Alnmouth Golf Club aka Foxton Hall Photo tour

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Back to Northumbria and here we have a Harry Colt redesign circa 1930 of a very historic routing. Foxton is the fourth oldest golf club in England. Colt built nine new holes which serve as the front nine and also renovated nine holes of the original eighteen. The front is now referred to as the "new" and the back as the "old". Both nines sit along the sea but are parkland rather than linksland style. The remaining original nine are now separated from the club and are referred to as Alnmouth Villiage Golf Club. Looking over from the back nine at Foxton they appear quite worthy of exploration on their own account. The club website attributes the original, historic, eighteen holes to Mungo Park in the late 1860's.

Melvyn, if you are lurking out there somewhere, you will be appalled at my laziness in just posting a link to the Club History page on their website here...http://www.alnmouthgolfclub.com/pages.php/page/83cdb148-a240-102c-9079-001ec9b331b2/view_section.html but time is limited that I can devote to this endeavor.

1st tee/ Par 4/ 422 yds

A rather bland beginning with a blind drive towards stake...

DSCN0699 by macmalc21, on Flickr

Hello Harry Colt! I have only previously seen your work at Pine Valley in NJ, USA.

DSCN0700 by macmalc21, on Flickr

1st green

DSCN0702 by macmalc21, on Flickr

1st green from behind

DSCN0703 by macmalc21, on Flickr

2nd tee/ par 4/ 409 yds

DSCN0704 by macmalc21, on Flickr

Right side of 2nd fairway

DSCN0705 by macmalc21, on Flickr

Some water views at the 2nd green

DSCN0707 by macmalc21, on Flickr

Some Colt ripples in green here

DSCN0708 by macmalc21, on Flickr

3rd tee/ par 5/ 508 yds

DSCN0709 by macmalc21, on Flickr

Moving closer on 3rd

DSCN0710 by macmalc21, on Flickr

3rd looking back

DSCN0711 by macmalc21, on Flickr

4th hole/ par 4/ 470 yards

Fairway view

DSCN0712 by macmalc21, on Flickr

5th tee/ par 3/ 194 yds

DSCN0713 by macmalc21, on Flickr

View of 5th green

DSCN0714 by macmalc21, on Flickr

6th hole/ par 4/ 466 yds

View from fairway

DSCN0718 by macmalc21, on Flickr

More of those Colt ripples on 6th green

DSCN0719 by macmalc21, on Flickr

6th again from behind

DSCN0720 by macmalc21, on Flickr

7th hole/ par 4/ 366 yds

Second Shot from here

DSCN0721 by macmalc21, on Flickr

7th pushed up green where missed shots roll away to penury

DSCN0722 by macmalc21, on Flickr

8th tee/ par 3/ 134 yds

DSCN0723 by macmalc21, on Flickr

9th hole/ par 4/ 352 yds

View of approach

DSCN0724 by macmalc21, on Flickr

9th hole view from behind green

DSCN0725 by macmalc21, on Flickr

More later....

[Thomas Dai]

Nice. Interesting too. Looks gentle and rippling and subtle.

During a visit to Northumberland I had a look at the original 9-holes (1869) down by the seashore, which now comprises Alnmouth Village GC - http://alnmouthvillagegolfclub.co.uk/ - and, as you say Malcolm, it certainly appears worthy of investigation.

Here is a Bing sat-map showing both Alnmouth GC (Foxton 18-holes) and south of it Alnmouth Village GC (9-holer) - http://binged.it/1pcKyK0

The two histories of AGC-Foxton and AVGC on the web pages are worth reading although they don't seem to quite gel. The situation seems to be that the first course was 9-holes built by Mungo Park in 1869, making it the 4th oldest course in England. Then another 9-holes were added in 1905 by Willie Park. Then the Willie Park 9-holer was revised and extended to 18-holes by Harry Colt in the late 1920's/early 1930's and it is this Colt 18-holer that is now AGC-Foxton with the original Mungo Park 9-holer since 1936 being AVGC. I think this is the situation, but it might not be!

I wonder what the routing was when the original Mungo Park 9-holer plus the additional Willie Park 9-holes on the higher land were played together?

The linksie 9-hole course at Warkworth GC - http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44336.0.html. - is only about 2 miles south of Alnmouth.

In addition, but non-golfy, about 5 miles inland from Alnmouth is the amazing Alnmouth Castle and Gardens, a terrific place for a visit.

atb

[Ed Tilley]

I'm a bit confused by the 5th and 6th holes. These both seem to be on the "prime" land next to the shoreline - in fact their website uses the awful term "signature hole" to describe the 5th. However, looking at these pictures they seem to have not utilised the shoreline as a hazard at all. The 5th looks like it plays from a tee by the shore slightly away from the beach. There is a fair amount of mown grass between the green and the shore. I initially thought this might be the 6th tee but, looking at the website, the 6th tee is off to the right and the sea is not in play on that hole either.

Far be it from me to question the esteemed Mr Colt but surely the 5th green would have been better sited 10 yards left and likewise the 6th tee hugging the shore urging you to cut off as much as you dare? Maybe the beach below is busy and this was a safety thing?

[Frank Pont]

I'm a bit confused by the 5th and 6th holes. These both seem to be on the "prime" land next to the shoreline - in fact their website uses the awful term "signature hole" to describe the 5th. However, looking at these pictures they seem to have not utilised the shoreline as a hazard at all. The 5th looks like it plays from a tee by the shore slightly away from the beach. There is a fair amount of mown grass between the green and the shore. I initially thought this might be the 6th tee but, looking at the website, the 6th tee is off to the right and the sea is not in play on that hole either.

