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Cambridge University Golf Club. (1869 - WW2)

The beginnings of Cambridge University Golf can be attributed to two graduates Andrew Murray and George Gossett. Armed with golf clubs and a hole-cutter they ventured to the common at Royston in 1869 and set about laying out an 18-hole golf course, cutting holes as they played. The course was quickly established and a further 17 undergraduates were enlisted as members, each paying 2s/6d subscription fees.

Due to the travelling distance from Cambridge golf on Royston Common was a short lived affair and in 1871 the first Cambridge University course closed.    

The University course on Coldham's Common, just off the Newmarket Road, was established in 1875 by W T Linskill. Originally a nine-hole course it was eventually extended to 18-holes.

Competition result from March 1879.

Field Saturday 22 March 1879. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The prize meeting took place on Monday 15 November 1880 on the University Green, Coldham Common. Rain fell heavily all afternoon making play difficult. Results as follows; Linskill Cup – W Welsh, Jesus, 90 scratch; Pirie Medal – A Reid, Trinity Hall, 96-6-90. A meeting was held on the same evening at Trinity to elect officers; W T Linskill was re-elected captain, R C Faithfull, treasurer and F E Ainger, secretary.

Cambridge Golfers in 1883. Image Courtesy of Donald Cameron.

Below is the result of a return match played at Great Yarmouth in February 1884.

Below is a report on a match played on Coldham Common in March 1884. 

From The Referee Sunday 9 March 1884. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In the late 1890s the Coldham's Common course was threatened with the laying of a railway line which would bisect the course. 

Image showing the proposed railway line on Coldham's Common. Golf Pavilion marked to the left. Image courtesy of Donald Cameron.

It moved location in the early 1900s to a new site on Whitwell Hill between Coton and Barton. The station at Cambridge was 3 ½ miles away.

Cambridge University Golf Club button.

The following is an extract from The Golfing Annual 1889-90; Entrance Fee £1 and Subs 10s; Membership about 160; President - Rev. A Austen Leigh, Provost of King's College; Captain - Charles W Burn; Treasurer - R H Adie; Committee - G Townsend Warner (Jesus), H S Colt (Clare), C T Montgomery (Pembroke), C J Dedham (Jesus), R J Younger (Jesus), H T Wright (Trinity), L E G Abney (Trinity); Hon. Secretary - W T Linskill, 48 New Square, Cambridge; Green-keeper - J Tabor. "The course has been greatly extended and consist of eighteen-holes, and although the soil is clay, the putting greens are excellent and true in dry weather. The drainage of the Common, and sanding and sowing of the greens, have greatly improved the links. There are no very short holes. The ground is undulating, and the hazards a road, several footpaths, dry ditches, two running burns, and bushes, etc. The professionals are John Lambert of Musselburgh, and James Gourlay of St. Andrew's. The University Golf Pavilion is situated close to the first hole, has two large rooms, and capital box accommodation for members. The professionals' shop is connected to the pavilion. The links are open from October 1st to May 12th, and the professionals are always ready to instruct beginners." 

Result of the Linskill Cup and Pirie Medal competitions played in April 1891.

"Golf" Friday 1 May 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition result and a meeting held in November 1891

"Golf" Friday 27 November 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Below is J L (Johnny)Low the C.U.G.C. Captain in 1892.

From the Illustrated Sporting Dramatic News Saturday 12th March 1892. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

On Thursday 9 November 1893 in cold and damp weather, with a stiff breeze blowing across Coldham Common the competitions for the Linskill Cup and Pirie Medal took place. There was a good field and “The green was in capital order” Result; F R Upcher won the cup with a score of 87, F W Beckford won the medal, 91-12-79.

Result of the St Andrew’s Medal competition played on 31 October 1893; E E Eddowes, 99-25-74; P H Latham, 91-15-76. The best scratch scores were; A M Chance, 90 and W T Linskill, 92.

