History

Old Fold Manor, one of Hertfordshire's most popular golf clubs, was the site of the comparatively brief but rather bloody Battle of Barnet in 1471.

Fought on a foggy Easter Sunday, it resulted in the untimely end of Warwick the Kingmaker and the reign of the Yorkist champion, King Edward IV. Part of the Lancastrian army went astray in the mist and advanced up what is now the 6th fairway to finish up in Barnet! Well, even in those days it was difficult to drive straight...

That 6th fairway, 5th green and 2nd tee are now known as Sunset Fields, so called because of their magnificent evening skies. It is also where golf was played unofficially by the locals as far back as 1880. Unofficially because the land was owned by the Earl of Strafford, who lived at the nearby stately home known as Wrotham Park. He was the man who decided to build a proper golf course on what is a freakish "fold" of unproductive sand and gravel among the surrounding luxuriant clay.

Crops would not grow on it - but grass certainly did. The new course was opened in 1910 with the Earl as its first president. Being based on gravel and 400 feet up, Old Fold is the highest point on the Great North Road between London and York which certainly helps drainage. The gravely soil also gives a particularly soft and ideal type of grass.

The foundations of Old Fold have been used in other ways, as two large tree-lined water hazards bear witness, by the second fairway and in front of the 13th tee. They were once pits from which sand was extracted to dress the fairways.

Other water which adds interest is the picturesque pond on the dogleg 11th: and the ancient moat of the original manor house, which was owned by a family with the name of Frowyke from 1200 - 1526. Their coat of arms hangs in the clubhouse.

Little of the manor house remains, although the attractive clubhouse is an extension and embellishment of the original farm buildings.

The formidable 18th is one of the finest of finishing holes. The large tree-lined moat surrounds the green.

Old Fold Manor is truly a club full of history, and has been graced by many historic golfers including the great Harry Vardon.

We look forward to adding your name to that list.