Droitwich

Droitwich Golf Club was founded in 1897, with members playing on a 9-hole layout on Bays Meadow.

The following two paragraphs are an edited extract from the book Divine Fury of James Braid by George Payne:

“J.H. Taylor advised the club on an extension from nine to eighteen holes in 1912 but the extension required an additional tract of land to be acquired. The club history states that Braid was commissioned in November 1923 to redesign and extend the course to 18 holes, the cost of which was to be met by Corbet Trustees.

The course was constructed by Conways Ltd, a Halifax-based company which specialised in construction of sporting facilities and who had placed an advert in the Yorkshire Evening Post on 26th November 1923 in which it mentioned that the company was constructing the Droitwich course.”

Today, the course measures just over 6,000 yards from the back tees, playing to a par of 70 (37 out then 33 in), with holes arranged in two separate compartments: holes 1, 9, 10, 17 and 18 are set to the east of Crutch Lane (closest to the clubhouse) with the remaining thirteen holes laid out on the other side of this road.

Highlights here include the only par three on the front nine at the 176-yard uphill 3rd; the longest of the two par fives on the card at the 560-yard 6th; the par four 14th which plays to a raised green; and the par three 18th where the River Salwarpe meanders along the right side of the hole.