Ashton in Makerfield Golf Club is celebrating a makeover that includes first class facilities not only for members but also for local wildlife.

The re-design work at the club has been carried out in advance of a new water pipeline which United Utilities is to lay across part of the course in June 2010.

The water company has employed a golf architect to create two new holes at the course so that there will always be 18 holes for members to play on throughout the pipeline scheme.

Ashton in Makerfield Golf Club Treasurer Allan Pilling said: "When United Utilities approached us last year to discuss the route of the pipeline we were naturally concerned about the impact on the club. But the company has really gone the extra mile to mitigate any disruption. We discussed the pipe route at the outset and, at the club's suggestion, United Utilities agreed to move the line closer to the edge of the course. This meant less disruption for the club and a shorter route for the pipeline.

“It has been great to work with the architect to create the new holes and now that it is nearly finished we are very pleased with the result. Our members will have a really first class course with some new challenges. There is a pond part way down one of the new fairways that I think I'll be getting to know quite well!"

The existing 16th and 17th holes will be taken out of play when the pipeline construction work begins next year. To get around the problem, two new par 4 holes have been constructed on a parcel of land adjacent to the golf course, bought from St Helens Council. As well as the new fairways the designers have had to make space for protected species including Great Crested newts, bats and bluebells. Newt ponds have been created and more than 50 bat boxes will be put up in the woods on the course.

Landscaping work on the new holes began in mid-April and is almost complete, with new turf laid on the greens and tees and the fairways seeded.

Allan added: "It has been terrific growing weather lately and even though the grass seeding was only done three weeks ago the new holes are just about ready for their first mowing. They should be in fantastic condition for when the pipeline work begins in June next year.

"After the pipeline is finished we will have a really flexible course with the option to take other older holes out of action for upgrade work. It's a great facility to have such high quality greens in reserve, and we welcome any new members who want to come and try them out."

United Utilities is building a £125 million pipeline linking Liverpool and Bury which will help safeguard water supplies for people across Manchester and Merseyside for decades to come.

As the area is very built up, golf courses present some of the last remaining open spaces. United Utilities engineers have chosen a pipeline route that takes in five golf courses, to avoid causing disruption along busy roads and through residential areas. The company has been carrying out similar redesign work with all five clubs to make sure they have 18 holes to play on while the pipeline is being laid.

Dave Schofield, project liaison manager for United Utilities, explained: "This is the single biggest scheme we are working on at the moment. The engineering challenges are huge, particularly the logistics of laying 55 kilometres of 1.2m wide pipeline without bringing the region to a halt.

"We are very grateful to the golf clubs for allowing us to work on their land, and we wanted to do everything possible to keep them open for business throughout the work. I have to say, the new holes are already looking fantastic, and I hope they'll invite me back for a round or two!"