Sherwood Forest
Let's first dispose of the Robin Hood bit. A little of the ancient Sherwood Forest still survives and there are visitor centres and all you could want to entertain a young family. There are trees at this club, but they're not ancient hardwoods and most of them were planted to cut out views of the surrounding mining spoil tips, factories and housing estates that typify modern Mansfield where this course has the misfortune to be located. In that respect I'm reminded of Beau Desert which is also surrounded by ghastly mining towns and their ghastly mining remains. Get on the golf course (Beau Desert or Sherwood Forest), however, and you are in heaven.
Sherwood Forest was formed in 1895 with a 9-hole course which need not detain us. The present 18-hole course was begun in 1910 with a design by Harry Colt, built by Frank Mason of Nottingham assisted by J.H. Vamplew, the greenkeeper at the club's 9-hole course. The land was rented from the Duke of Portland, and when the club was offered the land for purchase in 1921 they bought it. In 1925 James Braid was called in to redesign the course, the head greenkeeper and one of his staff carrying out the work which entailed 11 new holes! Since then the course has been lengthened by only 71 yards. It now tops out at 6715 yards with a par of 71 and a standard scratch score (course rating) of 73. Some say it has the best back nine in Britain. Others say it has the best consecutive nine holes in Britain (starting at the 8th or 9th, depending who you speak to). No matter. It's a terrific course, a near neighbour of Notts (which I have played) and Coxmoor (which I haven't) and you'd have a great time visiting all three, I'm sure. It was the first private club to appoint its professional also to act as the club secretary. He's a very welcoming chap called Ken Hall. Look him up if you're in the area.
The pictures were taken in November 1999. There wasn't much light and I was using 400 ASA film so, much as I would like to please many of you by making them big, please put up with them at this size.
1st, 326 yards par 4. It's a gentle start, though your drive must carry a gully and a couple of bunkers - easy enough for you, but hard enough for the members of a visiting society.
4th, 183 yards par 4. This hole completes a loop back to the clubhouse. Lots of bunkers. You then set off into the country and don't return until the 18th.
5th, 500 yards par 5. A fine hole with bunkers in the landing zone at 267 and 305 yards, others which are relevant only to me and a narrow entrance between bunkers to a long, thin green.
6th, 425 yards par 4. The first of seven par 4s measuring over 400 yards. Please ignore the attempt to be artistic! I have no photos of the 7th, a 130-yard par 3. It has two greens, one long and very thin with multiple bunkers alongside the green, the other round and fat, with fewer bunkers but probably 150 yards distant.
8th, 522 yards par 5. This is where the course really picks up. Somehow the photo manages to capture the heathland qualities of the course, the fact that the trees do not interfere with strategy and that the land moves enough to give the architects plenty of scope.
9th, 469 yards par 4. The real meat of the course has begun in earnest.
More to come....