Search
Luffenham Heath
- Yardage
- 6563
- Par
- 70
- SSS
- 72
- Built
- 1911
- Architect(s)
- Harry Colt, Charles Alison, James Braid, Martin Hawtree
- Nature:
- Fine, hilly, heathland course, founded in 1911. Delightful timeless club.
- Location/Address:
-
On the A6121 near Stanford, Rutland. Post Code PE9 3UU
http://www.luffenhamheath.org
- Secretary
- Tim Stephens
- Telephone
- 01780 720205
- Professional
- Ian Burnett
- Green Keeper
- Nick Nottingham
- Access Policy:
- Visitors welcome
- Dog Policy:
- with members only
- Open Meetings:
- Mens pairs Open- Sept
- Fees in 1960s
- men75p, women50p!
- Fees today
- £50 either sex
Review
Luffenham Heath, where I was a member in the 1970’s has remained close to my heart with its Harry Colt/ Charles Alison course design and celebrates its centenary this year.
I had the honour of being invited to play it again recently and though my generous partners and I did not trouble the scorers in the men’s invitational, I was reminded of the beauty and the natural running nature of this Rutland heathland course. Recently the course was upgraded by Martin Hawtree with new bunkering and tees, and two new fescue greens.
The Clubhouse and 18th green
When the centenary history book is finished I will publish a full review of this fine course, so suffice it to say at the moment that I was impressed with Hawtree’s work except at the eleventh hole. The hole has been unfortunately straightened with new left-hand bunkering placed on the drive. The hole has lost the simplicity of the struggle to keep your drive from being thrown left under the firs when avoiding the trees in echelon on the right, while simultaneously trying not to be blocked out by the right-hand bunker 40 yards shy of the green as you run your ball in. I always thought this hole was one of Luffenham’s most characteristic but now resembles a modern non-entity but with merely a new finely grassed tee. It must however be added that a new grass bank across the fairway does add some character.
The 4th green
The club likes to do things properly and is investing well in order to get its greens right. Gordon Irvine (sometimes called Jim Arthur’s ‘heir’) and Alistair Beggs (R&A’s Open Championship agronomist based at Royal Liverpool) are retained to help guide the enthusiastic and able young Course Manager Nick Nottingham. Plenty of overseeding of bents and fescues is underway with the Annual meadow grass (Poa annua) being starved out. If the membership can sustain their support for the change, they will really benefit from firm, consistent, sustainable greens again in due course.
Reviewed by Lorne Smith, 2011
Reader Comments
There are currently no comments.