About
Hotchkin's firm, Ferigna, was named after the innovative iron-based turf dressings and fertilizers he developed to improve golf course maintenance.
Colonel Stafford Vere Hotchkin (1876–1953) was a renowned English golf course architect whose impact is best reflected in the celebrated Woodhall Spa Golf Club in Lincolnshire. After distinguished service in World War I, Hotchkin returned to England and purchased Woodhall Spa, his home course, in 1920. Between 1922 and 1926, he completely remodeled the layout—originally designed by Harry Vardon and later expanded by Harry Colt—with help from Cecil Key Hutchison, retaining only one of Colt’s original greens. Hotchkin founded the design consulting company Ferigna, pioneering advancements in golf course maintenance and turf care. He authored the influential 'Principles of Golf Architecture', advocating for practical, environmentally sensitive designs. Beyond England, Hotchkin’s work extended to South Africa, overseeing projects such as Humewood and East London. His courses are noted for their natural integration with the land and strategic use of hazards, making him a leading authority on inland and links golf architecture.
