Sutton Bridge Golf Club, established in 1914 is a fine nine hole parkland golf course located in and around an abandoned late nineteenth century dock basin adjacent to the River Nene in South Lincolnshire.
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| 1881: The timber ship, 'Marie', docked at the coaling wharf, now the 9th tee, before the walls started to collapse. The other ships are 'Marieham' (timber) and 'John and Mary' (maize). |
The origins of the golf course are known in part to many people but there is almost something romantic in its history which marks it off as 'unique'. Back in 1881, the Sutton Bridge Port completed the construction of the dock basin some ten acres in area. No one could have forseen the engineering disaster that quickly followed its opening. Three ships had sailed into the basin and fortunately all three managed to escape before the dock walls began to collapse and two large pumping engines sank into the running silt.
The basin was abandoned for some thirty years until local people had the foresight to see the 35 acres as a golf course. The original walls of the dock basin form an intrinsic part of the course and create changes in levels which are not found in many other fenland courses.
Today the course is well populated with trees, mostly willows and poplars which provide definition to the nine holes. Each hole is totally different, and the greens are rated among the best in Lincolnshire, with their quality maintained throughout the year.
The club is a private members' club with some 160 members. It has two teams in the South Lincs. Scratch League: the Ladies Section in recent years has won the Division 2 of the Lincolnshire League; and the Seniors Section is a thriving part of the club meeting regularly on Wednesday mornings throughout the year.
The current clubhouse was built in 1996, and adjacent to the car park is a four bay driving range open to both members and visitors at reasonable rates.
All in all Sutton Bridge is a great place to play golf!