GOLF
Golf was first introduced into Middlesex in
1890 by the formation of the Staines and West
Middlesex Clubs, which was followed in 1891
by that of the Northwood Club, and during
the eighteen years that have since elapsed the
game has made rapid progress. The Hillingdon and Finchley Clubs were established in
1892, and the Enfield, Stanmore, Hampstead,
and Neasden Clubs in the following year; and
the number of clubs in existence, which in 1900
had risen to twenty, is now fifty-one, (fn. 1) only
four short of that in Surrey, which ranks first
among the Home Counties in this respect.
The development of golf in Middlesex has,
like that of other sports, been greatly influenced
by the growth of London; and this influence,
which in the case of field sports has been
wholly destructive, has been in the main
beneficial to the royal and ancient game. Only
eight of the fifty-one clubs above mentioned
are recruited from the county, and the remaining forty-three are London clubs, the establishment of which has not only promoted a taste
for the game amongst Londoners, but by the
creation of the links connected with them
has also helped to preserve 'open spaces'
from the encroachments of the builder. As,
however, only seventeen of these London
clubs have links, the same result cannot be
claimed in respect of the other twenty-four,
which are private clubs connected with the
professions, societies, and social clubs, &c., and
play, by special arrangement, on the links of
other clubs. (fn. 2) The oldest of these—the bulk
of which have come into existence within
the last few years—are the Civil Service
and Lloyds, both founded in 1894, and the
Chartered Accountants' and the London Insurance Clubs, both founded in 1898. In
addition to the three last-named clubs, there
are eight others connected with trade and
commerce—the Baltic Club, the City Liberal
Club, the Chartered Surveyors' Society, the
Discount Market Society, the London Metal
Exchange Association, the Mark Lane Club,
the London Stock Exchange Society, and the
Spalding Club for the employés of the firm
of Messrs. Spalding Brothers. The law is
represented by the Bar Society, the Inns of
Court Club, and the London Solicitors' Society;
the stage, by the George Edwardes Society
and the Green Room Club; and literature
by the London Press Society. There is also
a Cricketers' Golfing Society, membership of
which is confined to players of first and second
class counties and university 'blues'; and a
London Free Church Ministers' Golfing
Society. Lastly there are three clubs connected with Scotland: the Highland Societies
Association, the London Lothian Association,
and the London Scottish Border Counties
Club. Setting aside these private clubs, and
taking the county and London clubs together, (fn. 3)
the total number of golf clubs owning links in
Middlesex is twenty-five, nine of which—
Northwood, Stanmore, Edgware, Hendon,
Finchley, North Middlesex, Enfield, Bush
Hill Park (Enfield), and Clayesmore School
(Enfield)—may, roughly speaking, be described
as situated in the north; five—Muswell Hill,
Highgate, Hampstead, Neasden, and Wembley
—in the east; seven—St. Quintin's, Acton'.
Hanger Hill (Ealing), Ealing, West Middlesex,
West Drayton, and Hillingdon (Uxbridge)—in
the west; and five—Strawberry Hill, Fulwell,
Home Park (Hampton Court), Ashford Manor,
and Staines—in the south of the county. The
northern and eastern links have the advantage
of being situated on the highest land in the
county, which in the former case has an altitude of 500 ft., and at Highgate and Hampstead of 450 ft.; while, with the exception of
Acton and Hanger Hill, which lie on the slopes
of slight elevations, those in the west and south
of Middlesex are on level or very slightly undulating ground.
The Northern Links
The Northwood Golf Club, whose course,
situated on undulating land not far from Ruislip Park, is one of the best within easy reach
of London, was founded in 1891 by Captain
Bennett Edwards and Mr. Wright-Nooth.
The eighteen-hole course is about 3¼ miles
round, the length of the holes ranging from 150
to 543 yds. 'Hilly, plentifully supplied with
whins and gorse, with several ponds and a
stream which has constantly to be negotiated,
it is well provided with natural hazards. The
greens are beautifully true . . . the eight-hole
"death or glory" is by itself worth the journey
to Northwood.' (fn. 4) Bogey is an easy 81, and the
professional and amateur records 70 and 72.
The club prizes consist of the Club Challenge
Cup, the Coles Shield, the Autumn Cup, the
Captain's Prize, and various medals. The best
seasons for play are spring and autumn, but the
course, which is well drained, is playable all
the year. The number of members is limited
to 300, with 50 provisional members.
The Stanmore Golf Club, instituted in
1893, has a course of eighteen holes, not far
from Bentley Priory on the borders of Hertfordshire, laid out round a high hill from
which there is a good view of the surrounding
country. The green records are 68 (professional) by H. Vardon, and 71 (amateur) by Mr.
