Scarborough South Cliff

The following edited extracts are from the 20th revision of The Dr. Alister MacKenzie Chronology 1870 – 1934 by the MacKenzie Research Group:

In late August/early September 1913 MacKenzie visited the proposed site of a new course that was being considered by the Corporate Property Committee of the Scarborough Town Council.

MacKenzie recommended to a meeting of this committee ‘that the land at Wheatcroft, which is on the South Cliff beyond Holbeck Gardens, should be purchased, but the subject was adjourned for further consideration.’

This site appears the same as the one on which the Scarborough South Cliff course was constructed shortly after WW1. The Committee later voted to proceed with the proposal by 10 votes to 9.

In January 1921 MacKenzie was appointed a director of Scarborough South Cliff Golf Club Ltd. and later became a member of the Club Committee.

On 16 May 1920 MacKenzie attended the official opening of the new course and the exhibition matches (morning and afternoon) between Havers, Hallam, Day and Rhodes, and spoke at the luncheon which was held at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Scarborough between the matches.

According to the Scarborough Mercury and Yorkshire Post, ‘Dr. Mackenzie predicted that the course would be a great success. Some of the views of the course, he said, were the most beautiful of any course in the kingdom. He knew of no club more likely to be a success than the Scarborough Golf Club. Mr. Harris, the contractor, also responded.’

In the modern era, cliff erosion towards the 9th and 10th holes caused the course to be modified during the 1980s with the creation of new 16th and 17th holes. At the start of the new millennium, work on the new Scarborough to Filey Road led to changes to the 3rd hole and new holes at the 11th and 12th.