Appleby Golf Club in Cumbria, England, has appointed Clayton, DeVries & Pont as consulting architects as it seeks to “refine and enhance” its moorland course, laid out in 1903 by Willie Fernie, the 1883 Open champion.
The club was founded in 1894 and moved to its current site on Brackenber Moor in 1903. Its course is a minimalist design over rolling topography, with rough swathed in heather and bracken, and views of the mountains of the Northern Pennines and Lake District.
CDP will author a course plan that will define changes that could be made with the aim of improving its playing characteristics and overall aesthetic.
Looking back at the fourth hole on Appleby GC’s moorland layout (Photo: Appleby GC)
Frank Pont of CDP said: “Appleby is a fabulous example of moorland golf. The setting is simply breathtaking. My colleagues and I very much look forward to working with the club to help improve what is already a fun and exciting test of golf.”
Fernie was the club professional at Royal Troon from 1887 to 1924 and his golf course design work includes the original layout at Turnberry, plus renovations to Royal Troon and the Old course at St Andrews.
Appleby’s course is famous for the 176-yard par three fifteenth hole, ‘The Bell’ (main image), which plays over a brook to a bathtub-style green tucked into the surrounding landforms.
Club manager Jo Wood said: “This is an exciting moment for Appleby Golf Club. Our members are incredibly proud of the course’s heritage and unique moorland character, and CDP understands exactly what makes it so special. We are looking forward to working together to refine and enhance the course for our current players and future generations.”