Chastleton Hill Golf Club, Oxfordshire. (1895 - 1925)

Founded in 1895

The course of 18-holes was situated about two miles from Chipping Norton and four miles from Moreton in the Marsh. It was laid out by D Brown, the Malvern professional. The turf  was good, the hazards were whins, quarries, cuttings and roads.

The course was officially opened on Thursday 14 November 1895 by Miss Brassey of Heythrop. She hit a fine opening shot, despite a strong head wind, that carried the whin hazard. A competition followed the opening which was won by Lord Encombe after a play off with Mr Cecil Samuda of Bruern Abbey.

 

Chastleton Hill Golf Club, Oxfordshire. Report on the opening of the golf course.

Oxfordshire Weekly News Wednesday 27 November 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Below is the result of a match played at Cheltenham in November 1900.

Cheltenham Golf Club   Chastleton Hill Golf Club  
Miss L Percival and Mr J K Ashton 6 Miss Cowan and Mr Hayward Simpson 0
Miss Wiggin and Mr Daubeney 4 Mrs Becher and Col. Wynter 0
Miss C L Peares and Rev. C McArthur 7 Mrs E Francis and Capt. Becher  0
Miss Rawlinson and Mr Fuller 0 Miss Causteu and Capt. Cowan 3
Miss Tuke and Col. Willoughby 5 Miss Allfrey and Henry Causteu 0
Miss E Bramwell and Mr Goodeye 15 Miss Hulme and Mr Byass 0
  37   3

From the Field Saturday 8 March 1902 - "Kitebrook hounds showed a great difference in speed, and raced prettily over the Heythrop country up Chastleton Hill, where we surprised a party of red-coated golfers, and caused them dire consternation that our iron shod horses should tear the turf of their putting greens."

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1895; Number of members, 60; Hon. sec. - C T Richardson, Chastleton House, Moreton-in Marsh; Entrance fee £1/1s and subs, £1/1s; Visitors are admitted on introduction by a member at the following terms - 1s a day, 2s/6d a week. The course is one of nine-holes, situated on high ground about 800ft above sea level. The turf is exceptionally good for an inland course, and the course is playable all year round. There are good inns to be had at Moreton- in-Marsh and Chipping Norton.

Below Chipping Norton Ladies at Chastleton in May 1907.

 

Chastleton Hill Golf Club, Oxfordshire. Chipping Norton Ladies' at Chastleton.

From the Oxfordshire Weekly News Wednesday 22 May 1907.Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

From 1913 to its final appearance in 1925 the secretary was C T Richardson, Chastleton House, Moreton in the Marsh. The 9-hole course was situated on high ground some 800ft above sea level. The turf was exceptionally good and the course was playable all year round.  Club membership of about 60. The entry fee was £1/1/0 the subs were £1/1/0. Visitors playing with a member paid 1/- a day and 2/6 a week. The station at Alderstrop was 2 ½ miles away. There were good inns at Moreton in the Marsh and Chipping Norton.

Chastleton Hill Golf Club, Oxfordshire, course location.

O.S. Map; Revised 1919; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1923}.