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BB2040
: Good Walks Not Spoiled
Thursday
12th November 2020
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Old
Tom Morris is a name that might
be familiar to golfers, if not
to the rest of the population.
His
claim to fame is as a course
designer early in the 20th century.
Amongst his projects were famous
names like Carnoustie, Muirfield,
St Andrews and, believe it or
not, Kendal.
Back
in 1891 golf was played on the
disused racecourse at Bradleyfield
near Scout Scar. The present
day course on Kendal Fell was
developed in the early 1900s,
the design in part thanks to
Old Tom.
Unusually,
the majority of the holes are
actually on land that is designated
as Town Green (like a Village
Green but for a Town).
This
has, from time to time, led
to tensions between members
of Kendal Golf Club (which Stan
and I used to be) and residents
of Kendal town (which I used
to be and Stan still is).
The
Kendal Fell and Golf Course
Management
Plan 2019
reiterates that:
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Kendalians have a right of access to the whole Town Green, but such access must not be to the
detriment of its usage as a golf course, and no person shall cause any deliberate hindrance and delay
in the playing of the game......
.....
Similarly, golfers will be advised by the
Golf Club of the rights of walkers to be
on the land.
BOOTboys
have, from time to time, responsibly crossed
the Golf Course, generally to access Cunswick
Scar. However, now that Lockdown 2.0 has
prohibited playing golf, it seemed a good opportunity
for Stan to exercise his rights for a more
extended exploration, with me as his companion.
This
would be done in a manner that would not
adversely affect the use of the course by
golfers when they are allowed back in December
(assuming that Lockdown 2.1 is not announced).
There would be no interfering with
the tees, the greens or anything else "to
the detriment of its usage as a golf course".
We
suggested to the other BOOTboys that they
too, in permitted Corvid pairings, should
include an element of golf in their itinerary,
be it at Kendal, Royal Crook, Settle or
even Kendal Putting Greens. Here are
their reports.
Robin
reminded me of the old saying "Golf
is a good walk spoiled". This
is often attributed to Mark Twain but seemingly
its origins are from Harry Leon Wilson who
in 1904, remarked "Golf has too much walking to be a good game, and just enough game to spoil a good walk".
Robin didn't agree with that sentiment. He
argues:
Golf is good
fun and so is a good walk. Today’s was a spectacular walk!
Sunny with a light breeze was the forecast as
Holly [Robin's
dog- Ed.] and
I were blown towards
Settle & Giggleswick golf course in swirling rain. Past the school and up Mill
Hill Lane to the ancient Club where by chance, Roy Jones, Club President, and
his cheerful committee were tending the first tee, Roy proudly pointing out features
of the course.
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Giggleswick.
Children should be
seen and not heard.
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The
Club Committee clearing the
course at Settle
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Not
Augusta- in case you were fooled!
We
closed the gate!
Then up past the quarry, Holly scattering a bull and
over-inquisitive cattle in an unprecedented show of bravado. Through Lord’s
Wood, over the river and a climb to high limestone country: Victoria Cave,
Warrendale Knotts and Attermire Scar in sunshine, then home beneath Sugar Loaf
Hill and through old Upper Settle.
8 miles,
1,000+
feet
Bryan
made no pretence about golf. He simply
records that:
Liz and I had a leisurely cycle ride to Browfoot
(near Staveley) where we had lunch on a bench beside the river.
12 miles, 600
feet.
Mike
B and Terry
went out together. It's surprising
that we didn't see them as Stan & I
travelled the same ground in the opposite
direction in the Cunswick area.
We
got to Royal Crook Golf Course but it was
closed, so a great place to park for the
day.
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Anyone
teed off yet?
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And
we're off from the Golf Course
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Tuppence
for your thoughts
The
walk’s aim was to get coffee at Renaldo’s
at Plumgarths, via Cunswick Hall and the
scar.
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Not
the Hollow Man
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And
so it was. Great coffee. Lunch
in the sun and mud.
Most
of the way back was different until the
last mile.
8.8.
miles, 1,348 feet.
Martin
and Diana
had a prompt start: 11.25 a.m.!
From home we took in
Totter Bank, the Jubilee Wood, Lord’s Lot, Low Fold, the edge of Royal Crook
Golf Course, The Broom, Redscar and Fell Edge back to Crosthwaite, Watery Lane
and home. Padlocked gates, barbed wire and a deep bog prevented us standing on the
golf course. A pleasant 6.9 mile, 1,585 feet afternoon walk offering views to
Morecambe Bay with a few random conversations en route.
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James
and John H took
their Comitibus picture at Settlebeck Bridge,
Sedbergh.
Walked
nearly 1.8 miles on very flat terrain but
managed a lunch break half-way.
Mike
T and Cherrie
went south
Having had to spend more time in
Burton in Kendal we have decided to try the odd walk from Cherrie’s parents'
home and we joined Slape Lane heading northeast in the direction of Holme Park
Quarry. We diverted up through Pickles Wood, which is a Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Reserve and has apparently been woodland since Medieval times. A Buzzard,
Woodpecker, Snipe and several solar panels (?) were observed.
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We gradually
ascended Hutton Roof Crags, pausing to view the panorama to the west with
Heysham and Williamson’s Memorial in Lancaster clearly visible. Having reached
the Trig Point, with a good view of Ingleborough to the east, we descended
through the woods towards Dalton and then walked the road back to Burton.
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Stephen
and Tony's expedition
took them out to the west of Kendal to the
Birds Park reservoir.
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Just
set off. Can't see you.
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It
was that big!
Stan
and I
(and quite a lot of other folk) walked
the Kendal course, .....
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.....
zig-zagging as it climbed the fell, heading
north to Helsfell Nab which was arguably
a bit naughty as the 12th and 13th holes
are outside the Town Green area. However
it is a great view point from which you
can see a panorama of the Lakeland Fells
and round to the Howgills.
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We
took a long diversion before the next hole
- crossing over the by-pass to Cunswick
Fell summit .....
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.....
then dropping down to Cunswick Tarn .....
.....and
Hall before climbing back up Gamblesmire
Lane to rejoin the course where we left
it.
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My
recollection of playing Kendal on summer
evenings nearly 50 years ago was that every
other hole meant driving into the sun and
consequently a lot of balls were lost from
sight. I recall that one evening,
at the 14th hole, Ian B, fed up with the
situation, determined how to solve the problem.
In his bag he had a yellow golf ball
that he had been saving for a special occasion.
This was it. "I'm not going
to lose this ball," he said as he mounted
it on his tee. He then took a mighty
swipe with his club and sliced the ball
way off the fairway out of bounds into a
farmer's field which was full of, yes, golden
buttercups. No chance of seeing a
yellow ball anywhere. He did find
a white one, however!
The
course winds its way downhill and around
the Battleships.
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In
the days that I played, to reach the clubhouse
from the 18th you had to climb a metal ladder
vertically up the cliff face with your clubs
on your back in order to reach the clubhouse.
Nowadays there is a buggy friendly
track, albeit still steep.
11.5
miles, 1,740 feet. A good day out
and a walk definitely not spoiled.
Don,
12th November 2020
PS:
If you are interested in travelling the
course virtually, have a look at the Flyover
provided by Whole
in 1 Golf.
Be aware though, that after Hole 1 you need
to click on Hole 2 otherwise, strangely,
you could be whisked off to Kirkcaldy
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