About St Ives Golf Course

Situated in rural East Anglia and close to major transport links, St Ives Golf Club boasts a brand new inland links style course, designed by Cameron Sinclair. Built on a 230-acre site at Giffords Farm near Needingworth, our 18 hole course is proving to be a first class facility and test of golf for amateurs and accomplished professionals alike.

The course features USGA specification greens and is one of the first courses in the country to use 'velvet bent' grass on the greens, which as they mature will be true and fast! The fairways are fully drained and irrigated and also the fairways and green surrounds have been sand-capped with 40mm of sand to give a links-like 'feel'. Buggies are allowed on the course and the buggy paths from tee to fairway are specially constructed grass paths with their own irrigation system.

The choice of four tees to each hole allows all golfers – from those starting the game to scratch golfers – to enjoy a unique test. The 18 hole yardages range from 5626 to 6758.

With heavy clay soil to contend with, the course was designed and shaped so water would drain into man made lakes and wetlands. From these the water is pumped into a 25 million litre reservoir, making the club self-sufficient in recycled water. Not only are these lakes and wetlands an integral part of the drainage system, but they provide a significant habitat for wildlife, and have become a major ‘signature’ feature of the new course.

Three and a half kilometres of hedging have been planted around the course periphery along with 2,000 gorse plants, some Scots pine and willow. A solitary oak stands resplendent towards the highest point. A major planting scheme of more than 100,000 gorse and heather plants is planned over the next few years to complete the links style of the course.

The floodlit 350 metre driving range has 4 member bays, a professional teaching bay and a grass tee area. The other half of the driving range building was specially constructed for Titleist and is home to the Titleist National Fitting Centre. Members have additional practise facilities, including a putting green, chipping green with bunkers and short game practise area.

The official opening of the new course, clubhouse and Titleist Fitting Centre was carried out by Robert Karlsson on August 16th 2010. See Robert's journal of the day (20th August 2010). The Club's press release of the day can be seen here.