5 After

The original Colt style rough edged sand face bunkers were all restored and the view on the green was again restored by pruning the large trees (the small trees on the left will still be moved further left).

Tandridge green 5 BeforeThe fifth green historically was defended by two bunkers left against the green, and an area of heather with bunkers between the fifth and tenth greens. Both elements had been lost over time.

Tandridge green 5 AfterThe two original Colt style bunkers left before the green were restored and the birch removed. In a later stage the mounds behind the green will be planted with heather, such as can be seen in old pictures.