HINDHEAD Golf Club has not, as was recently reported in the Herald, passed its 100th anniversary, but will do so in 2004 and plans to mark this important milestone are well advanced.

At the turn of the century, Hindhead was known as 'Little Switzerland' and escapees from London's dank air would settle there for health reasons.

So it was that in 1897 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle brought his ailing wife to the district and built a new home, 'Undershaw', near the now world-famous traffic jam on the Portsmouth Road.

The creator of Sherlock Holmes was an accomplished sportsman and shared the growing English interest in skiing, which he pursued in the real Switzerland.

A paragraph in the April news-sheet of Davos in 1896 reported: "Dr Conan Doyle, the famous British writer of Detectivism, last month made the first Alpine journey from Davos to Arosa on skis."

It was not reported that in that same spring he had laid out and built a links on the high Swiss pastureland – the first in Engadine. He was a pioneer and, as one commentator put it, " a golf inebriate."

It was not surprising, then, that he should have pursued his interest in golf at Hindhead and, although not present at its inaugural meetings, became one of the prime movers in the founding of the club, serving as the first president from 1905 to 1907.

The founding fathers had, however, begun their association at The Hindhead and Hankley Common Golf Club and it was only the home trek back up the 300ft hill which stimulated them to search for a new plot nearer to the village. The present Hindhead course was the result.

Over its 100 years Hindhead has experienced many ups and downs, but fortunately, as evidenced by its current thriving condition, more ups than downs. A recent accolade has been the Royal & Ancient Golf Club's decision to hold an Open Championship regional qualifier at Hindhead.

From the inaugural exhibition match between James Braid and J H Taylor to the present day, many celebrities and famous golfers have been associated with the club: David Lloyd-George, Viscount General Montgomery, The Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda, Henry Vardon, Dai Rees and Peter Alliss to mention but a few.

The centenary celebrations will kick off on April 10, 2004, the 100th anniversary of the club's founding.

The raising of a new centenary flag and the planting of a commemorative oak, a gift from the R & A, will take place during a reception for all members.

A summer ball and dinner will follow on July 17 in specially constructed marquees.

Centenary golfing events and competitions will be spread throughout the season, with the Conan Doyle Trophy being a prominent example.

It is hoped that another event will feature teams in a competition to include entries from other clubs celebrating centenaries in this same year. Similarly, there is a competition between teams captained by as many captains as are available from each year of the Hindhead's history.

Plans for the construction of a lasting additional feature to the clubhouse or the course are still under discussion.

For further information about Hindhead Golf Club's centenary, contact Jack Buchanan 01428 713854.