Golfing without clubs
During both 2020 English lockdowns, I spent quite a bit of time wandering over the two layouts at Royal Ashdown Forest, where I’m a member.
I’ve always loved trying to spot windows to a layout’s past, and it’s a lot easier to do that when you’re not playing. The flattened-off area in the main photo here lies about 120 yards short of the Old course’s 17th green, and I’d always assumed it must have been something at some stage.
A little investigative work told me it was the old 17th green on a hole that measured 340 yards, rather than today’s 486.
Both courses have undergone much change over the years, with an unusual flat-topped bank 100 yards from the West course’s 18th green transpiring to be the tricky green site of the 4th hole on the original short ladies’ course.
I discovered disused tees elsewhere, and also that the West course used to measure over 6,000 yards, compared with today’s 5,606. I would recommend all golfers – especially those at older clubs – take a walk around without clubs (if permitted and safe) to unearth a few clues about their course’s past.
Did you know?
Abe Mitchell, who sits proudly atop the Ryder Cup, learned his golf as an artisan member at Royal Ashdown Forest.