The first recorded meeting of a group of local businessmen who were to form the King’s Lynn and District Golf Club took place in King’s Lynn on Friday 30th December 1921. It was at this meeting that it was agreed to invite James Braid, Professional at Walton Heath, to visit the proposed site for the new course and make recommendations as to its suitability before a decision to lease the land and design a course could be undertaken. Mr Braid did approve of the site and was instructed to design an eighteen hole layout.

Holcombe Ingleby at the opening in 1923
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J. G. Sherlock and James Braid pictured on the 1st Tee at the Opening Exhibition Match in 1923

The construction commenced on two adjoining parcels of land at Leziate, some five miles east of King’s Lynn, on Wednesday 26th April 1922 and was opened by Mr Holcombe Ingleby, High Sheriff of Norfolk on 30th May 1923 as King’s Lynn and District Golf Club. The opening was followed by an exhibition match between James Braid and Mr J G Sherlock.

There was immediate interest in joining the club from professional people and business owners in the area and by the time the first Annual General Meeting was held on 26 April 1924 the club had attracted 216 members with gentlemen paying three guineas each per annum and ladies two guineas. It is interesting to note that a limited company was formed at the outset to purchase the land, erect buildings and manage the upkeep of the course whilst the Club controlled competitions and ran social occasions under the direction of the Club Captain and his committee.

The Club joined the Norfolk County Golf Union in January 1926 and in the April of that year the scratch score for the course was calculated for the first time at 77. Later, in 1932 it was reduced to 75 in line with national guidelines.


The Club moved to its present idyllic location in 1975. The course was the first to be designed by the acclaimed Peter Allis/Dave Thomas partnership and has matured into the magnificent challenge now considered by golfers and golf writers alike to be one of the finest and most scenic inland courses in East Anglia.