Far be it from me to question the esteemed Mr Colt but surely the 5th green would have been better sited 10 yards left and likewise the 6th tee hugging the shore urging you to cut off as much as you dare? Maybe the beach below is busy and this was a safety thing?

Ed,

funny I had the same feeling when I visited the course two years ago. I was told it was a combination of danger of balls on the beach (walkers), and coastal erosion. Especially the latter seemed quite real.

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Continuing onward!...

10th tee/ par 4/ 434 yds

DSCN0726 by macmalc21, on Flickr

10th approach

DSCN0727 by macmalc21, on Flickr

10th Green

DSCN0728 by macmalc21, on Flickr

10th green from behind looking back to the sea.

DSCN0729 by macmalc21, on Flickr

11th tee/ Par 3/ 172 yds

I have been advised that there is a height restriction on housing near the coast so as to not block the Earl of Northumberland's view to the sea.

DSCN0730 by macmalc21, on Flickr

12th hole/ par 4/ 342 yards

Fairway view. A blind second shot to a RAF Flag Flying which has a target motif. WWII is well remembered along the eastern UK coast!

DSCN0731 by macmalc21, on Flickr

12th Green!

DSCN0732 by macmalc21, on Flickr

13th tee/ par 5/ 536 yards

Note the flag marking the center line to 12th green on left.

DSCN0733 by macmalc21, on Flickr

12th getting closer

DSCN0734 by macmalc21, on Flickr

nearer still

DSCN0735 by macmalc21, on Flickr

13th green

DSCN0736 by macmalc21, on Flickr

14th tee/ par 4/ 418 yds

The trees on this nine are considered an enhancement to what had been treeless decades ago. Ironic as we are so eager to get rid of trees on so many USA parkland courses.

DSCN0737 by macmalc21, on Flickr

Green on 14

DSCN0738 by macmalc21, on Flickr

15th tee/ par 4/ 335 yds

Uphill dogleg left to the highest point on the property

DSCN0739 by macmalc21, on Flickr

Approach to 15

DSCN0740 by macmalc21, on Flickr

15th Green

DSCN0741 by macmalc21, on Flickr

View from 15th to the South

DSCN0742 by macmalc21, on Flickr

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

16th Tee/ par 5/575 yards

DSCN0744 by macmalc21, on Flickr

Down the hill we go on 16!

DSCN0743 by macmalc21, on Flickr

And down back to the sea

DSCN0745 by macmalc21, on Flickr

17th tee/ par 3/ 216 yards

DSCN0746 by macmalc21, on Flickr

17th green

DSCN0747 by macmalc21, on Flickr

18th tee/ Par 4/ 374 yds

Well left is the correct line off of the tee

DSCN0748 by macmalc21, on Flickr

18th approach

DSCN0749 by macmalc21, on Flickr

18th closer still

DSCN0750 by macmalc21, on Flickr

18th looking back!

DSCN0751 by macmalc21, on Flickr

A very warm and welcoming club, highly recommended!!

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Thank you for taking the trouble to post these pictures - much appreciated.

[Paul_Turner]

Malcolm

Thanks for posting these    The course has been altered somewhat since Colt finished it in 1931 (it was a new course not a redo).  From what I can work out the changes were driven by a new road (outward 9) and wanting a large practice ground in the center of the inward 9.

Some nice green shaping!

1) Original
2) Original
3) New hole.  I think you can tell here, the green shaping looks wrong.
4) New hole.  The green fits better here.
5) The green is original but it played as a medium par 4.  Green was not closer to the cliff.
6-13) All original.  Except 13 is now narrower and has OB everywhere because of practice ground.
14) New hole.  Green looks a bit different here.
15) Maybe original but I think green is new and a bit farther on.
16-18) All original

Off the lost holes I wonder if the original 3rd is still visible?  It played from the current par 3 tee but was a par 3 in the opposite direction to the current 5th.  The green was approximately in the same area as the 6th tees.

Bunkers were much larger/rugged originally.  I have a nice vintage pic and will post.

[Pete Blaisdell]

  Malcomb

   Thanks for the great pics, my kind of course , enjoyable and playable--walk in the park and stress free. Much appreciated!!

[Paul_Turner]

The old pic, classic Colt and Co bunkers.  This is from behind the now defunct par 3 14th green.  It played from the current 14th tee across the valley to a green in the middle of the current 14th fairway.

The green in the background is the 13th and you can just about make out the 18th.

[Frank Pont]

I tried unsuccesfully to convince the club to try to recapture the old Colt style rugged bunkers.

Course could be quite good, esspecially if they found a way to merge with the other Alnmouth club.....

[Paul_Turner]

That's a shame Frank.  It's such a good photo, I'd have thought even the "colour blind"  could see the difference.

[Paul_Turner]

Some of the tree planting is awful:  worst is the view out to sea blocked by trees behind 13th.

[Frank Pont]

Extensive photo tours of Alnmouth and Alnmouth Village at

http://ivgd.smugmug.com/Golf-Architecture-Pictures/England

[Jonathan Davison]

I am ashamed to admit I have never played the course but its a course I always wanted to visit.

I found another nice old picture which shows the original bunkers.

[Paul_Turner]

Jonathan

Nice pic...comparing with Malcolm's and you can see how someone has removed contour from that 18th green.

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

It appears that a rear bunker and flagpole were removed on 18.

Looks in the photo as if the pad was vee shaped with ascending levels to back right and left. Wow!

[Paul_Turner]

Yes some tricky hole positions back left or right!