A NEW Forest golf club has reconfigured its course following a multi-agency project that was 10 years in the making.

Bramshaw Golf Club in Lyndhurst is Hampshire’s oldest golf course, dating back to the 1860s.

The club's 18-hole Forest Course is set within the boundary of the New Forest National Park on land owned by the Forestry Commission. It is subject to many covenants including local commoners being able to put their livestock out to graze.

The heathland on which the course is based has been designated the highest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England and many other conservation bodies.

During the project, the golf club worked closely with Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the National Park Authority together with the local commoners, Verderers and Parish Council.

The changes include a new tee being built on the fourth hole and shortened to a long par three.

The most significant change was to the fifteenth hole, which saw the first new green built on the course in over 70 years and changing it from a par three to a new par four.

Jason Buckmaster, Bramshaw’s Course Manager, said: “With up to 140 ‘heads’ of cattle put out on the course at any one time, playing on the first tee could, on occasions, be quite a challenge.

“We had to find an alternative solution for the heaviest grazed areas that would suit all interested parties and enable commoning practices to continue to thrive alongside a leisure activity that is enjoyed by many”.

He added: “The reconfiguration has taken the layout of the course close to its original form”.

Paul Grugeon, New Forest Land Agent at the Forestry Commission, said: “These long-lasting facilities offer benefits for local residents and allow golfers to enjoy a unique round of golf, whilst at the same time preserving this sensitive area for all to enjoy.”

Jenny Thomas, lead conservation adviser in the New Forest for Natural England, said: “The newly improved course will deliver real gains for the local environment.”

The new layout will officially launch on Good Friday.