In 1907 the club moved to its current location at Hart Warren, where a grassed railway embankment completely conceals the course from the rest of the town. The annual subscription was £1, with an entrance fee of £1. Today's amounts are £480 and £450 respectively. Green fees were one shilling a day, 2/6 on Saturdays, and 5/- for a week. Today, anyone playing without a member will pay £30 or £42. Women were admitted for membership in 1920 for 10 shillings per year, but with no voting rights.

In the years since 1907 the course has undergone many changes. The first clubhouse, or Pavilion, was sited beyond the far end of the current course near the Brus railway arch. In 1920, this was replaced with a brick building, built by the Army for the defence forces guarding the Warren during the 1914-18 war.

In 1921 a limited company was formed, enabling the purchase of the course and adjoining farm, 180 acres, for £9000, allowing the course to be extended to 18 holes. Willie Park Jnr, twice winner of the Open, designed the original course.

18th Hole
423 yds Bogey 4
Leaving the 17th green, we climb into the sand hills, and from the tee our drive must carry the dunes and the ravine with its steep face to reach the wide undulating fairway flanked by rough on the left.

In 1929 the club turned to James Braid for assistance in re-designing some of the holes, including the present 10th hole. This magnificent hole has a blind approach over a narrow ridge to a fast hidden green nestling among the dunes beside the sea. A large marker post was erected, hence the name of the hole, "Post".

Copyright Mark Rowlinson
10th Hole
367 yds Par 4

The 11th is another hole where James Braid's influence can be seen.


11th Hole
188 yds Bogey 3 Bridge
A sandy ravine, spanned by a wooden bridge. The green lies at the foot of Spion Kop, the biggest of the many fine sand dunes on the coast.

Copyright Mark Rowlinson
This current view is taken from the 12th tee, looking over the 11th green to its tees with the 10th green in the background

In common with many courses at the time holes were named and included "Stile", "Punch Bowl", "Stone Man" and "Paradise".

In 1960 a magnesite company bought land around the old clubhouse and the present clubhouse was built and opened on 30th July 1961. It is situated in the centre of the course, offering good views of practically the whole course and providing official starting points at four holes. The celebrations to mark the opening included an exhibition match between Syd Scott, club Professional from 1937 to 1946, Jimmy Hitchcock, Brian Bamford and, then current Professional, Malcolm Cole.

At this time, the old fifth hole became the first and the current 2nd and 3rd holes were constructed on farmland. Later, the 17th hole was re-built on new ground parallel to the old 17th by course architect, Donald Steel. This was necessary to alleviate congestion on the 15th and 16th holes and it came into play in 1983.

With the improvement of both golf equipment and golfers' general fitness, the Greens Committee continue to find ways to develop the course so that it remains a challenge to all standards of golfers. 2006 sees the incorporation of the new 4th hole into everyday play. The Greens staff have been busy over the winter building a new 15th tee for men, a new ladies tee on the 17th hole and two fairway bunkers to catch wayward drives on both the 10th and 15th holes

The club has produced some outstanding golfers over the past 100 years. The most notable being Graeme Storm, a touring Professional, who won the British Amateur Championship in 1999 and then sank the winning putt for Great Britain's Walker Cup team.

Also, Graham Bell is a Club Professional and both Ruth Lindley and Christine Williamson continue to achieve honours in Veteran Women's golf.

Mark Rowlinson is preparing an official history of the club. This will be available from early 2007.

Ball markers and pitch repairers to commemorate the centenary are on sale in the professional's shop.