The Society was founded in 1999 to celebrate the work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie as a golf course architect in Great Britain and Ireland through the fellowship of golf. The Society now has a membership of 62 clubs and, as more clubs delve into their archives, the hand of MacKenzie continues to be detected.
There is an annual inter-club match for the Mackenzie Medallion, first played at Alwoodley in 1999 but subsequently on a different MacKenzie course each year.
We have an interesting diary document about Alister MacKenzie known as The Chronology.
It shows what he did and where he was from his birth on 30th August 1870 in Normanton in Yorkshire, through his time at School and University, to his early death on 6th January 1934 in California.
The Annual MacKenzie Medallion was played on Sunday 8 September, 2024 at Bolton Old Links as part of the Club’s Centenary celebrations. Fairly inclement conditions were experienced but the course was in excellent condition and, despite all competitors being experienced in the subtle, and not so subtle, greens associated with the architect rather more putts…
A resounding victory On July 5th spectators in the outer courts stands at Wimbledon were sheltering under their umbrellas and saw no tennis whilst waiting for the rain to stop. Up North, golfers arriving at Cavendish Golf Club in Buxton were greeted by warm sunshine and a light breeze. The course was prepared to the…
This was the first event of 2024, played at Dore & Totley GC, a club that has recently become a member of the Alister MacKenzie Society. The turn-out at was excellent, with 5 members playing from the club, all of whom have since become enthusiastic AMGS members. The course played well following a tough and…
Neil Crafter, an honorary member of the Society, is an Australian golf course architect who has made an extended study of the work and writings of Alister MacKenzie. He has led the challenge to bring to light much data on MacKenzie’s life and work, the results of which are included in v.21 of the Chronology…
Fixtures for 2024 One of the reasons for this fairly early bulletin for 2024 is so that members can note the dates of events and fixtures in their virgin diaries. This bulletin will be followed up by another early in the New Year and more detailed information on the events will be provided then. Most…
The Alister Mackenzie Society of Great Britain and Ireland A review of the 2023 season. I am writing this near the end of October when the nights are drawing in, autumn weather is upon us and the warmth of at least some of the summer days is now a memory. We started the season with…
Dore and Totley Golf Club of Sheffield is the latest club to be welcomed to membership of the Society. The club was founded in 1913 and no time was wasted in inviting Dr MacKenzie to view the proposed site and draw up plans for the new course. Due to the onset of World War 1 completion…
SUN SHINES ON SUTTON Finally the sun shone on a wonderful Society day at Sutton Coldfield Golf Club on Thursday 10 August. Eighteen members and friends enjoyed a glorious day’s golf at the old course. Conditions were excellent, the greens were fast and true and the rough encouraged straight play. The Green Staff were congratulated…
Under challenging weather conditions leading up to the event, AMGS had an excellent day at South Moor GC on Sunday 14th May. Club officials Ronnie, Doug and Neil (Course Manager) joined in the day and made the event run very smoothly. The course played very well under very difficult conditions leading up to the day…
Winners Sitwell Park GC MacKenzie Medallion 2023 – Morecambe GC Celebrating 100 years of moving to the location the 2023 Medallion was held at Morecambe Golf Club on Sunday 3 rd September. All eyes were on the returning 3 players from Hadley Wood to see if they could complete a hat-trick of wins but it…
The MacKenzie Society returned to Horsforth GC in Leeds on 12th June and were welcomed with a course presented in excellent condition by Course Manager, Kyran Lilley. Weather conditions were excellent, too, if a little hot. The golf wasn’t quite so hot, but the steak pie following the game was delicious and fully made up for…
The AMGS had an excellent day at Seaton Carew GC on Monday 15th May in great sunny conditions, and we were made to feel very welcome. Captain of SCGC, Eddie I’Anson represented the Club – it was great to have the opportunity to see how the course should be played. The bar and catering team…
Match vs BGCS The annual match at Cavendish G C against the British Golf Collectors’ Society took place in glorious sunshine on July 7th. We scored a resounding win by 5 ½ matches to 2 ½ to regain the trophy relinquished last year. As previously, hickory shafted clubs were used by some players on each…
We are pleased to welcome Faversham Golf Club to membership of the Society. The club was founded in 1902 and a course was laid out on low-lying land in the Nagden Marshes near Graveney. In 1910 club moved to ground at Belmont leased from Lord Harris. This site benefited from undulating terrain with free draining…
We are pleased to welcome Limerick Golf Club to membership of the Society. The club was founded in1891, and is the oldest club in the West of Ireland, After several changes of location around the city, the club bought the present site and built a 9 hole course which opened in 1920, this was extended to…
The annual match against the Golf Collectors resulted in a resounding victory for the Collectors by 4 matches to 2 thus breaking the sequence of wins by the Society. Pic. is Bob Fletcher(l) handing the trophy to Bob Chadwick(r), Captain of the Collectors’ Society
The team from Hadley Wood Golf Club successfully retained the Medallion, played at their home club at Hadley Wood on Sunday September 4th . The team, comprising the 3 successful players from the event at Bramall Park in 2021 scored 72 points, with Crowborough Beacon and Alwoodley tied on 70 points. On countback, Crowborough were…
After cancellation of the event in 2021 due to Covid, this year’s Medallion was hosted by Bramall Park Golf Club. Dr. MacKenzie was responsible for major modifications to six holes in 1921. This 6184 yard par 70 Slope 136 parkland course with tree lined fairways was in excellent condition with some very tight pin positions…
The Cavendish fairways, greens and club were once again enlivened by the arrival of members of The British Golf Collectors Society (BGCS) dressed in period golfing attire and many playing with antique hickory golf clubs. Friday 2 July was the 13th annual match between the Alister MacKenzie Society of GB & Ireland and the BGCS,…
MacKenzie Championships Report by Richard Atherton (AMSGB&I Council Member) 19 members competed for the Silver Medals at the Society Medal Championships at Cavendish on June 6th. The weather was benign and the course was presented in first class condition. Members commented on the improvements to the bunkers and paths, the initial stage of the restoration…
