Col. S.V. Hotchkin
Name:
Col. Stafford Vere HotchkinCountry:
EnglandLived:
[1876-1953]. Born on May 5, 1876 in Lakeside, nr Finsthwaite (Lake Windermere), Westmorland. Died on Aug 8, 1953 in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire (aged 77).Original/Home Club:
Woodhall Spa GCOccupation:
Landowner; army officer (21st Lancers, Leicestershire Yeomanry and Royal Horse Artillery); Conservative MP for Horncastle, Lincs (next to Woodhall Spa); High Sherrif (of Rutland); President of the English Golf Union; golf course architect; golf writer.Turned Pro:
n/aAwarded the Military Cross in the 1914-18 war (the UK's second highest military honour for officers).
Hotchkin's best known work includes, but is not limited to:
ENGLAND:
Ashridge GC, Herts (1932, with Cecil K. Hutchison & Sir Guy Campbell) / West Sussex GC, W Sussex (1931, with Hutchison & Campbell) / Woodhall Spa, Lincs (1920s, modifications with Cecil Hutchison).
SOUTH AFRICA:
Durban CC, KZN (1928, major modifications) / East London GC, Eastern Cape (1928) / Humewood GC, Port Elizabeth (1931) / King David Mowbray GC, Cape Town (1928, major modifications) / Royal Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (1928, major modifications).
After meritoriously serving with the Royal Horse Artillery in Palestine during the First World War, Hotchkin developed an interest in golf course architecture. Returning to England in 1920, he bought his home course, Woodhall Spa, and set about remodelling it with renowned course architect Cecil K. Hutchison. The original nine-hole Woodhall Spa course had been designed by Harry Vardon, and was subsequently extended to eighteen by Harry Colt. It was Colt's layout that Hotchkin and Hutchison revamped, retaining only one of the great man’s greens.
In the early 1920s Hotchkin published his famous text, The Principles of Golf Architecture. By the late 1920s he had set-up his own golf course design company, Ferigna ... which took its name from his revolutionary iron-based turf dressings and fertilisers.
In 1928 fellow designer Hutchison and family friend Sir Guy Campbell had joined Ferigna. The firm covered all aspects of golf course design, construction, maintenance, equipment, turf dressing and seeding. With its three ex-military officers at the helm, Ferigna undertook the design and construction of several courses in the south of England ... most notably, West Sussex (1931) and Ashridge (1932).
Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).
Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7). After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).
Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.
Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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