Ham Manor Golf Club

Designed by Harry Colt, the course at Ham Manor Golf Club was inaugurated with a match on 10th April 1937, involving Henry Cotton and Alf Padgham against Jimmy Adams and Reg Whitcombe.

It was certainly an impressive line-up of professionals: Alf and Jimmy were the reigning Open champion and runner-up whilst Henry would win the same event later that year, with Reg finishing second.

Nothing much changed here in over eighty years until James Edwards was called in to revamp the 9th hole (now the 18th) in 2018, creating new tees and pushing the green back towards the clubhouse.

The course extends to 6,280 yards from the back tees, playing to a par of 70 (36 out then 34 in), with holes arranged as two retuning nines (which were reversed when the recent course improvements were carried out).

Highlight holes include the slightly right veering par four 5th (rated stroke index 2) and the long par three 8th which has protecting bunkers positioned front right and front left of the green.

The par four 14th is another demanding par four but the best is kept ‘til last at the reimagined 18th, where the stone-buttressed home green now sits in front of a new lake beside the clubhouse.