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Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove, Kent. (1896 - WW2)

Founded 1896 also known as Hengrove Golf Club or Thanet Golf Club. 

In 1897 Colonel Roland Hill, J Couchman and others proposed that the golf course should be laid out at Hengrove, where 200 acres plus a farmhouse (which could be used as a clubhouse) could be leased. Ramsey Hunter of Royal St George’s was asked to lay out the 5,880 yard 18 hole course. The land was undulating with a chalk subsoil enabling good drainage. The secretary was Clarence Waterer and the treasurer E A Blomfield. C J Reeve and H R Leetham were on the committee, with J W Bondfield as secretary.  One of the early professionals was Willie Smith from Carnoustie, he eventually moved to America and won the USA Open in 1899. 

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove Course. O.S. The Hengrove Golf Club clubhouse.

 

Margate Golf Club, Kent. The clubhouse.

Two images of the Margate/Thanet clubhouse.

 

Thanks to Golf Heritage @LdnGolfHistory for their help in compiling the following from 1897.

Taken from Golfing and Cycling Illustrated December 1897. "It was in January last that the course was inaugurated, and its career has been one of continuous progress, a fact most gratifying to the executive and genial and popular hon.sec., Dr H Evelyn Crook. The membership is well over a century, and steadily increasing. Earl Stanhope is the president, the vice presidents are Lord Harris, Lord Forester, and James Lowther M.P., the chairman Professor Malcolm McHardy, the hon. treasurer Mr Hyde Bailey-King, and the committee includes; John Bayley, Walter Green, Walter Hills, W Leach Lewis and W J Mercer. After my train journey from town I was welcomed by Dr Cook. A short drive of a mile and a half down the Quex Park and Minster Road brought us to the commodious clubhouse, where the wants of the golfer are ministered to in a well-appointed luncheon, tea, smoke, and dressing rooms, with stabling and bicycle accommodation attached. While refreshing the inner man with lunch admirably served by the steward, Mr Denby, and his wife. "Come to the course with me" said Dr Crook, "and you will see for yourself its eminently sporting character . I followed my genial guide to the first tee , where we found the professional, Willie Smith, with whom my host left me to make a tour of the course. "This is only a short hole of 190 yards" remarked Smith. "The hedge at 40 yards is the hazard for the drive, and the green is over yonder, in a corner, protected by a hedge." Two bunkers compelled a careful drive from the second tee, and two more guarded the approach. The green was also in a hole, and the wire fence hard by accommodated pulled balls, while long grass punished bad shots throughout the 300 yards. No.3 (280 yards)was characterised, I noticed, by a brace of bunkers at 60 yards, and another couple near the green, while three beyond the green, awaited overrun balls. "This is our most sporting hole" said Smith, as we came to the fourth tee, and I endorsed his opinion as I noted the bunker for a drive, the chalk pit for the pulled ball, the hedge for the sliced ball, and another for a bad approach shot. Then came the longest hole 430 yards - its predecessor being 230 yards - where, too far for the tee, lurked the chalk pit, with a hedge and road beyond. Twin bunkers guarded the green, but a long drive and a short second shot should enable a good player to clear these with the third, and make a 5-hole of it. The green of No. 6 (270 yards) is in a corner, with wire on each side and there are two bunkers for the drive and two for the approach. No. 7 with its 190 yards, and No. 8 with 250 yards, boast a like number of bunkers to bring the foozler to judgement. Besides a yawning bunkerian quartet, No. 9 (430 yards) has a road on the left for pulled balls, and a chalk pit for the sliced. Careful driving and a neat approach shot are needed to negotiate the four bunkers at the tenth hole (330 yards); and besides the two bunkers for the drive from the eleventh tee, there is a road in front of the green, and a bunker beyond the latter. This hole is 220 yards, and number twelve numbers 400. Here there is a road  to the right, a bunker for the drive, another for the approach, and a road beyond. No 15 (380yards) has the usual quartet of bunkers, and then comes a fairly easy hole of 190 yards, with a brace of bunkers at 130 yards, a road beyond, and thence clear to the green. No. 15 (370 yards) resembles No. 8 with its hazards, and No. 16 of equal length, has twin bunkers 100 yards from the tee, another pair for the approach, and long grass beyond the green." Hopefully, description of holes seventeen and eighteen to follow.

