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Reading Golf Club, Norcot Farm Course, Grovelands Road. (1899 - 1917)
Notice of a Golf Club to be formed at Reading in February 1899.
Reading Observer Saturday 4 February 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The first Reading Club was formed at the meeting held at the Queen’s Hotel on Saturday 11 February 1899.
Reading Mercury Saturday 18 February 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
"Golf" Friday 10 March 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Results from the autumn meeting held in October 1899.
Berkshire Chronicle Saturday 4 November 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The result of the monthly competition for Mr Walter Palmer’s Challenge Cup played on 3 January 1900; A C Bartholomew, 94-9-85; S S Wollaston, 94-6-88; G E Seon, 107-15-92; L M Henly, 108-12-96.
The ladies monthly competition for Mr W Berkeley Monck’s Cup took place on Thursday 4 January 1900, played over nine holes; Miss E Austin, 58-12-46; Miss S Austin, 67-15-52; Mrs Wilcockson, 83-30-53.
Below, result of a one sided match played at Reading against Ewelme on Wednesday 10 October 1900.
| Reading Golf Club | Ewelme Golf Club | ||
| S S Wollaston | 0 | E R Morres | 4 |
| D A T Wilmot | 1 | L Palmer | 0 |
| A C Bartholomew (Half) | 0 | W Neil (Half) | 0 |
| E M Fletcher | 6 | F R Hedges | 0 |
| H A Copeland | 6 | F E Hedges | 0 |
| G E Seon | 6 | W G Curtis | 0 |
| Com F L Laurence | 6 | S A Bennett | 0 |
| Capt C J Baker | 2 | Reverend E B Mackay | 0 |
| 27 | 4 |
In 1903 the secretary was G E Seon.
Result of the monthly competition for the Walter Palmer Challenge Cup played on Wednesday 4 February 1903.
| H E Wallis | 101 | 20 | 81 |
| S S Wollaston | 85 | 3 | 82 |
| W M Childs | 107 | 24 | 83 |
| F W Keeble | 109 | 24 | 85 |
| S W Laurence | 106 | 21 | 85 |
| G E Seon | 94 | 8 | 86 |
| A L Goadby | 107 | 20 | 87 |
| S Hayward | 105 | 18 | 87 |
| Capt F L Lawrence RN | 102 | 13 | 89 |
| W M Dimbleby | 109 | 18 | 91 |
| R Timberg | 115 | 24 | 91 |
| A C Bartholomew | 100 | 8 | 92 |
| R Ritson | 112 | 20 | 92 |
| H Ferguson | 132 | 24 | 108 |
The monthly ladies competition for the W Berkeley Monck Challenge Cup played on Thursday 5 February 1903.
| Mrs Reynolds | 109 | 25 | 84 |
| Miss B Wallis | 111 | 25 | 86 |
| Miss A Weedon | 113 | 18 | 95 |
| Miss H M Philbrick | 149 | 25 | 124 |
The fourth annual meeting was held in the pavilion on Wednesday 18 March 1903, the president, W Berkeley Monck, in the chair. The secretary’s report showed that membership had increased, and the course was now much busier. A further three year extension had been added to the lease. The question of extending the course to 18 holes was raised, the matter was referred to the committee for consideration and report. The following officers were elected; president, W Berkeley Monck; secretary, P W Howse; treasurer, S G Collier; committee – A C Bartholomew, H A Copeland, W M Dimbleby, E M Fletcher, S Hayward, Capt F L Laurence, R.N; H J Lawrence; R Ritson; G E Seon and S S Wollaston. A vote of thanks was made to the retiring secretary, Mr G E Seon, after four years service.
On Saturday 26 March 1903 Mr A Bowman Smith of the Reading Club won a competition played on the private course of Mr Arthur W Sutton, Buckleberry Place, Woolhampton. Mr A Bowman-Smith playing off a 16 handicap won with a bogey score of 4down. Mr Sutton had given a Challenge Cup to be competed for annually for players of the Reading and Crookham Golf Clubs.
Entry from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1899; Number of members 202; Station at Reading 2 miles, electric tram to within 3 minutes walk of the course; Hon. secretary - S G Collier, Hillsborough, Reading; Entrance fee nil and subs £3/3s; Nine-holes; Professional, Albert Bryant; Terms for visitors, 1s/6d a day. A good course; the grass is well kept down during the spring and summer.
A pre-WW1 picture of the Reading Golf Club clubhouse.
Result of a ladies' match played on the Grovelands course against Barossa Golf Club (now defunct) in February 1910
Reading Observer Saturday 26 February 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below competition results from November 1910.
Reading Observer Saturday 5 November 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below is the location of the Norcot Farm golf course prior to WW1.
Ordnance Survey Map Revised 1910 © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1914}.
In June 1914 the semi-final of the President’s Cup was played. F Neale beat S Oades by 2up; N W Mitchelmore beat A J W Pym on the twentieth. In the final F Neale beat N Mitchelmore by 4&3.
The Annual meeting was held in May 1915.
From the Reading Mercury 1 May 1915. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Article from the Reading Mercury Saturday 21 April 1917. “Reading Golf Club To Be Closed – The owner of the land having decided not to renew the lease of the ground in Grovelands Road, a general meeting of the members was held at the clubhouse on Saturday last at 6.30, a considerable number being present. It was decided to realise the assets of the club at once, and after gratuities to the staff and payment of liabilities to devote the balance to some charitable object to be decided by the committee. It is to be regretted that this old-established club should have to be closed at such short notice, as a golf club in such close proximity to the town was undoubtedly an attraction to the inhabitants.”
The course was situated were the Ranikhet Primary School is today. Grid reference SU68410,73560, co-ordinates 468410,173560