Notts Golf Club, more commonly referred to simply as Hollinwell is an 18-hole members golf club in Nottinghamshire, England which has hosted a number of leading amateur and professional competitions. The course has widely been reviewed as one of the top 50 courses in England and the British Isles.
Name
The name Hollinwell reportedly relates to the presence of a holy well in trees close to the 8th fairway and is the more commonly used name for the golf course itself. However the members belong to the Notts Golf Club and Hollinwell is the name of the course on which the club plays. In concession to this the two names are usually both used when formally referring to the club giving rise to the name Notts Golf Club.
History
Notts Golf Club was initially founded as the Nottingham Golf Club in 1887 and started play golf on a 5-hole course using a recreation ground under the permission of the local council. This was soon found to be inadequate and during the same year the club moved to Bulwell Forest, where a seven-hole course was set up. In 1891 Notts Ladies' Golf Club was established playing on the same ground at Bulwell Forest, whilst these two clubs have remained together ever since they still remain separate clubs to this date. The club moved to its current location at Hollinwell in 1901. The course was initially designed by Willie Park, Jr. on an area of land leased to the golf club. This land was subsequently purchased by the golf club in 1924. Some changes regarding the bunkering were made by J.H. Taylor in 1902, however the largest changes happened following an extension to the course by Tom Williamson in 1912. The layout designed in 1912 has remained largely unchanged to date, however the course has been significantly lengthened to remain a competitive challenge in modern golf. Since its inception the course has been host to a number of top amateur and professional competitions.
The club has hosted the English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy on 4 occasions. The club first hosted the competition in 1959 when Doug Sewell of England won with a total score of 287. The club hosted the competition for the second time in 1975 when Sandy Lyle prevailed with a total score of 298. It was only 8 years till the club once again hosted the competition in 1983 when Charlie Banks won with a score of 294. A further 9 years later in 1992 the club hosted the competition for the 4th time with Ignacio Garrido of Spain taking the trophy with a score of 280. In March 2013 Notts Golf Club was selected by England Golf to host the Brabazon Trophy again in 2015 after an absence of 23 years. The 2015 Brabazon Trophy was won by Cormac Sharvin of Northern Ireland with a seven under par score.
The club has also hosted the English Amateur on 4 occasions during its history, it first hosted the competition in 1935 when Jack Woollam was victorious. It did not host the competition again unit 1964 when David Marsh won, following this the club next hosted the competition in 1996 when Shaun Webster won. The club most recently hosted the competition in 2004 when James Heath beat David Horsey in the final.
The club hosted the inaugural John Player Classic in 1970 when Christy O'Connor Snr triumphed by one stroke over Tony Jacklin. At the time the $60,000 first place prize was the largest ever from a professional tournament hosted in England.
