History of our club

Founded in 1902, our first course consisted 8/9 holes on rented land, play being limited to winter months. The Club has occupied three sites during its 100 year plus history and celebrated its Golden Jubilee on the current site in 2013.

Over recent years, as part of a £1/4 million investment we have constructed a 10 million litre reservoir, re-furbished the clubhouse, re-laid the car park and purchased significant course maintenance equipment …. all without incurring debt.

We are very proud to say that we have been designated an EGU ‘centre of excellence’.

The course

Now measuring some 6,108 yds from the whites, the par 69 course initially evolved through normal play but during the mid 60’s designs were invited from Hawtree and Charles Grayston.  Grayston was chosen but Hawtree were involved in 1968 in the design of six new greens. Stowmarket’s parkland course requires accuracy and good ball positioning; appealing to long hitters and strategists alike whilst the greens give any golfer a master test of their putting skills.

We receive much praise for our high quality greens. Starting with a challenging par 5, the tempo quickly changes at the par 3 second – pin point accuracy is vital here for a hole that often plays a club or two longer than its yardage seems to warrant. At 250 yards the downhill 4th is one of the longest par 3’s in the country. On the back nine there are spectacular views, typically from the par 5 13th and its inviting downhill fairway which sweeps away, offering a wonderful birdie opportunity to the bigger hitters. The signature hole is the magnificent 17th, a 437 yard par 4 with danger right and left, terminating in a long but narrow green.

Currently the course record of 64 is held jointly by our members Sam Forgan, Patrick Spraggs and Matthew Rawlings, who holed out in one on the 18th, all in 2011, and Adrian Meredith in 2007.

Our biggest open events have included the County Men’s and the County Ladies Amateur Championships and the Seniors County Championships. We have hosted the 2019 County Amateur Championships and will host the 2021 England Golf Captains’ Tournament.

 Our Seniors, Mixed and Ladies’ Opens are always extremely popular and invariably oversubscribed.