Mr Charles Reeve won the September 1899 bogey with a score of all square.

The course had 15-holes in 1906 extending to 18 by 1914. A dry course with natural hazards including a chalk pit, hedges and trees. Station at Margate and Westgate-on-Sea was 1 ½ miles away. Special golf club tickets were available from London  at 15/- return, electric trams ran to within a 10 minute walk of the course. The professional from 1901 to WW1 was Ashley Davey.

Result of a Gold Medal Competition held at the Margate Golf Club held in March 1898.

Captain Merry 99 10 89
J S Campbell 98 8 90
H Blackwell 120 25 95
W G Lillington 120 25 95
C J Reeve 122 25 97
Rev W Urquhart Binks 122 25 97
W Begg 113 15 98
J L Rees 110 12 98
Rev W A Purton 118 13 105
F Goldberg 131 25 106
H C King 124 16 108
S C Hester 121 9 112

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove, Kent. Article from Illustrated Sporting Dramatic News December 1903.

 

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove, Kent. Article from Illustrated Sporting Dramatic News December 1903.

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove, Kent. Article from Illustrated Sporting Dramatic News December 1903.

From The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News 5 December 1903. Images © Illustrated London News Group. Images created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

The following is from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Thanet Golf Club; Secretary, J W Bondfield, 27 St Peter's Road, Margate; Captain, S C Hester; Entrance Fee £2/2s and Subs £2/2s; 18 holes; Professional, J Davey; Visitors' fees 2/6 a day, Ladies, 2/-, 7/6 a week. The links laid out by Ramsay Hunter of Sandwich are located at Hengrove. The course is a good winter one, never being muddy. The subsoil is of chalk. The hazards are natural, including a chalk pit, hedges and trees. There are also artificial bunkers. Sunday play is allowed. Ample accommodation can be had at the club.

The course was temporarily reduced to 15-holes at some time during 1906. It was described as a dry course with natural hazards including a chalk pit, hedges and trees. The professionals from 1901 to WW1 was Ashley Davey.Station at Margate and Westgate-on-Sea was 1 ½ miles away. Special golf club tickets were available from London at 15/- return, electric trams ran to within a 10 minute walk of the course. The Captain was Rex Cobb. Amongst the Vice-President’s were the Earl of Westmoreland, Lord Avebury, Lord Forester and Lord Harris.  

In 1906 the secretary at Thanet Golf Club, Hengrove was C J Harnett, The Limes, Hawley Street, Margate and the professional Ashley Davey (1901 - 1914). Professional record holder was A Davey 77. Visitors were required to be members of recognised clubs fees were 2/6 a day, 7/6 a week and 21/- a month. The station at Margate was 1 ½ miles away.

Also in 1906 was the Thanet Ladies Golf Club. Secretary, D A J Bacon, Danescliffe, St Laurence, Ramsgate and the professional A Davey. Interesting to note that this was listed as an 18 hole course. Visitors’ fees were 2/- a day, 5/- a week and 15/- a month. 

Winners of club competitions in 1905/6 C J Reeve, G B Sutton, Dr H F Hill, E G Hicks, M W Sayer, A A W Gordon, D P McDonald, H S Pike and E W Greenham. 

Below a rare picture of A Davey, the Thanet professional, playing alongside Arnaud Massy, the eventual winner, in The Open at Hoylake  in June 1907. 

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove, Kent. A Davey, Margate professional playing in the 1907 Open at Hoylake.

Leeds Mercury Thursday 20 June 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Kent. Postcard of player on the Hengrove course.

Postcard of a golfer on the Margate course. The rear of the postcard is marked "Hengrove."

 

In 1909/10 the secretary was J W Bo(u)ndfield, and the professional A Davey. Entrance fee was £2/2s and subs £2/2s. Visitors' fees 2/6 a day.

In 1914 the secretary was J W Bundfield, 27 St Peters Road, Margate and the professional G Doughty (1914 to  1919). The club had  a membership of 270. Entry fees for gents were £2/2/0 and ladies £1/1/0. Subs for gents were £2/2/0 and Ladies £1/1/0. Visitors’ fees were 2/6 a day, 10/6 a week and £1/11/6 a month. Ladies 2/-, 7/6, 15/- respectively. Sunday play was allowed and there was ample accommodation at the club.

There was no mention of a separate ladies club in 1914.

