Kent is rightly famous for its links of Sandwich, Deal, Princes & Littlestone. There are, however, a few intriguing inland courses which the keen observer of the game will relish. Of this type Knole Park is likely the course which is most prominent. Chart Hills, London Club, Canterbury and Wildernesse each have their trumpeters. Yet it is North Foreland which has long had my attention. The club may be more well known for its famous approaching course, perhaps the first of its kind in England. To me this is surprising. Not because the Northcliffe lacks charm, but because the main course is so much more varied. The original course was built at Kingsgate (Broadstairs) in 1903. The area takes its name from the bay which was called St Bartholomew's Gate until King Charles II landed there in 1683 and altered the name.
By the next decade four more holes were added to make 13 in total. A few years later the club had more grandiose ideas. This is when ACH Harmsworth (later Lord Northcliffe) became involved. More land was secured and Herbert Fowler was engaged to complete a new 18 design. This is about the same time Tom Simpson joined the firm making it difficult to know if he was involved in designing the main course. Fowler and Simpson were called back after WWI to make further improvements and I suspect this is when the Northcliffe Course was also built. Frank Harris Bros constructed the short course so it would seem little expense was spared for this 15 acre development adjacent to the main course. During WWII the army used nine holes of the main course for ammunution storage and an ack ack gun (anti-aircraft weapon) placement. By 1950ish Colt's partner, J Morrison, rebuilt the course. I am told not much has changed since then, but with a road running through the property I am left to wonder.
Lord Northcliffe died in 1922, but not before he appointed Abe Mitchell as the pro shortly after completing military service in France. Mitchell of course had strong ties with the Ryder Cup being the tutor of Sam Ryder at Verualam GC. Mitchell would play on three Ryder Cup teams from 1929-1933. At the 1933 Southport & Ainsdale matches Mitchell was 46, comfortably the oldest playing competitor. It was also at S&A where Mitchell was on the winning side of one of the most lopsided matches in Ryder Cup history. Mitchell beat eventual two-time major winner Olin Dutra 9&8....ouch.
The English love their signs
The opener plays downhill. As the first hole, its a shame the entire valley isn't on view from the tee. Its an impressive first look at the course. The club is working on a bunker project which commenced in 2019.
The green is treacherously close to lost ball territory.
Behind the green.
The second is a reachable in one par four....good hole.
A brutal two-shotter, the third feels a bit underwhelming after the opening two holes. But there is a sting at its tail. The cut line through the trees on the right is curious.
Still marching toward the North Sea, the long 4th is uneventful. The short 5th, plays to a green resting on the white chalk cliffs of Kingsgate adjacent to the folly known as Neptune's Tower.
More to follow.
Ciao