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Little Warley Golf Club, Brentwood, Essex. (1899 - WW2)

Founded in 1899.

A 9-hole course laid out on undulating common land with natural hazards additional obstacles were bushes and two ponds. Railway stations at Brentwood and Warley 2 miles away. Local hotels were the White Hart, Lion and the Lamb at Brentwood.

Result of a ladies' competition for Mr Ball's prize played on 2 November 1901; Miss J M Burgess, 110-8-102; Miss F B Burgess, 109-6-103; Miss J E Burgess, 117-14-103; Miss May Landon, 126-23-103.

C T Burgess and J T Green, 8 down, tied for first place in the December 1901 monthly bogey.

Result of the March 1902 monthly medal; W B Burgess, 91-12-79; M G Burgess, 92-10-82; C E Burgess, 94-12-82; H P Landon, 96-14-82; J T Green, 97-12-85.

Essex Times Saturday 22 November 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competitions played in April 1903; Medal - M G Burgess, 82-4-78; B G Wilmer, 91-12-79; B F Wilmer, 94-15-79; J T Green, 98-8-80; C T Burgess, 94-10-84; H P Landon, 100-14-86; Bogey - M G Burgess (3) and B F Wilmer (14), 2down; Rev W Claxton (8), 6down; C T Burgess (8), 8down.

Competition results from May 1904.

Essex Times Saturday 28 May 1904. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1899; Hon. secretary - H P Landon, The Lodge, Shenfield; captain, A Young; Entrance fee nil and subs £1/1s; Nine-holes (bogey 18-holes, 74); Amateur record - A Young and M G Burgess, 79 gross.  

In 1906 the secretary was Harcourt P Landon, The Lodge, Shenfield, Brentwood, Essex. Amateur record holder was J T Green with a score of 77. Visitors wishing to play were required to apply to the secretary.

In 1914 the secretary was Major A F Cooke, 167 High street, Brentwood. There was a membership of 75. The entrance fee was 21/- and subs 21/-. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day. There was no Sunday play.

Ordnance Survey Map showing the golf course at the time of WW1.

O.S. Map; Revised 1915; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1921}.

From the Chelmsford Chronicle Friday 10 February 1922; "SUNDAY GOLF - Agreed to by Little Warley - The annual meeting of the Little Warley Golf Club was held at the National Schools, Brentwood, on Friday, the Rev. J Thomson, Hutton, presiding over a large attendance - Mr G Ewart Thomson hon. sec., presented a report dealing with the working of the club and the negotiations which had taken place for the purpose of obtaining permission to play golf on Sundays on the club's ground at Little Warley Common. When the original lease was made a clause was inserted that there should not be any Sunday play. It had now been agreed that a new lease should be prepared omitting this clause. As a result of the efforts of members he was glad to say there had been a considerable accession of new members, and now that Sunday games were available they would probably gain more. The report was adopted, and officers were appointed as follows; Chairman, the Rev J Thomson; hon. sec., Mr G E Thomson; hon. treas., H Banwell, Poplars, Queens Road, Brentwood. The chairman referred to the interest by ladies in the club, and it was decided to organise competitions for ladies, Miss G Wilson being appointed ladies' secretary."   

In 1923 the secretary was G E Thomson, Sempah, Shenfield, Essex. Membership was now 80. Amateur record holder was A Young with a score of 68.

Leading scores in the April 1924 monthly stroke competition; D M Copeland (12), 67; W D Hodgkins (21), 68; W Banwell (20) and H A Symonds (20), 69.

December 1924. The first round of the winter eclectic competition for the Childerditch Cup was played on Boxing Day and was won by F Armour (13) with a score of 50, W L W Larkin (18) was second with 51. D M Copeland (12) won the replay against G E Thomson (5) to take the captain’s prize.

The eclectic competition for the Childerditch Cup came to a conclusion in February 1925. The winner was D M Copeland (10) with a score of 103 for 36 holes, A E Johnson (14) was runner-up with 104.

Result of the monthly bogey played in February 1925; W G Hodgins (19) 2down; A E Johnson (13) and G A Kendrick tied for second at 4down.

On Friday 6th March 1925 the club held its annual dinner at the Lion and Lamb Hotel in Brentwood. The club captain, Mr G W Copeland, was in the chair.

Result of the March medal 1925; G E Thomson, 72-5-67; A E Johnson, 82-13-69; H G Robson, 81-11-70.

In April 1925 the special Easter bogey competition was won by H A Symonds (19) 3down. The monthly bogey result; M A Copeland (8) all square; H G Robson (11) and A E Johnson (13) tied for second on 2down.

In May 1925 there was a large number of competitors for the annual competition for the Bogey Challenge Cup, which was presented to the club 25 years ago. It was won in a play-off by A E Johnson who beat H G Robson.

The competition for the Little Warley Challenge Cup played over 36 holes took place on Saturday 6th June, result; G A Kindrick (17) 61+62-123; W G Hodgins (13) 62+65-127; D M Copeland (10) 67+62-129. Amongst the many competitors who returned good scores was J T Green, who had been a member of the club since its foundation in 1899.  Also in June 1925 a special stroke competition was won by W G Hodgins, 75-15-60.

Result of the monthly bogey for July 1925; J B Copeland (8) 1down; G W Copeland (13) and E W Vernall (14) tied for second 2down. The medal result for July; Rev J Thomson, 74-10-64; W G Hodgins, 79-12-67.

In the monthly medal for August 1925 G W Copeland (13) and M A Copeland (7) tied for first place with a score of 63, M A Copeland won the play-off. In the August bogey the winner was F Armour (13) who finished with a splendid 4up. The knock-out competition for the Tournament Challenge Cup was won by G E Thomson who beat F Armour.

Result of the November medal for 1925; D M Copeland, 75-9-66; H G Robson, 76-9-67.

During the 1930s the secretary was M A Copeland, “Wanesfield” Woodman Road (in the mid 1930s “Fairway“ Woodman Road), Brentwood and the green-keeper C Bell. Club membership was 85. Amateur course record held by M A Copeland 66. Visitors’ fees were 1/6 a day, 2/6 at weekend and Bank Holiday.

Report on the history of the club in January 1968.

Brentwood Gazette Friday 26 January 1968. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Little Warley Golf Club had disappeared by 1940.