M. Copland. There are for competition the
President's Gold Medal (scratch), won in 1906
by H. R. Herbert, 77; the Gordon Bowl (holes)
and club prizes including the President's and
the Vice President's Cup.
Some 4 miles to the east of Stanmore are
the links of the Edgware Golf Club, founded
in 1906. The eighteen-hole course, 6,000 yds.
in circuit, is laid out on the Canons Park
Estate, on which a large club-house has been
erected.
The Hendon Golf Club, established in 1903,
has a course of eighteen holes, varying from
120 to 470 yds., on the east side of the main
road from Hendon to Mill Hill; and 2 miles
to the north of this is the Finchley Golf Club,
instituted in 1903, the nine-hole course of
which is 2,414 yds. in length, the holes ranging from 143 to 443 yds. The hazards are
hedges and ditches on pasture land, with some
artificial bunkers. The club prizes are a Gold
Medal, a Challenge Cup, and monthly medals.
Bogey is 76; the amateur and professional
records being 72 and 68. There is a commodious club-house. Within 2 miles to the
north again of this at Friern Barnet is the
eighteen-hole course of the North Middlesex
Golf Club, established in 1906.
Enfield, the most northerly home of golf
in the county, has three clubs. The principal
of these, the Enfield Golf Club, instituted in
1893, has a course of eighteen holes, 3 miles
295 yds. round, over the pasture land of
the Old Park, with sporting natural hazards,
including a winding brook which traverses
the links, and numerous artificial bunkers and
excellent greens. Bogey is 78, the green
records being 73 professional (J. H. Taylor),
and 70 amateur (Mr. W. H. Smallwood).
Play is possible all through the year, the
best months being April and November.
There are Whitsuntide, Summer, and Christmas meetings, and the following prizes:—
Monthly Gold Medal (handicaps to 14),
Monthly Silver Medal (handicaps over 14),
finals in October; Monthly Bogey Competition, final in October; Wyndcroft Bowl (thirtysix holes), Tatler Cup (holes), summer.
The other two Enfield Clubs are the Bush
Hill Park Golf Club, with a course of nine
holes (circuit 2,800 yds.); and the Clayesmore School Golf Club, instituted in 1897,
which has also a nine-hole course with a lake
as the chief hazard.
The Eastern Links
Like those in the north, the golf links in
the east of the county all lie within easy reach
of each other.
The Muswell Hill Golf Club was instituted
in 1894. The course of eighteen holes, which
is over 3 miles round, is situated between
Muswell Hill, Wood Green, and Southgate,
on pasture land covering a clay soil, the
hazards being trees, ponds, ditches, hedges,
hurdles, and artificial bunkers. Bogey is 75,
and the record score in a club competition is
67. The prizes are the Quarterly Scratch Cup
and a Handicap Cup. The course is playable
throughout the year, but the best months are
from May to September.
The eighteen-hole course of the Highgate
Golf Club, instituted in 1904, is about
3⅓ miles in extent. It adjoins the Bishop's
Wood at Highgate and includes the site of
the ancient hunting lodge of the Bishops of
London. The soil is clay, but the turf is very
good and the lies are excellent, the holes being
varied and of good length. The course, the
hazards of which are artificial sand bunkers, is
at its best from May to October, but is well
drained and playable all the year round.
Bogey is 77, the amateur record is Mr. J. O.
Walker's 75, and the professional record by
A. Saunders is 70. The prizes consist of a
Scratch Medal, Monthly Medal, Captain's
Prize, President's Prize (foursome), Reid Cup
(quarterly), and Lyle Cup. The club-house
has accommodation for ladies as well as
men.
The Hampstead Golf Club, founded 1893,
has a course of nine holes, with a length of
about 2,500 yds., the holes varying from 100
to 420 yds. It is situated at Spaniards Farm,
on pasture land with a clay soil, and has artificial hazards only. Play is possible throughout the year, the best months being April to
September. Bogey is 78, and the amateur
record, held by Mr. G. R. Girdlestone, is 71.
The New Neasden Golf Club was founded
in 1893 by Mr. Stanley Clifford. The sporting course of eighteen holes, ranging from 120
to 510 yds., is on pasture land with a clay
subsoil, and is nearly 3½ miles (6,120 yds.) in
extent. There are numerous natural hazards,
such as hedges and ponds, as well as artificial
bunkers. The club-house, a fine old mansion,
built about 1663, is said to occupy the site of
a house mentioned in Domesday Book as the
Great Neasden House. Bogey is 79, and the
green record, both amateur and professional,
held by Mr. A. E. Stoddart and J. Milne, is
75. The prizes include Monthly Medals,
Monthly Bogey, Senior and Junior Halfyearly Gold Medals played for in May and
October, the Harmsworth Cup (match play),
the D. A. Howden Challenge Shield for
medal play, and the McCalmont Hill Scratch
Trophy, besides various other prizes for foursome competitions, and medal rounds.
