The NCG podcast: The battle to save Cleeve Hill

National Club Golfer

With holes carved out of a quarry – and a course that really is the epitome of golf at its most natural – Cleeve Hill rides high in ranking lists and is beloved by the sport’s purists. And yet, at present, that won’t be enough to save it. The Gloucestershire course, laid out by Old Tom Morris, is set to close on March 31 next year. Those taking the decision to end more than 130 years of history cite financial viability – or the lack of it. But there are others who refuse to accept Cleeve Hill’s fate is written and a concerted campaign is under way to save this most venerable of venues. It was a fight that was given a huge boost when a video, produced by Cookie Jar Golf, took the club’s plight worldwide – gaining influential backing from course architects and legends of the sport. Now as the battle continues to reverse the closure plans, I sat down with Cookie Jar’s co-owner Sam Williams and Cleeve Hill member David Allen to talk about the campaign, the club’s fragile future and what can be done to keep it alive.