Canons Brook Golf Club

Canons Brook has one of the best courses in the region. Designed by the legendary Sir Henry Cotton and matured over 50 years, it provides a truly engaging golf experience with lots of variety and all located in the heart of Essex.

Canons Brook Golf Club occupies land that can be traced back to the Doomsday survey that identified 6 estates in Parndon, one of which was the Manor of Canons, which is believed to have been passed to the Abbey of Parndon in c. 1170.

Canons brook is formed by the joining of Todd brook from the east and Musket brook from the southwest and continues until it flows into the River Stort.

Canons farm was bought by Harlow Development Corporation in 1954 and in 1957 a meeting was held with Henry Cotton, Ben Hyde Harvey, Derek Moule and Cyril beaton to discuss the possibility of providing Harlow with a golf course under the auspices of the Harlow & District Sports Trust.

Henry Cotton was given the task of designing the course and work started in 1961. The farmhouse and outbuildings became the clubhouse and pro shop.

On May 9th, 1963 the golf course officially opened with an exhibition match between Henry Cotton/ Richard Costain vs Ian Large (Pro) and Cyril Beaton over nine holes. It was unforgettable for spectators who turned out to watch Henry Cotton perform his golf magic, after all he was holder of three Open Championships and a past Ryder Cup player.

On 22nd May, 1964 the full 18 holes were opened for play and again Henry Cotton arranged an exhibition match involving himself and Michael Bonnalack, who became secretary of the R&A. Years later he told Cyril beaton that he remembered every hole at Canons Brook and complimented Cotton for the best course he’d ever designed.

To this day the club still plays competitions in the name of the three at the original meeting: The beaton bowl, Hyde Harvey Cup and Christopher and Catherine Moule Trophy.

Over the years the course has matured and settled to become a tranquil but challenging golf experience. In 1991, money was found to rebuild the clubhouse into the superb modern building that we have today. Despite its redevelopment, it retains its links to the 17th century farm that now houses the club.

In 2013, the course celebrated its 50th birthday, and it is still going strong as we head towards its 60th.

Therehas been a golf course and club in Harlow since 1897. In that year Harlow Golf Club was founded and played for the first few years close to the new Newhall housing estate adjacent to Old Harlow. Then in 1904 a nine-hole course was created on Harlow Common running due south of the current town, across the common, of the same name. In fact, the original club house or more like a pavilion is still in existence on a small farm holding to the east end of the common albeit moved around a few times since the course closed around the beginning of WW2 when the golf course was sadly dug up to support ‘dig for victory.’ The golf course was lost forever.

Roll on three decades, another golf club is born.

Senior member, Vic Petch probably, the longest serving member of Canons brook golf Club and equally long a member up at Bishops Stortford golf Club which Canons brook share strong ‘links’ during its founding and formation.

Vic writes………………….. ‘On the 23rd October 1953, what transpired to be the inaugural meeting of the Harlow Golfing Society was held at the Green Man Public House, in Harlow. (Now a hotel in the old town). The meeting arose because of an editorial in the local press, explaining that it was felt competitive golf should be available in Harlow for those who wished to play locally. The eleven who attended this meeting unanimously agreed the Harlow Golfing Society become a reality. after the Second World War, came Frederick Gibberd’s development plan for a Harlow New Town.

It was agreed that there should be two main meetings a year. One in the spring and the other in the autumn, along with evening meetings during the summer months. The society flourished and played many golf courses within the region, but one became a firm favourite, Bishops Stortford Golf Club which rapidly became its base. The host club affording generous green fees and hospitality to the society.

How it came about is not recorded but the Harlow Golfing Society were made aware that part of the recreational proposals for the new Town residents was an area in the northwest region planned for recreational and sporting facilities. The society’s committee who was residing in Harlow, Derek Moule, Cyril beaton and Ben Hyde-Harvey set about founding the Canons Brook Golf Club in November 1962.

Some twelve individuals subscribed in a memorandum to being formed into a company and the area designated for a golf club was leased and the new golf course was designed, built and opened for play in 1963. World famous golfer and course designer, Sir Henry Cotton was engaged to create the dream into what is now an outstanding golf course, sixty years later.’

The Harlow Golfing Society still play weekly at Bishops Stortford Golf Club well into their 70th anniversary and of course, visit ‘The Brook’ for a day’s golf every spring.

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In 1963

Canons Brook opened a Sir Henry Cotton designed championship course with little rough, many bunkers and large greens on which aspiring golfers of all standards are rewarded for thoughtful and skilful play rather than power alone.

The Players’ Course

Covering 112 acres, the 18-hole, 6,706yard course makes maximum use of the landscape and natural hazards including the brook meandering through to catch golfers that fail to treat the course with respect.

The 17th hole, ‘Death or Glory’, only a 350-yard par four, typifies the challenge set by Sir Henry Cotton.

One of the most successful british golfers, playing in four Ryder Cup Competitions, winning three Open Championships and designing courses around the world, Henry Cotton gave us Canons Brook, which is a ‘must play’ for any golfer looking for a challenge at possibly the best course in Essex.

A full course flyover is available on our website.