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Lockinge Golf Club, Wantage, Oxfordshire. (1896 - WW2)

First evidence found in 1896.

Reading Standard Friday 8 January 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Reading Mercury Saturday 13 March 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It was reported in December 1897 that Lord and Lady Wantage had presented to the club a new bicycle and caddie shelter.

Winner of the January 1899 medal competition was Mr F Shervill. Tea was provided in the pavilion by Mrs Hayden, among those present were Mr and Mrs A K Lloyd.

In June 1912 Abingdon Golf Club visited Lockinge Golf Golf to play a six a side match. It resulted in a victory for the home team by four holes.

In 1914 it was stated that “This is a small private club to which strangers are only admitted under special circumstances” The secretary was Williamm C Jotcham, Wantage.

In 1923 the secretary was H Robins, 8 Market Place, Wantage. A 9 hole course. The greenkeeper was J Alley. A private club to which visitors were only admitted when introduced by a member. Visitors’ fees 2/- a day. Sunday play allowed after noon. The Station at Wantage Road was 4 miles away.

Reading Standard Saturday 7 March 1925. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

North Wilts Herald Thursday 30 May 1929. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the annual meeting in January 1930.

North Wilts Herald Friday 31 January 1930. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The course was re-designed in the 1920/30s by  H S Colt. Throughout this time and to the club’s final appearance in 1940 H Robins was the secretary and the greenkeeper to 1938 was W Alley. Membership was a constant 100. The greenkeeper in the late 1930s was E G Pearce. Visitors’ fees 2/6 a day and 7/6 a week. Sunday play was allowed after midday on Sunday. Local hotels were the Bear and the Blue Boar.

The advert below is from the early 1930s. It's interesting to note that H S Colt had recently "re-laid" the course.

Advert for Lockinge Golf Club. Author's collection.

Report on the annual meeting in January 1939.

Reading Mercury Saturday 21 January 1939. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In 1939 the captain was Mr A Dowse for the second successive year, he also held the office in 1935.

Memories of Lockinge Golf Club from David Barnard. “At one time there existed a small course at Lockinge near Wantage in then Berkshire. This was situated on the road between the village and Lockinge House. It fell into disuse in 1939 and abandoned. The clubhouse was a small wooden building.

As a schoolboy in the 1930’s I played there with my father and we were joined by my elder brother on his return from the Embassy in Bangkok. As the course there was the site of many ponds “floating” balls were used – they were quite useless in the UK because any breeze deflected them”

Additional information from Bill Oakes. “The Lockinge Golf Club was on the estate of  Lord Wantage and flourished between the wars. I think and can only assume that the golf course was ploughed over during the war and its still agriculture land now (1994)”

Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW2 showing Lockinge House and Park.

O.S. Map Revised 1938; © Crown Copyright {year of publication ca.1944}.