Thurlestone Golf Club is most famous for a comment Peter Allis made, when commenting on a US Open from Pebble Beach, about how it ias the most similar couse we have. He was probly referring to the scenic splendor! Set in the beautiful area known as South Hams in South Devon it's well off the beaten golf track
Thurlestone is also unusual as in the 1890s a local wealthy 'squire' and friends planned a whole retirement and holiday area with boating lake, cricket square, tennis courts and naturally a golf course. For various reasons this whole plan didn't come to pass but it must be among the very earliest examples of such thinking.
There has been a Golf course since 1897 originally laid out by Charles Gibson of Westward Ho. Aerials from the 20's show it featured many large but shallow bunkers. Colt remodelled the course in 1928 but It's not entirely clear how much of the routing ins new but the basic rounting must be similar, particularly near the club house and coast. A comparison or aerials from the 20's and 30's show many new smaller bunkers. Even in the 20's the holes nearest the clubhouse had the most bunkers and the longer hitting further out provided it's own protection.
Hole 1 is Linksland but the back nine in particular less so. The feel is cliftop.
261 yards for an interesting start with an accurate second shoot needed.
from right of the road.
The second is 351 over the hill. In the 30's the hole had 9 bunkers, there are 4 now. Although there are lovely views from the clubhouse and 2nd tee, ariving at this green site is simply stunning.
3rd 168 yards slightly down hill
4th, heads 350 yards inland. fairway falls R-Land play is to a narrow green well raised above deep bunkers down each side. A tough target in the wind and a hole I really liked.. Not sure this is how it was in the 30's as there used be a goodly no of tennis courts and that area has now all changed.
5 218 yards into the prevailing wind.
Seven very deep bunkers suggests how things used to be. Looks like Colt to me.
7 338 yards again into the wind (I have to say it didn’t feel like a short course at the time).
8 some meat here 431 uphill .. Bunker less but some land movement and falls away either side of the green.
9 401 yards ground slopes L-R