The Essex Golf Courses showcase many talents of some of the UK’s most renowned golf course architects. Sir Henry Cotton, Harry Colt and James Braid are just a few of those who have worked in Essex. Their courses blend into the natural environment and reflect the style of the past.
Braintree GC, located near Stisted Hall, was started during the boom in golf of late 19th Century. North Weald GC emerged during a period when golf expanded a hundred year later. However both courses offer variety as well as a test of one’s golfing skills.
Channels GC is a wonderful example of Henry Cotton’s inventiveness. Built on land reclaimed by gravel workings, Channels GC boasts a 14th-century clubhouse. Cotton was also busy in Essex when called upon to oversee the design at Abridge Golf & Country club when they were forced to move to a third location.
However, all architects have been familiar with the terrain in the county. It’s mildly undulating landscape lends itself to creativity. James Braid created a Links-like course at Orsett GC, which often serves as Open qualifier.
However, Essex has a substantial coastline, so courses such as Clacton-on-Sea GC can be exposed to elements from the sea wall.
Visitors to Essex’s golf courses will find Royal Epping Forest GC of special interest because of its unique rule. Forest Bye Laws 1894 made it mandatory that all golfers wear red outer clothes, presumably due to the fact that the course was laid out on public land.
Many Essex courses suffered from World War II damage when the fairways of their courses were reconstructed to prevent enemy aircraft landing. But golf survived and many courses adopted local rules for wartime situations. Chelmsford GC was forced to announce that a ball damaged by enemy action can be replaced at the nearest possible location, or if it is lost or destroyed, a golf ball may be dropped not closer to the hole, without any penalty.
Thorpe Hall GC, original club of the former R&A Secretary Sir Michael Bonallack had it’s fairways dug up but fortunately the Elizabethan clubhouse was unaffected and the James Braid designed course at Colchester GC was requisitioned as a military training camp. Interestingly Essex Golf & Country Club was constructed on the site of a former WWII airfield.
There are 79 Essex Golf Union members, so you can be sure that there will be many quality courses and variety for visitors.