A line-up of celebrations will culminate in a week of tournaments for both members and visitors from 18 May.
Located near Grantham, Lincolnshire, the beautiful parkland course has a wide range of events coming up to mark its 100th anniversary.
A history of Stoke Rochford
The course, founded by Mr Christopher Turnor in 1924, was described in an early handbook as “a grand example of a sporting country course…well drained and playable the whole year round”.
Mr Turnor was the owner of Stoke Rochford Hall at the time, with his granddaughter marrying into the McCorquodale family who still own the house today.
At its first AGM the club had 32 members, including 11 women. They played a nine-hole course and paid an £2.2s0d annual subscription. The original clubhouse was acquired in 1926 and was called the Roadhouse. It was used a stopping point for all travelling on the Great North Road (now the A1) and remained in use till 1961.
The course was extended to 18 holes in 1931 following a consultation with W.H.H Aitken who was an R & A member, Scottish International and a friend of the manager of the Roadhouse. Land was bought over the Cringle Brook (which runs along the 7th, 8th and 9th). Unfortunately, it meant the local cricket club lost their pitch as it was on the 16th fairway. The first Ladies Open was also held in that year.
In 1933 Harold Collingwood became the first professional and in 1935 the course was redesigned to the current layout by Major Hotchkin. However, it meant losing the holes in front of the Hall, but it became ‘a Course the Company would be proud to own and members to play on’. It was 5,877 yards and played to a bogey of 75, with the 2nd being stroke index 1.
Centenary celebrations
The 2024 celebrations were due to start with the Captain’s Drive on 18 February – the exact anniversary of the opening of the club. And though bad weather postponed that slightly, it was a great occasion with the Captains dressing in 1920s golfing attire and using Hickory Clubs to tee off.
There were extra celebrations in March in Spain when the ladies won the National Club Matchplay trophy.
Now centenary celebrations continue with a week of competitions for members and visitors from 18 May.
On 19 May, the club will host The England Golf Race to Woodhall Spa Regional Finals. The week of competitions finish with a presentation of prizes, with a barbecue and live music. Additional Opens are being held across the summer and the club is inviting all guests to enjoy the course and join in the celebrations.
The club will be hosting England Schools International match (England vs Wales) in September as well as the Hotchkin Trophy, which is an annual competition for the courses in the U.K. designed by Major Hotchkin.
