Littlestone Golf Club


Our Club History

 


Members Teeing Off in 1909

 

The original Links was laid out by Laidlaw Purves and it was on this course that Harry Colt distinguished himself as a leading player in 1891.  

A new layout was designed by the Pro of the day in 1892 with the final layout being put in place by Laidlaw Purves and David Herd (Professional and brother of Sandy and winner of the 1902 Open) - with significant additional bunkering by James Braid in 1905 and 1909.

In 1922-23 Harry Colt's then partner, Alister Mackenzie was invited to modernise the links.  Many of his recommendations caused heated controversy among the membership as his design for two of the strongest holes on the course (16th and 17th) were not put in until 1931 under the supervision of Abercrombie.  His intentions for the second hole were completed in 1970 and for the third in 1996!
Today we can attribute the following holes to Mackenzie's influence if not the final construction: Holes 2, 3, 6, 8, 14, 16, 17 and 18.

Read more about Mackenzie at The Alister Mackenzie Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

After the Second World War Frank Pennick carried out rebunkering on Holes 3, 4, 5, 11 and 12 and changed the line of the 18th.

Recently Peter Alliss and Donald Steel  advised on five new back tees and some bunkering changes which, in 2000, were incorporated into a new Blue Course which is 190 yards longer than the White with an SSS of 73.