History
Golf has been played at Hawkstone Park since 1920. The hotel has been welcoming travellers since 1790. There have been people living here since at least the 12th century, when an imposing Norman castle was built. No wonder Hawkstone has such a special atmosphere!
Hawkstone Park is a magical place. There are stories of King Arthur and his Knights at Hawkstone and a legend of two giants, Tarquin and Tarquinas, inhabiting the old castle. Hawkstone has its very own version of the Da Vinci Code. Mystery surrounds the discovery of an ancient cup claimed by author Graham Phillips to be the mystical Holy Grail (in his book The Search for the Holy Grail).
Hawkstone first made its name in the 18th century when the then owner of the mansion (Hawkstone Hall), Richard Hill, opened Britain’s first tourist park. Hill created what is now recognised as a masterpiece of the School of Naturalistic Landscape. Stone arches, bridges, walkways and grottoes were added to the natural drama of four rugged, wooded hills – and the resultant Gothic fantasy land has proved a major draw ever since. After years of neglect, the magical landscape was lovingly restored and it opened again in 1993. English Heritage awarded Hawkstone Park & Follies with Grade I certification on its Register of Historic Gardens and Parks.
No wonder golfers from John O’groats to Lands End relish the thought of playing golf in such scenic and magical surroundings.
When the original golf course opened at Hawkstone in 1920 it had 9 holes. It was designed by Scottish professional James Braid. He used the extraordinary natural and historic features of one of central England’s most scenic country estates to great effect. Many of its holes, such as the Red Castle, Grotto Vale and Neptune’s Whim, are named after features of the original estate. Braid was called back in 1930 when it was decided to enlarge the course to 18 holes.
The name Sandy Lyle is synonymous with Hawkstone. The Shrewsbury-born golfer, who won 27 world tour titles during an exemplary career, was taught the game at Hawkstone by his father Alex, who was golf professional for more than 30 years.
The Hawkstone’s sister course, the Championship, was originally named the Windmill – after another picturesque feature of the estate – when it opened in 1995. The Championship course was designed by former Ryder Cup player captain Brian Huggett, an international course designer who won the MBE in 1978 for his services to golf. Brian had plenty of scope because Hawkstone purchased an extra 58 acres of land in addition to that already earmarked for the course. He introduced many American-style features into his design, such as oval tees, rolling fairways with mounds, and good use of water features provided by the lake.
Hawkstone Park was recently voted one of the top 20 golf destinations in the world and the Follies ‘Family Attraction of the Year 2004’ by the Good Britain Guide. With a top visitor attraction, three golf courses, a purpose-built Golf Centre, historic hotel and two restaurants, Hawkstone Park has certainly developed over the years. Today it offers an unrivalled countryside retreat in the heart of England.
The hotel is thought to have originally been the Hunting Lodge of Hawkstone Hall. It became the Hawkstone Inn in 1790 and was later described in a guide book as: ‘One of the most spacious and elegant Inns of the Kingdom, more like a nobleman’s house than an Hotel.’ We like to feel that quality is still very much in evidence!
