Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Links, Kent. (1903 -2016)

The earliest mention of the course found so far is from the report below. It shows the four professional golfers taking part in a match in July 1903. Some famous names took part; Herd, Smith, Braid and Vardon. It also provides a description of the course.

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Course, Kent. Description of the golf course in 1903.

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Course, Kent. Description of the golf course in 1903.

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Links, Kent. Report from the Illustrated Sporting Dramatic News in July 1903.

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Links, Kent. Report from the Illustrated Sporting Dramatic News in July 1903.

From The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News 25 July 1903. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

  

It was reported that a professional tournament was held on Wednesday 1st June 1903 on the private links of Mr Hamilton Russell, a well known surgeon, at Knockholt. The outstanding group of professional players were; Arnaud Massy (La Boulie), James Braid (Walton Heath), J H Taylor (Mid Surrey), Harry Vardon (South Herts), Alex Herd (Huddersfield), E Ray (Ganton), C Ralph Smith (West Middlesex) and Percy Hills (Harrogate).

In the morning four-ball foursomes were played; Taylor and Ray halving with Braid and Herd; Vardon and Smith beat Massy and Hills by 3&2.

In the afternoon a stroke competition was played, scores as follows; Herd, 34+38=72 (a new record for the eighteen holes); Braid, 36+39=75; Taylor, Vardon and Massy all scored 79; Ray, 80; Hills, 81; Smith, 87.

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Links, Kent. View of the earlier Knockholt golf links.

The early Golf Links, Knockholt (postmark August 1915.) Image courtesy of Roger Johnson.

 

We would like to thank Neil Broom for sending us the following pictures of a recent former course taken in 2016. The features of a golf course can clearly be seen. What is fascinating is the fact that the tee markers are certainly not from the 1900s, and the lone bunker is definitely modern. It all suggests a more recent course, but it's a course we have not come across. There are no visible greens or tees and no fairways as such. Does anyone have any information on the more recent course? Could it have been a later course attached to Halstead School?

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Links, Kent. View of the more recent course.

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Links, Kent. View of the more recent course.

Views of the recent golf course.

 

Halstead Place Golf Links, Kent. Tee marker for the fourth hole.

The fourth hole tee marker.

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Links, Kent. The lone bunker and the eighth tee marker.

The lone bunker and the eighth tee marker. Above recent images courtesy of Neil Broom.

 

Halstead Place (Knockholt) Golf Links, Kent. Halstead Place on the 1909 O.S map.

Halstead Place no golf course marked. Reproduced from the {1909} Ordnance Survey Map. (Awaiting clearer image)

 

The Google Map below shows the location of former Halstead Place course.