Membership at Worthing’s recently re-launched Hill Barn Golf Club has leapt from just 87 to more than 300 in the last 12 months following the £400,000 investment in the course and infrastructure by its new owners.
Hill Barn Golf Course was designed in the early 1930’s by the highly regarded Fred Hawtree Senior. According to local lore, the clubhouse was designed by a prominent member of the Freemasons and, viewed from the sky, represents a Masonic symbol. The course was built between 1932 and 1934, on the site of an old farm, and fully opened as a 15-hole course in 1937.
During the war the course was turned over to wheat production but, immediately after the war, three extra holes were built to bring the course up to a full 18 holes. Today the course is a 6,224-yard par 70.
The new owners brought in Martin Hawtree, the grandson of the original designer, to advise on remediation of the bunkers, which had fallen into a serious state of disrepair. The club has also invested heavily in new greenkeeping equipment and on the conversion of a barn to a new greenkeeping compound. On the course, a state-of-the-art Rainbird irrigation system has been installed on the greens, tees and approaches, and on the croquet lawns.
“We are delighted to find that golfers are flocking back to Hill Barn,” says proprietor Richard Haygarth. “This is the acid test and it seems that we have struck a chord with the players, particularly former members who became disenchanted with the previous lack of investment and went off to play elsewhere. If membership continues to rise at the current rate we will soon have to think about limiting new applications.”
Under the new regime, the clubhouse has been completely refurbished and now boasts modernised changing facilities, general dà©cor, as well as a new and much expanded pro shop. Local interior designer Becca Moseley was consulted on the refurbishment, with a brief to retain the overall classic 1930’s atmosphere of the building and CCTV cameras have been installed in the car park and around the clubhouse to ensure the security of members.
Hill Barn Golf Club info@hillbarngolf.com
Hawtree www.hawtree.co.uk
Membership leaps at Hill Barn
