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 a two day event in May on Teeside. South Moor Golf Club was our first host and, while the first few holes of the course were very wet the remainder, set in moorland, showed great promise. If the Club’s plans for the future bear fruit, the course will become a magnet for golfers who are drawn to the delights of fast running fairways and firm, fast greens. Such qualities are also possessed in abundance by Seaton Carew Golf Club which was our host for the second day of our visit to Teeside.
The Club has made major efforts in the last few years to reinstate and reinvigorate its Mackenzie heritage and the results were a delight to witness. The visit concluded, as is conventional, with a dinner and a talk about the Club by the Club Manager. Apart from the first few holes at South Moor the sun shone throughout our visit. Good weather followed us to Horsforth Golf Club in June, where our hosts were most magnanimous, and to Cavendish in July where even its best friends must admit that the Pennine weather can occasionally be a little unpredictable. However the annual match for the MacKenzie Kist with the British Golf Collectors’ Society was played in warm sunshine, and in a familiar competitive spirit, resulting in a Mackenzie win to avenge the defeat of the previous year. Finally we assembled at Sutton Coldfield Golf Club in August for a Society Day where, once again, we enjoyed excellent weather on this challenging heathland course which was in the very best of condition.
The meeting concluded in an excellent meal in the Clubhouse and a prize giving which was generously supplemented by the Club Professional, Patrick Brady. Further details about the events of 2023 are to be found on the Society website www.alistermackenzie.co.uk .
Finally, while this review is intended for Individual Members, it gives much pleasure to report on the success of this year’s MacKenzie Medallion which was held at Morecambe Golf Club on 3 September 2023. Course conditions were excellent, the views over the Bay held the eye and the sunset was dramatic. The winner was Sitwell Park Golf Club. Our thanks go to the Club and to Iain MacInnes for the excellent organisation of the day.