Following information courtesy of "The PGA Remembers" project - William George Eastland; Elected Assistant Professional 1912. Southern Section; Regiment - Lance Corporal 13th (Service) Battalion The Rifle Brigade; Service Number S/4406; Died - Killed in action 14th November 1916. Age 23; Buried - Contay British Cemetery. Ref: II. F. 7; Notes - William Eastland was to join the renowned ‘Niblick Brigade’ enlisting in the Rifle Brigade.  He was involved in battle at Mametz Wood and Bazentin before falling in action in the Battle of the Ancre, the last offensive of the Somme in November 1916 at the age of just 23.

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove, Kent. Article from The Tatler May 1920.

From The Tatler 19 May 1920. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove, Kent. The Hengrove course is marked to the south.

The course at Hengrove is marked to the south.

 

In August 1923 the Borough of Margate Cup was won by the Mayor of Margate Councillor W Leach Lewis, 84-13-71.

In 1924 the secretary was C Matthews the professional was J Hickman and the greenkeeper S Sellars. Visitors fees were, 5/- a day, 12/6 a week, £1 a fortnight and 32/6 a month.

Kent Ladies’ Championship November 1924 was played at Sidcup. Only once in four years since the event was instituted had Mrs Cautley, Thanet, failed to appear in the final, and on Thursday the 6th she won her semi-final against Mrs Kenneth Morris, Chislehurst, the holder, by 7 and 5 to book her place in the final. The other finalist was Miss I Doxford, Bromley and Bickley, who beat Mrs Major, Chislehurst by 4 and 3 in the other semi-final.

In 1928 the secretary was C Matthews, professional, J Hickman and the green-keeper S Sellers. Professional course record was held by J Hickman, 69. Visitors’ fees, 5/- a day, 15/- a week and 32/6 a month.#

Ordnance Survey Map showing the course and clubhouse in the 1930s.

 

Margate (Thanet) Golf Club, Hengrove Course. O.S. Map showing the clubhouse and course in the 1930s.

O.S. Map Revised 1931 - © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1939}.

 

Result of the April 1934 monthly medal; L A Scott-Taggart, 77-3-74; R S Hill, 94-18-76; E H White, 99-16-83.

Result of a match played at Hengrove against St Augustine's Golf Club in September 1937.

Thanet Golf Club   St Augustine's Golf Club  
A H Leadbetter 1 H E Bawn 0
A Sturton 0 J Still 1
G O Tyler 0 C T Curzon 1
T H Robinson 0 A I Child 1
L Cooper 1 H D Thompson 0
A K Wiggins 1 H R Port 0
A J Stickels (half) 0 H Smith (half) 0
W King 0 A Vincent 1
H V Clark 1 K B Billingham 0
A E Hatfield 1 E L Dye 0
A E Page 0 H L S Pearce (half) 0
  5   4

In 1938, 1940  and 1947 the secretary was J A Sisley. The professional was J Hickman and the green-keeper S Sellars. The 18-holes had SSS of 71 and a membership of 230. Professional course record held by J Hickman 66. There was a bus service to Garlinge 5 minutes away. Visitors, were required to be members of recognised clubs paid, gents 2/6 a round, 5/- a day, weekend and public holidays 3/6 a round, 5/- a day, 15/- a week, £1/5/0 a fortnight. Ladies 2/6 a round, 3/6 a day, 15/- a week and £1/1/0 a fortnight.

It was reported in July 1945 that Chestfield Golf Club entertained a team from Margate for the Chestfield - Thanet Cup. This Cup was provided in 1943 by the Chestfield ex-captain Mr E H Smith. The third four-ball match with six pairs each side was played on Sunday 8th July 1945. Owing to discontinuation of play on the Thanet course for the duration of the war all three matches were played on the Chestfield course. The two previous matches resulted in wins for the home side, the third match was halved.

Although the Margate club is recorded in the 1947 Golfer's Handbook the course did not survive.

The course was taken over by the War Office in 1939 for the use of troop training and for food production. 

 

Thanet Golf Club, Kent. A view of the former course.

Hengrove Golf Links in the early years (authors collection).

 

Thanet Golf Club, Kent. The golf course location at Hengrove.

Location of the course at Hengrove.Grid reference TR33930,68470, co-ordinates 633930,168470.

Thanet Golf Club had disappeared by 1951.