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Neasden Golf Club, London. (1893 - 1934)

Founded in 1893 by Mr Stanley Clifford.

The picture below shows; Mr L Clifford; Mr S Clifford, Hon. Secretary; Mrs I Clifford. Over the Pool to the Home Hole.

From the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 23 December 1893. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

Professional at Neasden; D Cuthbert, 1893/4; Johnnie Milne, 1894 - 1921; Fred Rutter, 1921 - 1934.

The 18-hole course, with holes ranging from 120 yards to 510 yards, was located on pasture land. The undulating picturesque course was constructed on clay subsoil and covered 6120 yards in total. There were natural hazards of hedges and ditches, and artificial bunkers. The clubhouse was a mansion house built in 1663 and reputedly mentioned in the Domesday Book as Great Neasden House. Bogey was 79, and the course record of 75 (for both amateurs and professionals) was jointly held by Messrs A  E Stoddart and J Milne. The Neasden club also allowed a limited number of ladies to be elected to the club as associates. They were permitted to play the course every day except Saturdays and Sundays, and separate rooms were set aside for them within the clubhouse.

“Golf" Friday 5 January 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Neasden Golf Club button.

Neasden Golf Club “Senior Monthly Medal”

Results of matches against Boxmoor Golf Club played in November 1894.

"Golf" Friday 16 November 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the 1894 Boxing Day medal competition.

"Golf" Friday 4 January 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The annual Gold Medal (below) was won in 1895 by Garden G Smith with a score of  74.

Garden Smith was a prolific author who, with Harold Hilton, wrote "The Royal and Ancient Game of Golf" one of the rarest and most sought after golf reference books. 

The Neasden Golf Club Annual Gold Medal won in 1895 by Garden G Smith.

Result of a match played at Chiswick Golf Club in April 1895.

"Golf" Friday 3 May 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the monthly medal played on 26 October 1895; senior (or first division), S Clifford, 91-10-81; junior (second division), E R Lodder, 96-15-81.

Article from The Sketch Wednesday 20 November 1895. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the December 1895 monthly medal; senior, R H Glanfield; junior, T E Leacher, 76net.

Result of the monthly medal played on Saturday 25 January 1896; senior, G G Smith, 81+1-82; junior, C S Gover and  L  Sloan tied on 82net .

Result of the February medal 1896; senior, F (E) J Lewis, 85-10-75; junior, F J Lewis, 97-22-75.

On Saturday 25 April 1896 Franklin Ross won the McCalmont Hill scratch medal with a score of 76.  Result of the monthly medal; Franklin Ross, 76+1-77; junior, H Scott, 93-20-73.

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

From Golfing and Cycling Illustrated April 1897. Neasden Golf Club by R A Foster.

"An elegant old English dwelling, approached by a winding avenue, nestling amid tall trees; a profusion of shrubbery and cropped lawns (for outdoor tea with the lady members); a pond where a pair of tame sea-gulls disport themselves - all this has been converted, say rather promoted, into the home of the three year old Neasden Golf Club. The click of billiard balls indicated how Neasden golfers whiled away the hours between rounds. Like the vestibule of a museum was the quaintly furnished hall. From the walls, on either side of an antique eight-day clock, grinned rows of hideous masks.

Johnnie Milne was the professional, from the shores of the North Sea. Milne, like most other first-rate exponents of the game, began as a caddie.  "I wudna gang back tae Scotland." He began golf when, by his own calculation, he was "nae bigger than a bag."

The course is an eminently pleasurable one. The first hole was dubbed "The Steeplechase," there is a legend that this hole has been done in four. If so, it must have been by an early morning solo golfer, whose feat no one witnessed. Good enough players accept a six with thanks, and seven requires no apology. There are trees to steer between, hedges to clear, ditches and water, a steep hill to climb and altogether better than a quarter of a mile to travel. Having played on the hill-top for the seventh hole, there stretches all around a magnificent natural panorama. The hole cannot be far short of a third of a mile in length, and a wild approach involves the risk of getting into the Welsh Harp, which, however, there is no occasion to cross. Before you  on the tenth hole, needing a far vaulting drive, is a range of bunkers called the "Neasden Grampians." We stood to see Milne clear the range, against the wind, with a low "wings of the morning" drive. Of the remaining holes, it need only be said that all are first rate, comprising abundant variety. The course measures well-nigh three miles.

One of those redoubtable brothers Vardon holds the record of 68, which will take some breaking. Milne - who makes coaching is specialty - comes near it with several seventies. The two amateur miracle workers are Mr Stanley Gifford, the courteous secretary and typical "bogey" player, and Mr Foley, each of whom holed the 12th and 13th in one; the latter being indebted to a rebound off an elm tree. The fee is not too steep for the average account-at-the-bank man  - five guineas to enter, and a six guinea subscription."

The Neasden clubhouse.

Johnnie Milne, the Neasden professional.

The Neasden Grampians.

Winner of the April 1897 bogey was James Leys, all square.

Result of the half yearly gold medals played in October 1897; senior (first division), Mr A S Foley, 85-4-81; junior (second division) H Harmsworth, 92-25-67.

Result of the December 1898 medal; tie for the senior medal between R Taubman and J Porteous with 84net; W Thorne won the junior medal 82net.

