Canterbury Golf Club has paid tribute to its oldest member, Christopher Martin, with the posting of a ‘Certificate of Achievement’ commemorating his 100th birthday that has gone on display in prime position in the clubhouse.
Born on 26th March 1926, the award also celebrates the centenarian’s 52 years of membership – so far – at the Kent golf club which he joined back in 1974. He continues to play a couple of times a week and enjoys socialising afterwards in the clubhouse with this golf partners.
“Chris is quite unbelievable and he belies his age in every way, not just the fact that he continues to play golf. He is the perfect advert for the benefits of the game keeping you youthful and extending your life span. It also gives you the opportunity to regularly see lifelong friends and of course to meet new ones in the relaxed atmosphere of the clubhouse,” comments Alan Holcroft, General Manager of Canterbury Golf Club, home to a Harry Colt classic course located just outside the cathedral city.
To acknowledge Chris’s milestone birthday, the club has also awarded him honorary membership of Canterbury and to celebrate the occasion, the veteran was invited to lunch and golf on Thursday, May 21st.
Club Captain Nigel Fluet, Vice-Captain Chris Stephens and Women’s Vice Captain Elizabeth Carlotti played three holes with Chris, who is older than the club and the much celebrated David Attenborough.
For lunch he was then served with his favourite meal of fish and chips courtesy of the club after which Nigel presented him with a certificate granting him honorary membership and a letter giving him free golf whenever he chooses.
Chris said: “I really enjoyed it, but I was a bit disappointed I didn’t hit the driver properly. I only had two shots with it mind you, otherwise I was doing all right. I’ve been a member of the club for 52 years but there are several people like Richard Young who have been there a lot longer than that.”
The ‘Certificate of Achievement’ awarded to Christopher Martin at Canterbury Golf Club
Canterbury Golf Club’s 18-hole layout was designed by arguably the finest course designer of the time, Harry Colt, who also boasts Wentworth, Sunningdale, Rye and Camberley Heath among his 100-plus creations. He also played a major role in the re-designs of Muirfield, Hoylake, Royal Liverpool and Royal Portrush.
The demanding 11th hole at Canterbury Golf Club
Though first laid out as a downland course, the gradual introduction of oaks and silver birches along the fairways have altered the nature of the layout that now has more of a parkland feel, though a little gorse and broom can be found on some holes. Set on undulating terrain, the par71, 6,272-yard layout provides a challenging round of golf with its mix of open par 5s, tight par 4s and challenging par 3s.
Top 100 Golf Courses has Canterbury in at 13 in its Kent course ranking, a highly respectable position given the calibre of the almost 100 golf courses set in the picturesque, rolling countryside in the Garden of England.