The Wembley Golf Club, established in
1896, has an undulating course of eighteen
holes, varying from 140 to 430 yds. It has
been thoroughly drained and is always dry,
and there is a club-house with every convenience. The club prizes include the Smith
Cup, the James Cup, the Myer Salver, the
Lorne Cup, the Carlton Shield, and the Scratch
Medal.
The Western Links
The most easterly of the western golf links
is the nine-hole course of the St. Quintin's
Club, close to Wormwood Scrubbs. The
club was instituted in 1894.
The Acton Golf Club, instituted in 1896,
has an eighteen-hole course of 5,870 yds.
(nearly 3½ miles), laid out by Park, in
1907. The holes range in length from
115 to 465 yds. The ground is old pasture land, and the hazards are ditches,
ponds, and various artificial bunkers. The
putting greens are very large and good.
The club-house is an old-fashioned mansion
on the village green of East Acton. Bogey
is 78, but owing to the recent opening of
the enlarged course no green records are as
yet forthcoming. The club prizes comprise
monthly medals, several challenge cups, and
annual prizes offered by the president, Lord
George Hamilton, and the captain. The
course is at its best during spring, summer,
and autumn, but play is practicable throughout the year.
There are two golf clubs at Ealing—the
Ealing Golf Club, instituted in 1898, situated
at North Ealing in the Brent valley, near Perivale; and the Hanger Hill Golf Club, instituted in 1900, the links of which are on the
southern slope of the high ground above the
town.
The eighteen-hole course of the Ealing
Club is a little over 3 miles round, the holes
ranging from 110 to 525 yds., and is laid
over old pasture land on clay, with subsoil of
gravel and brick earth. With the exception
of some artificial sand bunkers the hazards are
chiefly natural, consisting of the River Brent,
ditches, and pits. Play is possible all the
year, March to October being the best season.
Bogey is 80, the amateur record being Mr. H.
H. Hilton's 73, and the professional record 69
by G. Charles. The prizes are the Rothschild Cup, the Record Cup, Bogey and Medal
Finals, and numerous annual prizes. The
commodious club-house is at 14 and 15, Kent
Gardens, close to the first tee and last green.
The course of the Hanger Hill Club also
consists of eighteen holes, varying from 105
to 500 yds. The club-house is a fine old
mansion situated on Hanger Hill.
The West Middlesex Golf Club, which
shares with that of Staines the honour of being
the oldest in Middlesex, was instituted in
1890. The course of eighteen holes, varying
from 127 to 535 yds., is laid out on land
near Hanwell belonging to Lord Jersey, on
both sides of the main road from London to
Uxbridge, about 8 miles from the Marble
Arch. The hazards are gravel pits, ditches,
ponds, and the railway, and the going is firm and
dry. The record score in a club competition
is 74 by Mr. C. T. Bazell. The professional record by C. R. Smith is 68, and the
par 70.
The West Drayton Golf Club was founded
in 1895 by a few gentlemen living in the
neighbourhood, prominent amongst whom was
Mr. Ernest Humber. The course of eighteen
holes, which is bounded on two sides, and at
one point crossed, by the River Colne, was
originally laid out by the advice of Mr. Fairlie, but was altered and considerably extended
in 1905 under the supervision of J. H. Taylor.
It has a total length of rather over 3 miles,
the longest hole being 521 and the shortest
125 yds., and traverses pasture land on gravel
subsoil. The hazards are the river, ditches,
and artificial bunkers. Play is possible all the
year round, but is best during the spring, early
summer, and autumn. The club house is the
old Mill House. Bogey is 80. The amateur
record is 72, held by Mr. H. W. Beveridge,
and the professional record is Robert Thomson's 66. The prizes are the Fairlie Challenge Medal, the Grimsdale Cup, and the
Gairdner Cleek Competition. (fn. 6)
The Hillingdon Golf Club, instituted in
1892 by the original trustees—Messrs. C. M.
Newton, G. T. Worsley, and C. E. Stevens
—has a nine-hole course, which was rearranged in its present form by J. H. Taylor,
in the park of Hillingdon House at Uxbridge.
The holes vary from 150 to 400 yds. The
course lies over pasture land overlying gravel,
gravelly loam, and clay, and the hazards are
ditches, a stream, and artificial bunkers. Play
is possible all the year, but is best during the
winter months. Bogey is 39, and the professional record 34. The prizes are a scratch
medal and cups, given by Mr. A. N. Gilbey.
