The brave design of the new West London Links Golf Club


By: August 9, 2018


I must tell you that Pete Dye’s book (‘Bury me in a pot bunker’) really impressed me when I read it a couple of years ago. Since then I like to follow his company’s the Dye Designs‘ activities.

Did you know that there are 7 golf courses in Continental Europe designed either by Perry Dye or Pete Dye or PB Dye or Cynthia Dye McGarey or Matt McGarey? Here is the list:

  • Austria – Schlöss Seltenheim Royal Golf Club;
  • France – Golf Club Barbaroux;
  • Germany – Munich Golf Club (remodel);
  • Italy – Parco Di Roma Golf Club;
  • Portugal – West Cliffs Golf Links (opened in 2017);
  • Spain – The San Roque Club – The New Course;
  • Switzerland – Golf Club Du Domaine Imperial.

In the UK, there are 2 Perry Dye-designed golf courses under construction thanks to the Menai-Davis family. The Dye London‘s construction began in 2015 and will be completed in 2023. The Dye London will be a Tour-style golf course.

It will be the first UK golf course designed from scratch by Dye Designs. The Founders of Dye Designs, Pete and Alice Dye were also involved in the initial plans for The Dye London in 2011.

West London Links Golf Club Pete Dye team and Menai-Davis family

In Northolt, North-West London, the West London Links Golf Club will open in the summer of 2020 to offer golfers a modern vision of links golf not far from Wembley Stadium.

Dye family member Matt McGarey (he was also involved in the design of the Portuguese West Cliffs Golf Links) is teaming up with golf course construction expert Nigel Ely, former Chairman of the British Association of Golf Course Constructors, to shape its greens, bunkers and undulating fairways.

Ceri Menai-Davis, director of The Shire London, West London Links, West London Golf Centre and The Dye London, said: “West London Links is a bold, brave design. We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible as regards sculpting a golfing landscape, with dramatic shaping which UK golfers have not seen before at an inland links.”

West London Links Golf Club during the construction

In addition to the above-mentioned golf course design and construction works, Matt McGarey is consulting with the team at The Shire London:

  • on the development of a comprehensive new short game area there,
  • the reshaping and reconditioning of several key bunkers on the 7,028-yard par 72 Ballesteros Masters Course;
  • The Shire London’s 13th hole is also being remodeled during the work.

What I would love to hear from them are:

  1. What are they doing to achieve sustainable golf courses and tournaments? (E.g. to obtain GEO Certification)
  2. Will they help pollinators? If yes then how?
  3. Although it is written that the two golf courses will offer player-friendly family golf, I miss what will they do exactly to please female golfers and even kids.

At the same time, I think it is a very good and interesting time to be a golfer in London. Not so far away from these golf courses, All England Club offered £65 million for the acquisition of the Wimbledon Park Golf Club (750 golf club members) and its 73 acres.

If this offer will be accepted, then the club’s members would each receive about £80,000 after tax as it is a private members’ golf club.