Chart Hills Golf Club has solidified its reputation as one of the country’s top golf destinations, having recently been ranked in Golf World’s Top 100 Courses in England.
However, there seems to be limited information on the strategies and efforts that led to this achievement. To gain insight, I interviewed Anthony Tarchetti, the General Manager at Chart Hills Golf Club, to discuss the approaches that contributed to this recognition.
Chart Hills has undergone a remarkable transformation since RAMAC Holdings acquired the property in 2019. What was the long-term strategy and business goal behind this investment?
When we purchased Chart Hills on Christmas Eve 2019, our goal was to bring the course back to a standard we could all be proud of, and ideally make it even better than before.
At that stage, the course struggled with poor drainage, meaning it was effectively unplayable from November through March.
Since then, every area of the property has been improved. The sand-capped fairways now provide firm, consistent surfaces year-round, and we’ve returned to the Golf World Top 100 rankings in England.
Our agronomy reports are the strongest they’ve ever been, and each season the course continues to develop.
Ultimately, our ambition is to create a venue that delivers a first-class experience for members and visitors, and one that everyone connected to Chart Hills can take pride in.
Chart Hills has also benefited from ongoing agronomic support from The R&A. How does that partnership work in practice?
We’re fortunate to have a close working relationship with Alistair Beggs and The R&A’s agronomy team. Twice a year, Alistair visits the club to conduct a complete assessment, and we also send soil samples for analysis.
The R&A then provides a detailed report that helps shape our agronomic strategy for the year ahead, from sand applications and topdressing programmes to fungicides and spray schedules.
Our greenkeeping team, which typically consists of between 12 and 15 staff members, depending on the season, uses that guidance as a framework to maintain and improve the course.
Of course, the British weather sometimes forces us to adjust, but that partnership has been hugely valuable in maintaining consistency and raising standards across the property.
Sir Nick Faldo’s name remains synonymous with Chart Hills. What role does he continue to play in the course today?
Sir Nick’s name will always remain above the door. This is his design, and any refinements we make are carried out through his team to ensure it stays true to his original vision.
The only situation that would ever change that would be a complete redesign, which isn’t something we’re considering.
He’s been excellent to work with since RAMAC took over, visiting three times in recent years. It’s clear he has a genuine fondness for the place, which means a lot, especially as this is now his only golf course in the UK.
Maintaining that relationship is really important to us; Sir Nick is one of the most recognisable figures in British golf, and his continued association adds great prestige to the club.
Looking ahead, what are the future plans for Chart Hills?
Our ambition is to continue climbing the rankings and, in time, attract tournament golf to the venue. Just as importantly, we want to keep enhancing the experience for our members and guests.
The recent opening of The Barn, our first stage of on-site accommodation, has been an enormous success and is already proving popular with visiting golfers.
In the long term, we’ll look to expand that side of the business and further develop Chart Hills as a complete golf destination.
When you reflect on where the course was in 2020 and see what’s been achieved in just four and a half years, it’s remarkable.
That’s down to the vision and investment from RAMAC, who have been committed to making Chart Hills something truly special.
The feedback from members and visitors continues to improve year after year, and that’s the best indicator that we’re on the right path.
