Sudbury

Sir Sydney Skinner, chairman of John Barker & Co. Ltd, the department store retailers, is the person credited with putting Sudbury Golf Club on the map. Originally formed as Acton Golf Club in 1896, the club was forced to move from its former location shortly after World War I due to a housing development that was planned for the property.

Sir Sydney acquired the freehold of Horsenden Farm at a cost of £18,000 then a further £6,250 was paid to Major E.C. Murray, the land owner, for the surrender of the lease. The reputable design firm of Colt, Alison and Mackenzie was hired to lay out an 18-hole course, with Sir Sydney hitting the ceremonial first drive on 2nd April 1920.

Today, the course extends to 6,307 yards from the back markers, playing to a par of 70, where several holes run adjacent to the Grand Union Canal. Over time, the holes have been re-sequenced (the old 1st is now the 6th, for instance) which in large part explains why a round here now concludes with a par three hole. Not much else has changed down the years but the infrastructure is constantly kept under review, as evidenced by a major upgrade of the irrigation system in 2017.

Guy Stacey, formerly General Manager at Sudbury, kindly commented as follows:

“The 11th hole is generally regarded as the most difficult hole on the course, a sweeping 420-yard right dogleg that rises up the hill towards the clubhouse. A perfectly placed bunker on the left of the fairway places an emphasis on the tee shot and then you are left with a medium to long iron shot, depending on the wind direction, to a well-protected green that slopes from back to front. A par on this stroke index 2 hole is always a good score.

The 2nd hole is considered to be the signature hole at Sudbury. It measures 421 yards and the tee shot is played downhill to a generous fairway. The second shot is a little more difficult as it plays to a green that sits atop a raised mound which is protected by an original moat dating back to medieval times – the green complex cannot be changed or altered as it’s looked after by the National Trust as an area of local interest.”

The medieval moat at the 2nd hole is a mere whippersnapper compared to the large sarsen stone that's set upon a plinth on the clubhouse terrace. This stone was reputedly used as a boundary marker during the survey of 74-76 AD by the Roman civil engineer, Julius Frontinus.