Work is underway on the third loop of nine holes at the prestigious Stoke Park Country Club & Hotel, in Buckinghamshire. Thise completes a three-year renovation of the 27-hole course. (Photo by David Cannon)
The owners of Stoke Park, the King family, will have overseen a complete overhaul of the resort across three successive winters (Stoke Park Mansion and Bridge ).
Work hads been carried out on the Colt course, which are holes one to nine, and the Alison, which are holes 10 to 18. These two courses reopened to much acclaim in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Work commenced recently on holes 19 to 27, the Lane Jackson course. The anticipated official opening date is April 20. Although members will receive exclusive access in a series of nine-hole competitions on April 13, 14 and 15.
Renovation underway well received
The renovation and reshaping of the first 18 holes has been well received by golfers and industry figures alike. It is hoped the Lane Jackson work will be welcomed in a similar vein.
The Lane Jackson course is named after the creator of the Stoke Park Club, Nick ‘Pa’ Lane Jackson. The course dates originally from 1927, and much of it was turned over to farmland during World War II.
At war time for the essential purpose of growing potatoes, with golfers not even permitted to enter to retrieve balls.
The loop of holes was subsequently not fully restored until 1998, under the auspices of the King family, which took possession of the estate a decade earlier.
Stoke Park’s director of golf, Stuart Collier, explained:
“The work on the Lane Jackson course is the culmination of a three-year plan of improvements and enhancements to the golf courses. The bunkers needed to be re-visualised and rebuilt in keeping with Colt’s original concept, but also to ensure they are suitable for play in the 21st century.The first two nines look stunning and play really well – and this final winter of work will also improve the final nine holes in a similar way.”
Serves visitors and 850 members
Stoke Park was recently voted the number one golf resort in England, in the inaugural Golf World ‘Top 100 Resorts in UK & Ireland‘ ranking.
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LUSH, ROLLING GROUNDS: Stoke Park bridge as seen from the manor house. Photo by David Cannon
The historic Stoke Park is one of just two five-AA Red Star golf clubs in England. Boasting 27 Harry Colt-designed holes and a thriving golf club with around 850 members.
Its numerous facilities include a state-of-the-art health club, spa and pool, 13 tennis courts, and three restaurants and bars, including the three AA rosette fine dining Humphry’s.
Stoke Park is only 35 minutes from London and seven miles from Heathrow Airport. It’s set within 300 acres of mid-19th century Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown-landscaped parkland, in Stoke Poges, Bucks,
The historic land on which it stands is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The course played host to the PGA Matchplay in 1910 and, even more famously, the golf match between Sean Connery’s James Bond and Auric Goldfinger, in the 1964 film, Goldfinger.
CLOSE TO LONDON: Stoke Park is set within 300 acres of mid-19th century Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown-landscaped parkland just sven miles from Heathrow. Photo by David Cannon
