Kent Golf Limited
The discovery of an architect plan designed by legendary Dr Alister Mackenzie (part 2)
Date published: 6 Oct 2023
Thank you to Faversham GC's Head Greenkeeper Rob Clark for sending this article.
"Firstly, I'd like to carry on from where I left off on my last Blog regarding the discovery of the Alister Mackenzie plan. We have now had the plan verified by Joshua Petit who is a Golf course architect in America and specialises in the work of Mackenzie. Joshua has also has just written a new book called the “Mackenzie Reader” which Ben Crenshaw the ex-Ryder cup player and Captain also had a hand in the foreword of the book. Joshua confirmed that our plan was indeed the work of Alister Mackenzie which has now given our Club a true identity and understanding of who the major influence in the design was of our current 18 hole layout. From the plan we are also able to see our original 18 hole layout marked in blue pen and the proposals and bunkers etc marked in red pen and the heavy shading for mounding which then makes it easy for us to see what was implemented from the Mackenzie proposals.
Below is our Mackenzie plan which will shortly be displayed in the Faversham GC's Clubhouse for you all to see in more detail.
Our Mackenzie plan also highlights our original 18 hole layout which we have later discovered from Club Minute books was finished in 1924. Furthermore, our Club Minute books date right back to 1903 and tell a fascinating story throughout the years about how the Club and course developed. We were also able to pinpoint the exact dates that Alister Mackenzie visited the course together with his brother who was known as Major Mackenzie. Charles (Major) Mackenzie was in partnership with his brother Alister at the time and was responsible for the construction of his brother's designs. We have also been able to discover how much the club paid for the visit and the creation of the design plan which was 10 Guinee’s plus expenses per day.
Major Mackenzie quoted £2000 to build the new course and £1500 without bunkers. The course which we play and enjoy today was finished late 1929 but an exact date is not mentioned in our Club Minute books.
Below I will leave a couple of Minutes which highlight correspondence with both Mackenzies ranging from 1924 – 1925
From these discoveries, the Club has been able to join the Mackenzie Society. The Society is an exclusive list of clubs which drawn influences from Dr Alister Mackenzie. Mackenzie was most prolific near his hometown of Leeds and, therefore, clubs in the Southeast of England are extremely rare. Littlestone is the only other club in Kent which can claim any influence from the famous architect, giving Faversham a truly unique selling point in the south of England. Faversham will shortly be added to the societies website and will also give our members the benefit of playing other courses involved in the scheme at reduced green fee rate.
Checkout the website in this link and lookout for Faversham to be added over the coming weeks.
My hopes are now for the Club to employ a modern course architect to design a course master plan which will incorporate the original design features which Alister Mackenzie intended way back in 1925. This will provide us with a restoration project which will enable us to implement as much from the Mackenzie plan as possible whilst understanding that some aspects might not now be possible short term through budgetary restrictions but will work for the modern game in terms of fairway bunkers and tee positions etc. Furthermore, this will also give the Club a clear direction and long-term plan which members can understand and look forward to seeing the course improvements for years to come."
Rob Clark
Head Greenkeeper
Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.
