The Courses of Bernard Darwin’s 1910 Guide

In 1910 Bernard Darwin, the finest golf writer of his age, published The Golf Courses of the British Isles, a tour of the great courses of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales as they were in the years before the First World War. It is opinionated, affectionate and often very funny, and many of the clubs he describes are still playing today.

The complete book is free to read in the GolfProse Library. To make it easier to find your own club, or the courses you love, this guide lists the 62 courses Darwin features by name (the ones printed in bold in the original), grouped by region and linked to the chapter where he describes them, followed by other courses he mentions along the way.

A few things to bear in mind as you read. Darwin describes each course as it was in 1910: many have since been lengthened, redesigned, renamed or moved, and a few have disappeared altogether. His opinions are his own and of their time, and his tour was never meant to be complete, so many fine courses of the day go unmentioned. For a taste of his writing, start with St Andrews or with Wales, where he confesses his love for Aberdovey, and read our essays “St Andrews Through Darwin’s Eyes”, “The Links of Ireland in 1910” and “Golf Within Reach of London.”

London and Surrey

• Walton Heath — London Courses (1)
• Woking — London Courses (1)
• Mid-Surrey — London Courses (2)
• Stoke Poges — London Courses (2)
• Cassiobury Park — London Courses (2)
• Northwood — London Courses (2)
• Romford — London Courses (2)
• Blackheath — London Courses (2)
• Wimbledon — London Courses (2)
• Mitcham Common — London Courses (2)

Also mentioned: Sunningdale, Worplesdon, Byfleet, Burhill, Sandy Lodge, Sudbrook, Ashford.

Kent and Sussex

• Sandwich — Kent and Sussex
• Deal — Kent and Sussex
• Prince's — Kent and Sussex
• Littlestone — Kent and Sussex
• Rye — Kent and Sussex
• Eastbourne — Kent and Sussex
• Ashdown Forest — Kent and Sussex

Also mentioned: Seaford.

The West and South-West

• Westward Ho! — The West and South-west
• Bude — The West and South-west
• Burnham — The West and South-west
• Broadstone — The West and South-west
• Meyrick Park — The West and South-west
• Queen's Park — The West and South-west
• Bembridge — The West and South-west

Also mentioned: Parkstone.

East Anglia

• Felixstowe — East Anglia
• Cromer — East Anglia
• Sheringham — East Anglia
• Brancaster — East Anglia
• Hunstanton — East Anglia
• Skegness — East Anglia

Also mentioned: Seacroft.

Cheshire and Lancashire

• Hoylake — The Courses of Cheshire and Lancashire
• Formby — The Courses of Cheshire and Lancashire
• Wallasey — The Courses of Cheshire and Lancashire
• St Anne’s — The Courses of Cheshire and Lancashire
• Trafford Park — The Courses of Cheshire and Lancashire

Also mentioned: Lytham, Birkdale, Southport.

Yorkshire and the Midlands

• Ganton — Yorkshire and the Midlands
• Fixby — Yorkshire and the Midlands
• Hollinwell — Yorkshire and the Midlands
• Sandwell Park — Yorkshire and the Midlands
• Handsworth — Yorkshire and the Midlands

Oxford and Cambridge

• Hinksey — Oxford and Cambridge
• Radley — Oxford and Cambridge
• Frilford — Oxford and Cambridge
• Coldham Common — Oxford and Cambridge
• Worlington — Oxford and Cambridge

St Andrews, Fife and Forfarshire

• St Andrews — St. Andrews, Fife and Forfarshire
• Carnoustie — St. Andrews, Fife and Forfarshire

Also mentioned: Elie, Crail, Leven, Lundin.

East Lothian and Edinburgh

• Gullane — The Courses of the East Lothian and Edinburgh
• Muirfield — The Courses of the East Lothian and Edinburgh
• North Berwick — The Courses of the East Lothian and Edinburgh
• Musselburgh — The Courses of the East Lothian and Edinburgh
• Barnton — The Courses of the East Lothian and Edinburgh

Also mentioned: Luffness, Kilspindie.

The West of Scotland

• Prestwick — West of Scotland: Prestwick and Troon
• Troon — West of Scotland: Prestwick and Troon

Also mentioned: Turnberry, Gailes.

Ireland

• Dollymount — Ireland
• Portmarnock — Ireland
• Lahinch — Ireland
• Portrush — Ireland
• Newcastle — Ireland

Also mentioned: Rosapenna.

Wales

• Aberdovey — Wales
• Harlech — Wales
• Southerndown — Wales

Also mentioned: Porthcawl.

Is your club here?

If your club appears in Darwin’s book, you are welcome to link to its chapter from your history page or newsletter: the full text is free to read. And if your club has old photographs, scorecards or stories from Darwin’s era, we would love to hear from you at support@golfprose.com.