There has been constant change at the picturesque Lonsdale Links in its 103 years since formation in 1921, with perhaps the most dramatic occurring in the last 5 years. The old clubhouse has been knocked down and that and some surrounding land has been sold for property development. The proceeds have been invested into a super new clubhouse and the purchase of adjoining farming land on which 5 new holes have been constructed.

Additionally 9 of the new or existing holes have been altered by the design architects to make them into ‘template’ holes. This means that they are intended to look like famous golf holes elsewhere around the world. An example is the Lonsdale Links uphill par three at 6 named ‘Eden’ which is to resemble the 11th hole with the same name at St Andrews Old Course in Scotland. Template designs are praised by golfing architects around the globe, although personally I am not sure they are quite as appreciated by club golfers at the local level.

When I played the changes are all still settling in and general maintenance is mixed, although very good in places. The front nine seems confused and squeezed into a compact area, whereas the newer back nine plays out over a much larger plot of land and has the better holes. I particularly liked the par four at 10 and blind green at 11, modelled after a similar putting surface as the ‘Punchbowl’ 3rd hole at the National Golf Links of America. 16 and 18 are also good holes which will stick in the memory.

I hope that the brave Lonsdale Links experiment works because all lovers of this great game want to see imagination in golf course construction succeed. At this stage, I am not brave enough to say it will, due mostly to a concern about the overall adequacy of the site. However the new course is certainly interesting and in places great fun to play.