Among the very best aspects of golf travel is returning to a course that you have previously enjoyed. You are playing a design with which you are familiar and have a yardstick against which you can measure its evolution. Such was the case this past August at Woodhall Spa, a course that I had previously enjoyed a half dozen times over 4 decades. I was particularly keen this time, knowing that the course had undergone a multi-year restoration directed by Tom Doak.
My arrangements said that I would be joined by an officer of the club. That sounded good as I could learn much. On a cloudy Sunday morn, Richard Latham, the General Manager of the club, hopped out of his car, assembled his pull cart and ambled to the first tee. The silky swing made it instantly apparent that the man could play but so much more would be revealed during our competitive yet amiable round. Indeed, it turned out that Richard is a decades long fixture at Woodhall Spa, very passionate about the course and was very hands-on during the restoration project. Essentially, he was behind the hiring of Doak and the point of contact for Doak and his team that included Clyde Johnson, Eric Iverson, Angela Moser and Brian Schneider.
Few things add to the enjoyment and study of a golf course more powerfully than a friendly, knowledgeable playing companion. My day was part match, part history lesson, all good. Richard possesses much more than a passing interest in golf course architecture. In fact, he has authored several detailed books on the subject, notably the evolution of golf courses, including Woodhall Spa. The course never looked or played better to the point that I consider it one of the four best inland courses in England, along with the two at Sunningdale and Notts. I know who to thank and I hope this Feature Interview with Richard conveys the essence of the man: player, golf overseer, author and golf architecture student.
https://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview-with-richard-latham/