Work is well underway on the construction of the first new hole at Goswick Links since the 1960s – with the new par three seventh hole set to be ready for play this April.
The new short hole has been designed by golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert, and it is set to replace the existing par three ninth hole as part of a wider programme to enhance the front nine at the top 100 course.
The team at Goswick broke ground on the new hole near the end of 2025, and architect Tom Mackenzie has since signed off on the shaping of the tees, green and surrounds. Finishing work on the two greenside bunkers remains, with the new hole set to be ready for play in April.
“It’s just amazingly rewarding to see everything coming together,” said Tom during a recent site visit. “I hope we have delivered what we promised we were going to deliver in terms of the improvement to the front nine and creating a really good new hole.”
For more insights from Tom on the hole’s design, click here.
The creation of the new hole is a major milestone in a front nine improvement plan proposed by Mackenze & Ebert and approved overwhelmingly by the club’s membership in 2022. Since then, the Goswick team has improved the green surrounds at the second and third holes; built new tees and significantly resculpted the green on the fourth hole; and built new tees on the fifth and sixth holes which have added length to the layout.
While the new seventh hole was carved out, the team also built new dramatically positioned tees on what will become the eighth hole. Those will also be ready for play in April.
Meanwhile, the removal of the ninth hole creates the opportunity to reroute the first hole and build a new short game practice facility. These improvements are scheduled to begin in October. The Mackenzie & Ebert plan also calls for new tees and a new green for what will become the new ninth hole. The schedule for this work is not set yet.
For additional details and updates on the improvements at Goswick, click here.