The competition for the “Barrow” medal took place on Coldham Common on Tuesday 21 November 1893. The day was cold and wet, but a large field started in the bogey competition, result; W B Knobel (9) all square; W Watson and W Waterhouse tied second with a score of 1down.

Result of a match played at Biggleswade against North Beds Golf Club (now defunct) in February 1894.

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

The result below appeared in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph on Tuesday 27 February 1894. The match was played at Cambridge between the University and it’s interesting to note that the away team was called the “ROYAL YARMOUTH GOLF CLUB”. 

Result of a match against Great Yarmouth Golf Club in November 1894.

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

W T Linskill provided an interesting insight into local golf courses in January 1895.

"Golf" Friday 25 January 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Response to the letter above.

"Golf" Friday 8 February 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

On the 12 November 1896 the weather was fine and the course was in good condition for the Linskill Cup scratch competition which was won by B Darwen with a score of 76. A R Heathcote won the St Andrew’s medal with a score of 78-3-75.

Result of the weekly competition played on Thursday 1 December 1898 at Coldham Common; first class G H Hardie, 84-4-80; P W Leathart, 82 scratch; E E Apthorp, 84-2-82; G G Hirst, 92-7-85; H G Neirle, 90-4-86; F H Churchill, 95-6-89; second class A B Wilson, 91-10-81; J C Lucas, 101-20-81; N H Haggie, 97-15-82; A A Trinder, 95-10-85; G H Wilson, 110-25-85; G Stapleton, 95-8-87.

Below is the result of a match played on Saturday 3 December 1898 at Cambridge between Cambridge University and Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society.

Result of the weekly competition played on the 9 March 1899 at Coldham Common, results; first class G H Hardie, 81-4-77; C B Hudson, 84-7-77; G H W Dawson, 86-7-79; W G Howarth, 83-3-80; E V Soames, 88-7-81; J B Escoline, 88-7-81; J S Bookless, 88-6-82; E H Timms, 89-6-83; F W Eddison, 88-4-84; second class E F Penn, 86-13-73; E C Miller, 94-20-74; L G Davies, 89-14-75; A A Trinder, 89-10-79; A N Lee, 95-16-79; R B Wright, 93-11-82.

Below Past and Present match played on the Coldham Common course in March 1900.

The picture shows, from top left to right; C D Mathias (Old Cantabs) putting on sixth green; E W Hill-Thompson (Cambridge) at fifth hole; Mr Darwin (Old Cantabs) putting on eighteenth green;  G H Hardie (Cambridge) a drive from the second tee; F H Newnes (Old Cantabs) on third green; E E Apthorp (Cambridge Captain) putting; B Darwin and E E Apthorp; Rev. E F Wood (Old Cantabs) a drive from the third tee; A Little Exercise by W Duncan, The University Professional.

From the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News 10 March 1900. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The following is from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Membership of 350 (including life members); Joint Hon. Secs. - Charles Pigg, 11 Queen Anne Terrace, Cambridge, and R C Simpson, Trinity College; Captain - G Hoffman, Caius College; Entrance Fee 21s and Subs  £2/2s; 18-holes; Professional - Robert Glass (North Berwick.) "The course is situated on Whitwell Hill, and has a great advantage over the old course at Coldham's Common, in that it is situated in pleasant country far  from the streams of Barnwell. The course is still young, and there is much yet to be done. The chief failings at present are a lack of length and legitimate incident" - B DARWIN.

In 1914 there was a membership of 450, which included life members. Amateur course record holder was J F Ireland with a score of 72. The entry’ fee was £1/1/0 and subs £2/2/0. Visitors’ fees were 2/6 a day, 10/- a week and £1 a month.

Below is the result of a match played at Oxhey Golf Club (now defunct) on Saturday 1 December 1934.

From The Bystander Tuesday 11 December 1934.Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Below a match played on the now defunct New Addington golf course In February 1939.

From the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News Friday 10 February 1939. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

The club no longer has its own course; it now plays its home golf over the Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club.

The Google Map below shows Coldham's Common.