Canons Brook

Canons Brook Golf Club is synonymous with Sir Henry Cotton. The golfing maestro was familiar with this corner of Essex; his inaugural 1962 design was at nearby Abridge Golf Club before he turned his attention to the Algarve, laying out the region’s very first golf course at Penina in 1966.

David Hamilton, former member of the editorial staff at Golf Illustrated, wrote the following passage about Canons Brook, published in The Golfers Guide to East Anglia:

“Henry Cotton’s handiwork is written indelibly on this long, tough course situated just outside Harlow New Town. Cotton was commissioned by the Harlow Sports Development Trust back in the early 1960s to provide a course for the fast expanding new town in north Essex that was built to accommodate the overspill from London. The three times Open champion was provided with 112 acres of undulating agricultural land and his aim was to design a layout with large greens, plenty of bunkers, and no rough. This, he felt, would assist with the speed of play, ensuring few balls would be lost, thereby cutting down on the time spent searching for them.

Over the years the greens have become somewhat smaller, a number of Cotton’s many bunkers have been removed, and the rough has been allowed to grow. However, the course is just as difficult as it ever was and plays every inch of its 6,700 plus yards from the back tees with a par of 73. The first nine holes were available for play in 1964 and the second nine a year later when the official opening took place. On the day, Cotton played an exhibition match with fellow Ryder Cup men Lionel Platts and Peter Townsend along with Michael Bonallack, then the leading amateur of the day and Essex based…

The club’s name comes from the ancient area in which it is situated and from the Canons Brook, which runs through the course, notably across the first hole, ahead of the 17th green, and down the side of and in front of the 18th green. The par four 3rd at 454 yards is the toughest hole despite not having a single bunker. But it is a slight dogleg where the approach to a two-tier green has to be threaded between two guarding trees. The short 15th at 201 yards is invariably into the wind and slightly uphill to a green protected by four traps and with a bank at the back to catch the overhit shot. The other signature hole is the 332-yard 17th where the tee is back in an avenue of trees while a ditch crosses the fairway 70 yards from the green and Canons Brook lies just ahead of the putting surface. Bunkers guard each side of the green while there is deep rough off the back. Little wonder this is called “Death or Glory”.”