GOLF IN HISTORIC DESIGNED LANDSCAPES

Brocket Park Golf Club

25^th October 2006

In 2005, losses of historic parkland were calculated for the first time. The study showed that nearly half of the parkland recorded by the 1918 Ordnance Survey Edition was no longer extant at the close of the twentieth century and, in some places, losses have been as high as 70 per cent. The principal causes of loss have been conversion to arable land, development and, more recently golf course construction.

The earliest recorded game of golf in England was on Blackheath in 1608 and by 1888 there were fifty-seven golf courses. The peak of golf course construction came in the 1980’s/1990’s, and between 1991 and 1994 three hundred and seventy new courses were built, a significant number in historic parkland and designed landscapes. At least one in twelve parks and gardens on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Interest are now thought to include a golf course, with the largest proportion in 17^th and 18^th century parks.

Today there is a growing appreciation of the heritage value of golf courses, and as existing golf courses are remodelled we have an opportunity to repair design flaws and improve the way that these courses are integrated into historic designed landscapes. English Heritage will shortly be publishing new Guidance on Golf in Historic Parks and Landscapes, to raise awareness of the potential impact of new courses and related development, to offer best practice advice and guidance on their planning and design and to ensure historically important landscapes are protected.

This conservation seminar was held at Brocket Park in Hertfordshire where two golf courses have been inserted into the historic landscape designed by Richard Woods (1770-1774) to complement the James Paine mansion built c.1760-1768. As John Wells, the Estate and Golf Operations Manager explained, the design of the first golf course (Melbourne) completed in 1991 does not respect the historic designed landscape as well as could have been hoped, however the Palmerston Course completed some seven years later is a good example of how golf can be sensitively integrated. This is the result of better assessment and understanding of the existing features, tighter control and a good landscape architect. In addition the local planning authority has tied planning permission for new features to S106 agreements which aid restoration of historical features. Thus, permission was granted for a discreet extension of the clubhouse under the hillside on condition that the ornate 18^th century Syllabub House is restored.

The workshop was chaired by Dr Tom Williamson, Reader in Landscape History, University of East Anglia who declared that he didn’t like golf – but then he wasn’t keen on parks either! This set the tone for balanced, thoughtful debate both after the morning presentations and during the afternoon walk round the courses.

Several issues were raised during these discussions including the issue of public safety on golf courses and the Right to Roam legislation, an issue which appears to have been resolved at Brocket Hall by good course design and signage. It was noted that lines of trees, especially non-native conifers, which were planted to protect the public from golf balls, detract significantly from the landscape and offer very little protection. Other issues were the status of golf courses as historic layers in their own right, with English Heritage looking at early 20^th century golf courses as an element in the development of the historic landscape; the conservation of water through good design of tees and other features; and the management of grasslands. It was pointed out that American Courses follow the ‘Rape it, Shape it and Seed it’ principle whereas English golf courses were more aesthetic and pleasanter places to play golf without sacrificing technical difficulty. This was achieved by sympathetic mowing regimes, encouragement of biodiversity, and less likely to desire a tablua rasa before development being more likely to fit into an existing landscape.

The proceedings of the conservation seminar will be produced by Hertfordshire Gardens Trust

It is anticipated that the English Heritage guidelines will be modified to take account of some of the comments such as safety issues.