Southern Links
The Strawberry Hill Golf Club, which
was instituted in 1901, has a course of nine
holes, varying from 150 to 448 yds., situated
about midway between Twickenham and
Teddington. Within two miles of this is the
eighteen-hole course of the Home Park Golf
Club, in the Home Park at Hampton Court.
Here the turf is very fine, and the lies good,
and, though somewhat flat, the links, being on
gravel soil, are always dry.
The Fulwell Golf Club was originally instituted in 1904; it has been recently extended on the instigation of the hon. secretary,
Mr. H. O. Stutchbury. It now has two
eighteen-hole courses, opened for play on
19 November 1907, the longer of which is
6,000 and the other 5,000 yds. The shortest
holes on each course are 125 yds., the length
of the longest on the principal and second
courses being respectively 514 and 437 yds.
Both courses are laid chiefly over old pasture
land on a light gravel soil, where the hazards
are principally artificial, with a pond, a stream,
and some gorse. They are playable all the
winter, but the best months are May and
June. Bogey for the principal course is 80,
the green records being 71 professional
(P. J. Gaudin), and 76 amateur (Mr. E.
Gawne). The chief prize is the Tomlinson
Challenge Cup, but there are also three monthly
medals, and several prizes at the spring and
autumn meetings, besides others given by
individual members. There are two separate
club-houses, for men and for ladies.
The Ashford Manor Golf Club, which is
about three-quarters of a mile from Ashford,
was founded in 1898. It has an eighteenhole course of nearly 3½ miles round, which,
with the longer course of the same length
at Fulwell just mentioned, is the longest
in Middlesex; the holes vary from 148 to
461 yds. It is laid over pasture land with
a gravel soil, with hedges, ditches, and artificial bunkers as hazards, and is playable
throughout the year, being an especially good
winter course. The club-house is the old
Manor House, which adjoins the links. Bogey
is 81, and the record 70 (Mr. H. W. Beveridge).
There are spring, summer, and autumn
meetings, and prizes consisting of the Captain's, Artists', Wellroth, Hunter, and Mossop cups. (fn. 7)
Within 3 miles of the Ashford links is the
Staines Golf Club, instituted in 1890. The
course, of nine holes, is on Shortwood Common.
Ladies' Clubs
There are fourteen (fn. 8) ladies' golf clubs in
Middlesex, three of which—the Enfield and
Stanmore Clubs, in the county, and the West
Middlesex, amongst London clubs—were
founded in 1893. Of the remainder two—
the Ashford Manor Club and the Middlesex
County Ladies' Club, the latter of which has
no links of its own—are county, and the
following nine are London clubs: the Muswell Hill Club, instituted in 1894; the Ealing
and Hampstead Clubs, instituted in 1895; the
Acton and Wembley Clubs, instituted in
1896; the West Drayton and Hanger Hill
Clubs, instituted in 1900; and the Fulwell and
Highgate Clubs, instituted in 1904. Of these
the Stanmore, West Middlesex, Hanger Hill, (fn. 9)
and Fulwell Clubs have separate courses for
ladies, those of the first-named three clubs
being of nine holes, while that of the Fulwell Club is an eighteen-hole one 5,000 yds.
in extent. The West Middlesex, Fulwell,
and Acton Clubs have also separate clubhouses for ladies. The other clubs play over
the same course as the men; but on the
Ealing, Wembley, and West Drayton links the
ladies play with shortened tees, and on those
at Muswell Hill play only nine holes. The
Acton, Ashford Manor, Enfield, Fulwell,
Hampstead, Hanger Hill, and Highgate ladies'
clubs are all branches of the men's clubs.
In addition to the various golf clubs above
noticed, there are two other organizations in
connexion with Middlesex golf which require
a brief notice.
One of these is the Golfers' Club, Whitehall Court, established in 1893, which admits
foreign and colonial as well as town and
country members, and has a total membership of 1,000. A challenge shield and other
prizes offered by the club are played for
annually. The secretary is Col. W. F.
Branston.
The other is the Professional Golfers' Association, instituted in 1901, of which the
Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., is president,
and Mr. C. E. Melville honorary secretary.
A register is kept at the Association offices of
situations vacant, and of those in need of employment; and provision is also made, through
a benevolent fund, for relieving deserving
members by temporary or permanent grants;
assistance in cases of sickness, accident, death,
and interments and for preventing the lapse
of life, accident, or other policies; and for
the grant of small annuities to the aged and
incapacitated, and allowances to widows and
orphans. A tournament for prizes presented
by The News of the World is held annually;
the winner and runner-up in the competition,
held at Richmond in October 1908, were
J. H. Taylor and F. Robson.
In concluding this brief notice of Middlesex golf the Editor is glad to take this opportunity of offering his very cordial thanks to
the secretaries of the many clubs which
have kindly supplied him with information on
the subject.