Many thanks for the kind words and to Ran and the others, especially those ‘in the business’, who have ‘been and seen’. Should any Buda-ites, who of course will be pretty closeby come Kington in Sept, wish to have a look-see plus a knock around the current course by all means get in touch. Other GCAers welcome too.
To clarify and expand on matters, the old hole played in from the left side in the 1927 photo, not straight ahead so when viewing the old photo the bunkers are actually on the right side of the green and the deep hollow, an evil hollow, is to the left.
The Colt letter was a totally unexpected find. I was going through an old committee Minute Book and there it was, folded inside the back cover. Seeing the headed notepaper and reading the content was a bit of a falling off my seat moment. A couple of emails to Adam in Oxford and Neil in Adelaide and a diversion via Nick at Alwoodley and the story unfolded from there. I don’t believe Bagshawe bankrolled anything, more that he passed on to the movers and shakers at the club suggestions of MacKenzie. I’m not surprised that during this period Colt resigned his very long standing club membership. I’d have been pretty miffed in his situation.
Curiously when Mackenzies course opened the final cost was apparently much more than he’d quoted which is where the “it wouldn’t have cost so much if the committee hadn’t interfered” quote comes from. I’m not sure how chuffed the club were with Mackenzies course though given that the contouring of one green is described as “ridiculous” in a club minute comment, that one green was softened after a few months, that Braid was called in a few months later to give his thoughts - he proposed a couple of changes to the greens but these weren’t carried out for a couple of years due to lack of money - and then later on Colt of all people, a bit of a nerve asking him imo really, was asked to review the course although nothing he suggested was undertaken due presumably to lack of money and maybe the approaching WWII.
And then we come to the hospital/camp, an entity that has a history all of its own as highlighted by Mikes quoted weblink. The Club often get visitors enquiring about the hospital/camp. Some even arrive and wonder round looking bemused it’s not there anymore then head for the Clubhouse where they are usually put in touch with me to hear how the camp story unfolded ... hospital, Dutch soldiers, displaced folks from Russian republics, British Army including those from “Who dares wins”, dismantling etc.
As to the old greens contours, I had hoped to have it surveyed in detail in time for this piece but the now long grass and particularly the wetness around it have meant a delay. One day hopefully.
Atb
PS - there’s another Colt link with the Club as an early WGC Professional, and apparently Colts playing mentor, was Douglas Rolland who later teamed-up with Colt at Rye.
PSS - and CH Alison went to school at Malvern College which in the early days had very close links to the Club so would probably have played on the original course on Malvern Common.