In June 1899 the winner of the senior medal and Howden Shield was S Maxwell, 87-7-76; There was a tie for the junior medal between E H Tubbs and J Farmiloe with 78net.

On the Neasden course on Saturday 21 October 1899 Harry Vardon (Ganton) inflicted a heavy defeat on James Braid (Romford). In the first round the Open Champion was in great form and was six up. The second round did not go far, Vardon eventually winning by 8 and 7.  

On Saturday 20 January 1900 R A Melhuish scored a hole in one on the 180 yard sixth hole.

The Actors’ Golf Tournament was played at Neasden in May/June 1900. In the picture from top left to right; Tom Wise and Fred Terry; Ben Webster, putting; A E George a drive from the sixteenth tee; Rutland Barrington, fifteenth green; Lewis Waller, approaching the eighteenth; Pym Williamson, the winner, at the fifth; Alfred Bishop; H Ross, runner-up, fourth tee.

From The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News 2 June 1900. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In 1906 there were joint secretaries Stanley Clifford, 10 Neville Court, Grove End Road, NW and A E Stoddart. The professional was J Milne (1894 to 1921). Records were, amateur J Congreve with a score of 68 and professional J Milne 65. The station at Neasden was 6 minutes away.

Famous sportsman plays at Neasden course in October 1906.

Tewkesbury Register Saturday 3 November 1906. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The Professional Association's Tournament for the "Tooting Bec Cup" took place on the Neasden course on Wednesday 13 May 1908. It resulted in a tie between Rowland Jones and Ernest Gray the latter led the field after the morning round with a score of 73, this beat the record of the course by one stroke. Leading scores; Rowland Jones (Wimbledon Park) 90+73=153; Ernest Gray (Littlehampton) 73+80=153; George Duncan (Hanger Hill) 76+78=154; C H Mayo (Burhill) 77+77=154; James Braid (Walton Heath) 79+76=155; J H Taylor (Mid Surrey) 76+80=156.

Thanks to Dixon Pickup for the images below. "The one cased is a HM silver example for the winner of the seasonal bogey competition in May 1908. Interesting image of a Devil or Colonel Bogey."

Above images of the cased award.

The above is marked Vaughtons 1907/8. Still trying to find out who C W C was.

In 1909/10 the secretary was Captain F D Markham, and the professional J Milne. Entrance fee was £5/5s and subs £7/7s. Amateur course record; E H Tubbs 74. Bogey score was 78. Membership of 500.

Result of the August 1911 monthly medal; Senior - H Watson, T Gowland and W G Frieout, tied for first place; Junior - F Neal.

Result of the half-yearly gold medals played in September 1911; Senior - W Phillips, 80; Junior - S Magnus and W G Boocock tied at 83. 

Result of the October 1911 monthly medal; Senior - C W Cross and Major H F Williams tied with 82 net; Junior - A C Ellis, 78 net.

The winner of the Half Yearly Gold Medal in 1913 was Harry Devereux Blackburne. Harry died at Passchendaele in 1917 - BLACKBURNE, Harry Devereux, Died: 27-Sep-1917 Lieutenant, London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles), 9th Bn., Location: Panel 151 Tyne Cot Memorial.

Above images courtesy of Adrian Blackburne.

In 1914 the secretary was Richard A Hill and the professional was still J Milne. An 18-hole sporting course with fine views over the Welsh Harp and surrounding country. There was a  membership of 500. Entry fees were £5/5/0 and Subs £7/70. Provisional members paid £4/4/0. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 1/- a day, 2/6 at weekends. Sunday play was allowed with caddies. Ladies were not allowed to play at weekends and Bank Holidays.

The bunker on the ninth hole in the early 1920s.

The tenth hole.

Result of the August 1920 monthly medal; First Division - J G Avery, 78-6-72; Second Division - S Clay, 85-15-70.

After a long illness the death was announced in January 1922 of Jack Milne aged 54. He had been professional at Neasden for 29 years and was a capable instructor and club-maker. 

In 1923 the Secretary was Captain J J Munford. Telephone Willesden 178. The professional was F Rutter (1921 to closure) and the greenkeeper J Parsons. Membership of 530. Course records were, amateur J S Kennedy with a score of 73 and professionals Rowland Jones and E Gray 73.

Result of the April 1923 monthly bogey; J Quinn (9) and J T Chasney (12) tied at 1down.

Result of the July 1923 monthly medal; Senior - T P Bulieid, 81-6-75, J Whitby, 85-10-75, G Butler, 87-12-75 all tied; Junior - S W Avres, 85-14-71.

August 1923 monthly bogey; W S Fellows (18) 2up. Monthly medal; Senior - J Macdonald, 82-7-75; S W Ayres, 87-12-75; J F Chasney, 87-12-75; W A Lee, 87-12-75, all tied; Junior - M J Dinjian, 89-16-73. 

In 1926 the secretary was F P Dickinson who also held the amateur course record of 69.

During the lifetime of the club, prizes included monthly medals, monthly bogey, senior and junior half yearly 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, as well as other prizes for foursomes and medal rounds.

Below is an interesting article from The Tatler on the “Neasden Golf Society” from 1936. 

From The Tatler 16 December 1936. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Neasden Golf Course had disappeared by the early 1930s.

Ordnance Survey Map showing the Neasden Golf Course. © Crown Copyright {1920}