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Monkhams Golf Club, Waltham Abbey, Essex. (1911 - WW2)
Founded 1911/2.
In 1914 the secretary was H Stephenson Cox and the professional G Colgate. A 9-hole challenging hilly course where accurate play was required. Club membership at this time of 100. The entry fee for gents was £1/1/0 and ladies 10/6. Subs for gents £2/2/0 and Ladies £1/1/0. Visitors who had to be introduced paid 1/- a round and 2/- a day. Sunday play was allowed after 1pm in winter and 2pm summer. The station at Waltham Cross was 2 miles away.
Ordnance Survey Map showing the golf course and clubhouse.
O.S. Map Revised 1915; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1923}.
Monkhams was one of the 16 clubs which attended the inaugural meeting of the Essex Golf Union on 27th February 1924.
In 1923 the Secretary was W H H Knott, Queen Ann Lodge, Waltham Cross. The professional was G Colgate and the green-keeper ? Williams. Course records were, amateur H L Jackson with a score of 71 and professional G Colgate 69. Visitors’ fees were gents 2/- a day, Sunday 3/-, Ladies 1/- and 2/-.
Report from the Westminster Gazette Wednesday 8 August 1923; "Good progress is being made on the new 18-hole course of the Monkhams Golf Club, which is being laid out on the estate of Brigadier-General R B Colvin, at Waltham Abbey, nine-holes are already in use."
The course seemed to undergo many changes. From 1925 to 1928 it was listed as an 18-hole course reverting to 9-holes in 1929.
In 1933/4 the club captain was Arthur Austen Marshall.
It was recorded as having 11-holes in 1936.
Britain From Above image of Monkhams Hall, Waltham Abbey, 1938.
Golf carries on in November 1939.
Hertford Mercury and Reformer Friday 24 November 1939. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In the clubs last year in 1940 the secretary was L T Whitehead, 36 Ashridge Gardens, London W13. The professional was still G Colgate and the green-keeper M Hare. 11-holes with a SSS of 70 and a membership of 150. Course records were, amateur H E Jackson (score stated to be 61) and professional G Colgate 69. Visitors’ fees for gents were 2/- a day, Saturday and Bank Holidays 2/- a round, 3/6 a day. Ladies 1/-, 1/6 and 2/6 respectively. Sundays for ladies and gents was 3/6 a round or day (2/6 if playing with a member).
Location of the Monkhams course.
Thanks to Mr E R Rossell for the following recollections -
“I believe there was a course at a Mansion called Monkhams on a road from Waltham Abbey, Essex to Nazeing Essex. Locals called the entrance “Eagle Gates” owing to the fine wrought iron gates. Monkhams was once the residence of the Lord Lieutenant of Essex and I understand that a course was constructed there after his leaving. The mansion fell into disrepair during the war and was used as an ack-ack site. Subsequently it was bought and restored as flats. Indeed I once lived in the grooms quarter, which I rented from Sir Thomas Buxton who owned the surrounding land.
A fine drive lined with Chestnut trees connected the house from the road and an even finer one, no longer used was of flowering Limes. I believe that the name Monkhams stems from the monks of Waltham Abbey having resided there, presumably pre Henry VIII. There is a fine view of the church from the site and custom has it that secret passage led also to the church. In the surrounding woods there are gravestones to various horses and the whole conurbation at one time was just about self-sufficiency having most of the assets including a Blacksmiths and a very deep water well. Not much about golf I’m afraid but I hope the information I have given is of use”