The Herefordshire Golf Club

Herefordshire Golf Club started out at Broomy Hill in 1896, relocating to Holmer on a seven-year lease in 1911. After twice renewing the rental period on the property, the club considered the prospect of moving to pastures new at the start of the 1930s, calling in James Braid for his opinion on a new property.

Authors John F. Moreton and Iain Cumming continue the story in this edited extract from their book James Braid and his Four Hundred Golf Courses: “Three sites were considered for a new course: the Holme Lacy Estate, of which the County Council were the custodians, Holmer and Wormsley, where 150 acres were available.

Expert advice was needed and in [May] 1931 James Braid was consulted. He rejected Holmer because of the heavy soils and recommended the site at Wormsley, also known as Raven’s Causeway, his reason being that it would cost far less to build a course there than at Holme Lacy.

The club’s AGM authorised acceptance but financial problems caused delay. The owner of the land, Captain T.R. Hinckes, decided to build a course himself and employed C.K. Hutchison, Braid’s collaborator at Gleneagles, Guy Campbell and S.V. Hotchkin, the owner and developer of Woodhall Spa.

They created a beautiful golf course which still today is unspoilt, with panoramic views of the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains dominating the horizon. Braid’s choice was impeccable, what a shame he was not invited to design the layout.”

The Herefordshire was put up for sale in May 2020 with an asking price of between £1 million and £1.25 million, following an EGM of the membership to approve a proposed sale/conversion to proprietary control. Five months later, it was announced a consortium of three local businessmen had purchased the club, with big plans to invest in the facilities.

N.B. Jonathan contacted us to clarify the course views: "Views are towards NE Herefordshire and S Shropshire towards The hills of Clee and E to the Malvern Hills. The Black Mountain ridge is only visible from the top of Wormsley Hill behind the course and not from the course."