Text of the article appearing in the Hemel Gazette 29th May 2013

The public complex - which is run by the Dacorum Sports Trust charity - has submitted a planning application to Hertfordshire County Council, and will undertake the project in partnership with specialist golf course development company Woodland Environmental.

Complex manager George Reid said: "We need to continue to compete with private clubs, and offer our local community a course that they can be truly proud of. We have an amazing opportunity to make fantastic course changes, recycle our water, improve the practice facilities and improve the ecological impact of the-complex, without any cost to council tax payers or course users as the project is fully self-funding through the recycling and recovery of soils."

The work involves bringing in clean soils and subsoils to re-landscape sections of the course, and will also include the addition of an ornamental lake and an irrigation reservoir. Construction traffic will access the complex from the A41 dual carriageway via Upper Bourne End Lane - not passing any houses - so as to minimise impact to local residents.

The work will also see a new driving range installed, providing two fairways and greens, while ecological enhancements include the installation of bird boxes, bat boxes, and reptile log piles, as well as the planting of new trees, shrubs, and wildflower meadows.

If planning permission is granted, construction work is expected to begin in the autumn, and it is anticipated that the project will take 18 months to complete.

During this time, the course will remain open as usual as no holes will be completely closed, and there will only ever be a maximum of three holes with temporary tees.