In his life time James Braid designed, in whole or in part, some 411 courses, 32 of which are now defunct and 6 were plans only and never built. [see ‘James Braid and his four hundred Golf Courses’ by John F Moreton and Iain Cumming published by Grant Books]
287 of them, from the north of Scotland, to Ireland, Wales and England and one in New York are now members of the Association. As well as including many of Braid’s famous designs – St Enodoc, Brora, Dalmahoy, Gleneagles – King’s and Queen’s, Scotscraig, Littlestone it also includes many of his ‘hidden gems’, village courses like Kirriemuir, Brecon, Dundalk, Elderslie, Forfar, Kilmacolm, Lundin Ladies, Goswick, Broadway, Peel, Henley and Stover to name but a few.
New additions this year include
- Wales – Wenvoe Castle
- Scotland – Bellisle, Seafield, Bruntsfield Links, Girvan, Helensburgh, Renfrew and Torwoodlee
- England – Burnley, Chestfield, Clacton-on-Sea, Copthorne, Croham Hurst, Gillingham, Lancaster, Tiverton, The Mere, Stinchcombe Hill and West Lancashire.
There is now a map and a mobile app for Android devices available free either though www.henleygc.com or www.sites.google.com/site/ajbmap/ for members to download. The Association is currently working on a version of the app which would be available to a wider audience rather than just Android device users.
Courses either have to have been designed by Braid or redesigned or altered by him to be eligible to join. In the course of his life as well as designing courses, he was the Professional at Romford for eight years and from 1904 till his death in 1950 at Walton Heath. In addition he won the Open five times, plus numerous other competitions, formed the PGA with Taylor and Vardon and is credited with inventing the ‘dogleg’ hole.
The advantages of being a member of the Association is that the members of the clubs, can play at all the other member clubs for a reduced green fee, subject to tee availability, thereby hopefully increasing the awareness of Braid’s work and of course, the man himself. There is no cost to the club to join.
Alastair Maxwell, Burntisland Golf Club, says, “I am trying so hard to reverse the drift of members from clubs, joining the hordes of nomads and the James Braid initiative is a major benefit to potential members. I want the best value to be available for our members.”
“As Braid’s last course we have benefitted from being involved with the scheme, as well as rewarding the members here with the added benefit it brings,” said James Burns, Stranraer Golf Club.
Administrator, Michael Herriot, a member at Henley Golf Club says, “I am delighted so many clubs have joined, as now 135,000 + club golfers have access to many excellent Braid courses, which will help increase club’s revenues and is of course great added value to membership of one of the member clubs.”
for further information or to join the association please email michael@herriot9345.freeserve.co.uk or write to Michael Herriot, Association Administrator, Henley Golf Club, Harpsden, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4HG or telephone 07941 287914
See full list of member clubs, map and app on www.sites.google.com/site/ajbmap/
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