CREATING more theatre, and producing a radically different final hole, are among Lee Westwood’s thoughts for his redesign of The Flaxby Country Resort’s 18-hole Park Course.

European Tour pro Westwood has teamed up with renowned golf architect Cabell Robinson to transform the course, near Knaresborough, and help bring top events back to North Yorkshire.

Robinson, who spent nearly 20 years with the legendary course designer Robert Trent Jones Jr, has put together some sweeping changes with Westwood to The Flaxby and work will begin later this year.

But, although there is much in the offing, members might also be pleased to note that the pair will not be completely tearing up David Hemstock’s original design.

“Lee and Cabell Robinson have spent a lot of time on the course,” said Ben Pilgrim, head of communications for The Skelwith Group which owns the course.

“We were very pleasantly surprised with their audit of it, which was – without too much disruption and investment – we can make this one of the best courses in the country of its type.

“They thought the Park Course could be something very special. The key things they want to change, and we will change, are lengthening the course – to make it more than 7,000 yards.

“That’s something they see as being relatively easy to do. We have got 283 acres in total for the whole site so there is plenty of room to go at. The other thing is the bunkers.

“When the course was first designed, the view was that there would be a series of hidden bunkers from the tee. So, if you have never played here before, it makes it quite tricky.

“It’s one of the main things they want to address – to keep the challenge of the bunkers, their depth and character, but to make them visible from the tee so you know exactly what you are doing.

“The other thing is the landscaping and the water and wood features around the tees. Partly that is in mind for big championship events where we know we need a lot of spectator areas but also to create a bit more theatre – especially around the 18th – and some of the holes around the back nine.

“It is almost remodelling it so the water is closer to the greens but also making sure there is enough access for spectators.”

Some of the major changes include: • Creating larger visual bunkering on the right hand side of the first hole to add definition, while also working on the creek and enhancing it with the use of a rock wall • Bringing the original tee on the seventh into play, creating a bigger tee area • On the eighth, the lake will be brought more into the green – sweeping it into the left face. This will provide more of a challenge for players who come up short • Out of bounds markers down the left of the 18th will be removed to provide greater options to approach the green.

In general, tees will be pushed back while extra bunkers will challenge big hitters but not make the course too difficult for amateurs. The aim is to offer options – whether hitting over the top and going for a birdie or hitting the sand and making bogey or worse. This applies particularly to the par-three fourth.

Irrigation will also be improved and the driving range and academy will be upgraded to the standards required for PGA practise areas.

Westwood takes up a position as course professional at The Flaxby next year and Pilgrim believes the redesign will form the next phase in his career. “He is getting better and better on the golf course, but he’s 37 now and he is looking beyond that as well,” he added.

“This presents an opportunity and, as he put it, it is a great canvas, it just needs a bit more paint on it. It will take probably two summers of work to do and to allow it to bed in.

“That’s what is in the projections and the plans and it is what Lee and Cabell have told us is realistic.”