Herne
Bay Golf Course – A brief history
The
late Victorian period saw Golf become an increasingly popular
sport. In 1870 there were only a handful of Golf Clubs worldwide,
by 1900 nearly 2000 Golf Clubs had opened in the British Isles
alone.
The
reign of Queen Victoria had seen Herne Bay become an increasingly
high profile seaside resort, and given Golf’s climbing popularity,
it was important that it should have its own Golf Club. Evidence
from the ‘Golf Manual’ suggests that the first Herne
Bay Golf Course was established in 1889, and further extracts
from other publications such as the ‘Golfer’s Guide’
and newspapers authenticate that the formation of Herne Bay Golf
Club occurred in May/June 1895, from which time it appears to
have been in regular use.
1902
saw the course organised around 9 holes, but by 1913 however the
course had been extended to 18 holes to a design by the renowned
James Braid.
1913
is also notable for an event cherished by the club ever since.
E.C. Bliss, pictured here, drove a ball 445 yards. As the cigarette
card caption reads
‘He
was assisted by a following wind and a ground fall of 57 feet.
This the longest drive on record’
As
might be expected, the First World War resulted in a dislocation
of the club’s activities. After the war reconstruction occurred
this time to a design by Colt, and in 1920 Herne Bay Golf Club
[1920] Ltd was formed, which has ownership and control of the
club to the present day.
The
1920’s witnessed further memorable moments in the history
of the club, not least Henry Cotton winning the Kent championship
in 1926. A breakthrough that led to his subsequent triumphs, which
are now part of British golfing history.
Ladies
also made a significant impact. In an inter-club match at Ebsworth
during May 1925, Miss G Clutterbuck and Mrs H.M. Robinson halved
the 15th hole in one – a distance of 110 yards. This was
the first recorded instance of two players in Britain halving
a hole in one without any handicap stroke allowance.
Donald
Steel designed the present course in the 1990’s with 7 new
holes all with U.S.G.A standard greens, the reminder being Colt
designed in 1920. The course currently measures 5567 yards with
a PAR/SSS of 68.
