European Golf Design - Vision E-Magazine Issue 2 - Spring 2018 | Page 26

Construction began in the summer of 2014. The project was managed by Mill Creek’s own development team, led by Denis Kotov. ENGO from Slovakia were employed as the golf course contractor with Braemar Golf providing golf construction management, through their site foreman Bobby Kirkwood and shaping team led by Steve Crotty and Scott Laughlin. The irrigation system was designed by Irritech using Toro Infinity sprinklers with on-site supervision from Victor Jamieson. The team was ably assisted by interpreter Anastasia Petrova.

What has been created is a visually spectacular golf course with humps, bumps, swales and hollows reflecting the links character of fairways and greens while rugged, fescue covered mounds line each hole. The frequent windy conditions help to reinforce the sense of links golf.

The first seed fell in the late summer of 2015 and the final details of construction were completed in June 2017. The man responsible for the establishment of the golf course is Will Righton, formerly Course Superintendent at both Navarino Dunes in Greece and Marriott Worsley Park, two other EGD courses.

Although Mill Creek has a number of unusual features not normally found on a top quality golf course it is first and foremost a championship standard golf course built to the highest standards. Actually it’s two championship standard golf courses, but who’s counting?

Aerial view of the course - image courtesy of Will Righton