From allotments to the Ryder Cup, Stratford upon Avon Golf Club has an interesting history as our editor discovers when he meets Head Greenkeeper, Howard Middlebrook, who is ...


Taking a S


tratford upon Avon Golf Club’s main claim to fame is its connection to Samuel Ryder, the founder of the Ryder Cup competition. Sam and his famous professional, Abe Mitchell, along with three former Open champions, George Duncan, Ted Ray and Alex Herd, officially opened the Hawtree/Taylor designed course in 1928, and Sam was to become captain from 1929 to 1931. He remained the club’s Vice President until his death in 1936. With the onset of the Second World


War, parts of the course were given over to allotments. These were allocated to members for growing vegetables. The 7th, 15th, 17th and, later, the 12th holes were used for growing potatoes, whilst gravel was extracted from the 10th, 16th and 17th, leaving deep depressions that are a feature of the course today. Imaginative tree planting from the outset has resulted in a veritable arboretum. Sprinklers were added to the greens in 1970 and to the fairways in 1999. The grandson of the original course designer, Martin Hawtree (consultant to the R & A for the Open Championship courses), ensures that


16


course changes are in keeping with modern needs, but safeguard the subtleties of the past.


The course has changed very little in terms of holes and overall layout although, as with many clubs, bunker placements and tees have been


modified over the years to cater for the


modern game. The


greens are still


pushed up soil based, with no


primary or secondary drainage. In


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