Bishop's Wood - Parkland contest entry
Sept 25, 2021 22:21:26 GMT -5
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Post by Riotous on Sept 25, 2021 22:21:26 GMT -5
In 1651 following defeat at the Battle of Worcester to Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads the future King Charles II of England escaped with a small number of Royalists. After Richard Penderel led Charles in an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Severn near Madeley, Shropshire, they were forced to retrace their steps and Charles took refuge at Boscobel House. On 6 September 1651, he met with William Careless, a native of nearby Brewood. Careless suggested that the house was unsafe and recommended that the king hide in an oak tree in the woodlands surrounding Boscobel House. The King and Careless took some food and drink and they spent all day and night hiding in the oak tree, which became known as the Royal Oak. From the oak they could see patrols of Parliamentary soldiers searching for them, Charles then hid in one of Boscobel's priest holes under Boscobel house, it was here that he met the local Bishop, who provided him with woodmans clothing which he wore to return to London.
In 1660 when King Charles II returned to take the throne from exhile in France he granted annuities to the Penderels and Careless's for their services and granted the Bishop of Boscobel the woods surrounding the village.
By the 1800's golf was becoming a popular sport in England but it was not until 1894 that Mr S B Pond of the local Manor House saw the possibilities of a Nine hole golf course on the Bishops Land. With nearby Birmingham now a thriving City the small minister of Boscobel was in need of additional funding and accepted part ownership of the Golf course. Holes 1 to 9 still follow the original layout, the ancient hedge and drainage ditches are still part of the course on Holes 1, 3 and 4, and the Royal Oak Tree that Charles hid in for 24 hours is alongside the 4th fairway. For 200 years the thought of driving over the Minster wasn't even dreamt of, but with the advancement in club head technology this is now very achievable and is the reason on Sunday's you can only play holes 10 to 18. The original Royal Oak Pub is next to the Green on the 6th, incidentally the popular Royal Oak Pub name came from that night Charles spent in a tree.
Following a trip to the UK, an Australian course architect got in touch with the Bishop's Wood Committee to suggest expanding the course across Gerrards's Beck to create an 18 hole course. Mr Katana drew up plans and work started immediately, the holes keep the parkland feel from the original nine holes and centre around an Island formed between a drainage ditch and Gerrard's Beck.
The Golf Course is not long but when the wind is blowing the undulating greens don't give birdies away, Black tee's are the back tee's but the White Tee's have been designed to give different angles for most holes so i suggest Friday from the Black tee's, followed by a night out in Birmingham and then Saturday Morning from the White tee's.
The Royal Oak Tree...
And next to the 4th Fairway...
15th Green with Birmingham in the background...
Overhead course view...
The course has been designed to try and make you think rather than just hitting down the middle of the fairway, it's been fun to make so i hope you think it's fun to play, whether you like it or not please let me know how you got on and which holes you enjoyed.
In 1660 when King Charles II returned to take the throne from exhile in France he granted annuities to the Penderels and Careless's for their services and granted the Bishop of Boscobel the woods surrounding the village.
By the 1800's golf was becoming a popular sport in England but it was not until 1894 that Mr S B Pond of the local Manor House saw the possibilities of a Nine hole golf course on the Bishops Land. With nearby Birmingham now a thriving City the small minister of Boscobel was in need of additional funding and accepted part ownership of the Golf course. Holes 1 to 9 still follow the original layout, the ancient hedge and drainage ditches are still part of the course on Holes 1, 3 and 4, and the Royal Oak Tree that Charles hid in for 24 hours is alongside the 4th fairway. For 200 years the thought of driving over the Minster wasn't even dreamt of, but with the advancement in club head technology this is now very achievable and is the reason on Sunday's you can only play holes 10 to 18. The original Royal Oak Pub is next to the Green on the 6th, incidentally the popular Royal Oak Pub name came from that night Charles spent in a tree.
Following a trip to the UK, an Australian course architect got in touch with the Bishop's Wood Committee to suggest expanding the course across Gerrards's Beck to create an 18 hole course. Mr Katana drew up plans and work started immediately, the holes keep the parkland feel from the original nine holes and centre around an Island formed between a drainage ditch and Gerrard's Beck.
The Golf Course is not long but when the wind is blowing the undulating greens don't give birdies away, Black tee's are the back tee's but the White Tee's have been designed to give different angles for most holes so i suggest Friday from the Black tee's, followed by a night out in Birmingham and then Saturday Morning from the White tee's.
The Royal Oak Tree...
And next to the 4th Fairway...
15th Green with Birmingham in the background...
Overhead course view...
The course has been designed to try and make you think rather than just hitting down the middle of the fairway, it's been fun to make so i hope you think it's fun to play, whether you like it or not please let me know how you got on and which holes you enjoyed.