Down Royal Park Golf Course at the Maze has started a process of major change to its facilities. A program of work has been put in place to introduce a new driving range, give the clubhouse a facelift and do some additional work on the course. All of the work being undertaken is part of an overhaul which the parent company is keen to do, to move the venue forward.
The new General Manager, Greg Bailie, discussed these changes. “The course and associated playing facilities will always be the focus for our work here,” he said. “We have already started with some work on the course in spring this year to improve the greens and this will now continue into the autumn.”
“We are doing some more drainage work, to make the course even more playable in the winter and the first phase of the new driving range has already started. Down Royal has an enviable reputation as one of the driest courses in Ireland and the additional drainage work in certain areas will bolster this.”
The bar and restaurant has already changed dramatically since the new General Manager has been in place however the biggest change that visitors will see in the coming months is that of a new driving range.
“I believe that this area of Lisburn, including Hillsborough, Dromore, Moira etc., really needs a practise facility which allows golfers to have an alternative driving range option. The facility will actually be transformed in three phases with the first phase allowing the area to be used as a range immediately, albeit that it will not be covered at this time. This will be completed in October this year. The final two phases will be completed in 2018.”