History

Hunstanton Golf Club was founded in 1891, a course of nine holes being laid out by George Fernie, a professional, from Troon. The club owes a great debt to Mr. Hamon le Strange the then squire of Hunstanton Hall on whose land the links were first laid out. The course was extended to eighteen holes in 1896 and in 1907 James Braid was invited to advise on improvements. He recommended the addition of sixty new bunkers but was overruled by the committee who reduced his total by a third. Further alterations, resulting in the course attaining more or less its present-day configuration, were made by James Sherlock in 1923.

Changes were made again in 1950 when the seventeenth green and eighteenth hole were transferred to the seaward side of the ridge and raised greens created at the sixth, seventh, eighth, seventeenth and eighteenth. Several new drive bunkers were constructed in 1971 in order to keep the course up to championship standards.

In 1983 a disastrous attempt was made to alter two of Hunstanton's signature holes. This was in an effort to avoid playing the par three fourteenth as a blind hole and perhaps encourage more professional tournaments to be held at the club. The proposal to build a new thirteeth green to the right of the present one and site a new fourteenth hole on the seaward side of the ridge was approved and work started. The new holes came into play in 1986 but it was not long before the level of dissent had risen to such a pitch that something had to be done. Following a special general meeting of the members in 1987 the holes were returned, permanently, to their original positions.

New tees were constructed at the second, fifth, ninth, eleventh, twelfth, seventeenth and eighteenth in early 2001. These brought the yardage up to 6911 yards, ensuring that the course continues to examine the modern championship player.

Championships staged at Hunstanton.