Richmond Golf Club greenkeepers restore 18th hole 'Hades' to former glory

The greenkeepers at Richmond Golf Club have been using lockdown to make improvements to the course, most notably on the 18th hole, aptly named Hades, in view of its degree of difficulty.

The 18th hole at Richmond Golf Club post-restoration

Ever since Owen Beaumont Pease, golf club captain for nine successive years from 1904, drove his golf ball through "Hades", this hole has captured the imagination of many golfers.

The greenkeepers have restored the hole to how it would have looked back in Owen's time, trimming back trees and shrubs to enable golfers to view the splendour of the 18th green and the clubhouse.

How the 18th hole at Richmond Golf Club looked before the work

Iain Leversuch, head greenkeeper at Richmond, said: "We've been able to crack on and get much work done on the course during lockdown, but we can't wait to welcome our members and visitors back to this splendid place."

During lockdown the club has also gained a grant to help it through the pandemic, has been awarded Women in Golf status and achieved SafeGolf accreditation, all through the governing body England Golf.

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