An early spring review of Littlestone Golf Club...and mention of this Links cinematic links.
Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is?(Anonymous)
Bathed in sunshine, blue skies, 16-degree temperatures and with barely a breath of wind, Spring had certainly sprung at Littlestone Golf Club this week. I was there on Tuesday and Wednesday to compete in my first Senior’s Open Competition.
But, like the poem, I was left wondering where the birdies is…only two for me over two rounds. Nowhere near enough to offset damage done at other holes, but, back to a (brief) summary of my efforts later.
I’d played Littlestone Golf Club (littlestonegolfclub.org.uk) once before, last August in a pairs competition as part of the Club’s well established ‘Open Week’. My playing partners and I loved the experience (particularly as two of them won the event), so I was keen to return to the Club, situated near New Romney on the southeast Kent coast.
It’s a genuine Links course, but not one that traverses large swathes of sand dunes. In fact it’s pretty flat, and of courses that I’ve previously played would say it bears some comparison to the feel and experience of Littlehampton G.C. Alliteratively put Littlestone is a little like Littlehampton.
The course is very close to both Lydd airport and Lydd Military firing range. You will see and hear activity from both, and consequently enjoy a soundtrack to your round of whirring rota blades, humming jet engines, and the rattle of percussion gun fire.
There’s a premium on being accurate off the tee and playing into large but undulating greens. Errant shots will often find a bunker, swale or hollow, any of which will test the very best of short games. And be sure to bring your putting boots – the greens are firm and true, but some pin positions will severely examine your grasp of pace and line.
The course is currently awaiting a delivery of sand to replenish many of the fairway bunkers. Consequently, there were several traps adorned with blue stakes, denoting that if entered, the hazard was to be treated as GUR (Ground Under Repair), and a free drop taken.
This issue has been well managed in my opinion and does little to detract from the overall challenge and experience.
And nowhere is that challenge more acute than the final three holes of the course.
The 16th is a sublime par 4, an elevated tee shot requiring a precisely positioned drive of over 250 yards to give you any real chance of reaching the green, carved out in the dunes over 200yards away.
The 17th is a 180 yard par 3 of considerable jeopardy. The one hole on the course played entirely in the dunes, you are pretty screwed if your tee shot falls short, long or left. The pro’s tip is to forget where the flag is and aim to hit the front of the severely ‘back to front’ sloped green, and hope your ball runs up somewhere near the hole…at least near enough to two putt. A three any way you can get it is a great result.
The par 5 18th is, by comparison, the easiest of the closing holes…but there are numerous bunkers (ten) to negotiate between you and a satisfactory conclusion to your round.
The Seniors scratch open I was playing in is a relatively new event at the club. It was instigated a few years ago by Chris Reynolds (known as ‘Mr Littlestone’ by the membership) and is titled ‘The Moorhouse Trophy’ in commemoration of former Club Secretary Charles Moorhouse.
According to current Director of Golf James Cunliffe, Colonel Charles Moorhouse was quite a forthright presence at the Club. He liked things done a certain way…his way.
From my brief discussion with James, I formed the impression Charles Moorhouse was perhaps a bit of a stickler for tradition, standards, and the rules of golf, but also someone with great passion for the game and Littlestone Golf Club.
Indeed, this was demonstrably the case when, in 2000, this retired Colonel from the Royal Engineers, established a members tournament called The Moorhouse Sword. The trophy on offer – Colonel Moorhouse’s regimental sword.
This handsome trophy (exhibited by James Cunliffe) is awarded each year to the best net medal score. James confessed to some nerves each time The Moorhouse Sword is played for. Once a winner has emerged, the trophy is released temporarily from under lock and key and placed in the exuberant hands of lubricated members who stay on into the evening to celebrate with the champion.
To date no-one has had anything but their handicap cut…let’s hope that remains the case!
There is no sword on offer for The Moorhouse Trophy however. Given, the way I handled my golf clubs over two days, it’s probably a good thing there was no opportunity for me to wield anything of a more lethal nature.
I certainly enjoyed both rounds, but never really mastered all parts of my game simultaneously. If I drove well, my approach play was poor. If I found a green in regulation I all too often three putted. Inevitably there were some glimpses of good golf, sometimes my own, but, often, the better scores were achieved by my playing partners.
I finished well down the field but at least had the benefit of an early tee time on day two, allowing for a leisurely drive home along the south coast. Plenty to work on for the next time I play, with perhaps the key thing being to have confidence in my game and ability to compete in these events.
And finally, something else, both unexpected and yet very topical came to light during my visit.
Littlestone Golf Club will, largely unknowingly, be seen by hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
Why? Because in 2020 the club, whilst in lockdown, was rented out for use by a film company.
The film being shot then is now out for general release at the cinema.
Already being familiar with the (true) story, having thoroughly enjoyed the titular book, the new found link to Littlestone is another reason why I can’t wait to see The Phantom of the Open. (The Phantom of the Open)
I intend to blog about the film once viewed, so won’t dedicate too much time to it here. Suffice to say it’s more a tale of an outsider versus the establishment than of great golfing achievement, and yet…even that statement needs context.
Maurice Flitcroft, a crane driver from Barrow-In-Furness, had never played on a golf course before he managed to enter qualifying competition for the 1976 Open Championship. He posted the worst score ever recorded, but still managed to evade the R&A’s best efforts to gain entry on several other occasions.
As James Cunliffe, who has been in Open qualifying a number of times himself, said “He played in The Open more times than I have!”
It was nice to hear that 200 members of Littlestone Golf Club were given a private screening of the film a couple of weeks ago.
James advised that those familiar with the course will recognise footage of: fictional commentators sat at the clubhouse window; Maurice (played by Oscar winner Mark Rylance) outside the front of the clubhouse; footage from the 1st tee; and also the 17th hole and the water tower that borders the course there.
Ironic then, that playing in a competition named after a retired Colonel and Club Secretary has led me to a man who was about as anti-establishment and eccentric as they come.
Thanks to all involved in The Moorhouse Trophy this week, including James and David (Club Secretary) both of whom acted as starter on the two days, and those in the Pro-shop and club house, all of whom played their part in putting on a great couple of days golf.
