London gets UK's first Dye Designs golf course

AN application has been submitted to start construction of The Dye London on land near Edgware, north London, meaning celebrated US golf architects Dye Designs will be bringing their unique brand of creative golf course design to the UK for the first time.

The application has been submitted by the Menai-Davis family, who in 2007 opened The Shire London, featuring the UK’s only Seve Ballesteros golf course, near Barnet, north London.

The Dye London will be an 18-hole Tour-style golf course, stretching to over 7,000 yards from the championship tees, but with many other teeing options to reduce the length of holes to encourage play by golfers of all standards. It will mimic the proven format at The Shire London, namely a small membership but with 7-day access for the public.

A Dye Designs spokesperson said: “The course will feature a Dye signature island green, similar to the famous 17th at TPC Sawgrass. Dye-designed courses have hosted over fifty championships worldwide, and our team is looking forward tremendously to creating our first golf course in the United Kingdom.”

“The Dye London will compete in quality with other facilities in the south such as The Grove and Woburn, but at more accessible prices” Tony Menai-Davis said. “Initial demand for The Dye London has been phenomenal, among those who knew that it was coming, and we hope to repeat the success of The Shire London, which launched with a fully-sold membership in 2007.”

Dye Designs continues: "We understand how to build unique, environmentally sensitive, world-class projects that attract golfers from around the world. Our hands-on design approach allows us to be on the cutting edge of conservation and protect the environment by enhancing precious natural areas and wildlife habitats."

Dye Designs on the site in Edgware: “This is a beautiful piece of ground, with magnificent views across London, one of the world’s great capital cities. The ambience and the setting are brilliant, but most of all it’s the people involved which will make this project so special. We are passionate about what we have planned here.”

“Golf is changing,” continued Tony Menai Davis. “Many golfers these days, especially younger ones, don’t want to be part of a traditional member’s club, and prefer to play less frequently but at spectacular high-quality golf courses – like the Tour venues they see on TV, or when they go on a golf holiday.”

“We are proud that The Shire London is viewed by many, seven golf seasons after it opened, as the best-value quality golf facility in the Home Counties,” he added.