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Royal Ascot Golf Club, Berkshire. (1887 - 2005)

The club first appeared in 1887, founder member of the club was F J Patton, a local barrister. It was given Royal status by Queen Victoria in the same year.

Entry from the Golfing Annual 1888/89.

There were originally two clubs and two nine-hole courses, the Royal Ascot Golf Club and the Ascot Ladies Golf Club. The clubs amalgamated in 1895 and J H Taylor designed a new 18-hole course. In the early 1900s there were several new clubs opening in the area and a number of members decided to leave the testing Ascot course and join one of the “attractive” new neighbours. Royal Ascot struggled on during the 1920s/30s and the land was eventually requisitioned for the war effort. The club and course re-appeared following WW2 and celebrated its centenary in 1987.

Royal Ascot Golf Club button.

Report on the course in September 1890.

From "Golf" Friday 26 September 1890.

Result of the 1890 December medal; J Oswald, 88-8-80; C C Clarke, 104-22-82; E C Austen Leigh, 102-13-89.

Competition result from April 1891.

"Golf" Friday 24 April 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of a match against Crookham Golf Club in March 1894.

“Golf" Friday 23 March 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Below is the result of a match played at Oxford against the Oxford University team on Saturday 26 October 1894. The course was heavy but Mr Lushington managed to go round in 78.

It was reported in January 1898 that Mr H Blackett went round the “new full-size” Royal Ascot course in 74 strokes. Mr F G Tait, the 1896 Amateur Champion scored 77.  

It was reported in the Reading Mercury that the FIRST annual dinner of the Royal Ascot Golf Club was held on Tuesday evening 4 April 1899. Amongst those present; Rev B Kerr Pearce; Capt Coombes; the Hon. F Capel; Mr Sawyer, treasurer; Henley Clarke, secretary; J K Hichens; R Mitchell; P Crutchley; Dr Lacey; Messrs. Oliver, H Blackett, L Liddell, Coombes, C C Clarke, Nares, Sillen, H H Longman and C W Waight. It was stated that “An excellent dinner was provided”.

In the early 1900s  there were several new clubs opening in the area and a number of  members decided to leave the testing Ascot course and  join  one of the "attractive" new neighbours.

On Saturday 10th March 1900 the Oxford University team visited Royal Ascot, the visitors recording a convincing victory, result below. 

The autumn meeting was held on Saturday 14 November 1903. There were two competitions, the best aggregate score, for a trophy presented by Sidney H Farrer, and the best 18 hole round. The scores for the first competition as follow; J B Hichens, 159; C M Wells, 162; P J de Paravacini, 164; J F E Bowring, 168; F J Patton, 170; C F Yeomans, 171 and P V Broke, 177. Result of the eighteen hole competition; C M Wells, 78; J B Hichens, 79; P J de Paravacini, 82; F J Patton, 84; J F E Bowring, 84; W O Sargeant, 84; S S Wollaston, 84; W Menzies, 84; C F Yeomans, 85 and Dblundell, 87. The club professional, J F Longhurst, was given permission by the committee to work at the Homburg Club for a few weeks during the year. Whilst he was in Germay he designed courses at Elm and Nauheim in Prussia and at Cologne and Horrem.

From the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News April 9 1904. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Above image from top left to right; H Sillem driving from the eighteenth tee; Mr Trotter 17th tee; Mr Taylor takes a cleek shot on the 3rd; E Lucas the hon. secretary; Harold Blackett fourteenth green; J F E Browning on 13th green; F J Patton 13th green. 

Ascot Heath and Golf Course in the 1900s.

Below are results from the 1909 Autumn Meeting. Not the famous name in the mixed foursomes towards the bottom of the article.

From the Windsor & Eton Express Saturday 30 October 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In 1909/10 the secretary was H S Ferguson, Englemere Wood Lodge, Ascot. The professional was J G Longhurst. Entrance fee £3/3s and subs £3/3s. Membership of 140. Amateur course record; R H Mitchell and H Blackett, 74. Bogey score, 78. Sunday play not allowed.

In January 1910 the Rev. Herbert Pelham of Birmingham, who was playing with Mr J S Wright, set a new course record of 71; Out - 4,3,4,4,3,5,5,4,4 = 36; In - 4,5,4,4,4,4,2,3.5 = 35 - total 71. The professional record of 72 was held by J G Longhurst, the bogey for the course was 78. 

The September 1911 monthly medal was won by R N Needham, 90-8-82.

The autumn meeting was held on Saturday 4th October 1913. Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holdenstein was in great form and won the scratch prize with a score of 78. The medal round was won by S W Luard, 84-11-73 and the bogey competition was won by Commander H Bowring, 5up.

The Boys’ Championship was played on the Royal Ascot course in September 1921. In the final, played on Saturday the tenth, A D D Mathieson of Edinburgh Academy beat Guy H Lintott of Felstead by 4 and 3. Among those present were the Duke of Connaught, who presented the trophy to the winner, the Crown Princess of Sweden and Princess Helena.  

The golf club went into decline during the 1920s and there was no mention in the Golfer's Handbook between the wars.

Above images from the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News June 13th 1931. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

To confirm the decline of the club the following report appeared in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Saturday 24 August 1935 - "The Boy's Amateur Championship was founded by the private enterprise of the Royal Ascot Golf Club, and since the club went out of existence the organisation and arrangement have been carried through by a committee of nine, seven from the London area and two from Scotland". 

There is no mention of  the Royal Ascot Golf Club in the Golfer's Handbook during the early 1950s. In the mid 1950s the Ascot Heath Golf Club is listed as follows; Winkfield Road, Ascot; membership 130; hon. secretary - J B Rodger, Popeswood Cottage, Binfield; professional, W Ward; green-keeper, P Huxford; course record - W Ward, 64; 9-holes, 5,526 yards, SSS 67; visitors, 3 shillings a round, 5s a day.

By the early 1970s the Ascot Heath course had been extended to 18-holes. The following is from the 1972 Golfer's Handbook; Ascot Heath Golf Club; membership of 320; secretary, B Fourness; professional, A Haylett; 18-holes, 5,523 yards, SSS 66. 

By the early 1980s Ascot Heath disappears and Royal Ascot Golf Club is listed. From the 1982 Golfer's Handbook; Membership of 450; secretary D T Healy; professional, M Wallace.

Scorecard from 1980 courtesy of Colin Barker.

From the 1988 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 620; secretary, J Young; professional, C Dell; 18-holes, 5.653 yards, SSS 67, amateur course record - S Smith, 66; visitors, £8.

From the 1991 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 600; secretary, J Young; professional, G Malia; 18-holes, 5,700 yards, SSS 68; amateur course record - K Rixon, 66.

In the late 1990s the professional was Alistair White. 18-holes 5,716 yards, SSS 68.

Due to the proposed redevelopment of the Ascot  racecourse in 2000 most of the land occupied by the course would be lost.

In 2004 the course was still located inside Ascot racecourse. The professional was Alistair White. The course was nine-holes; 5,008 yards, SSS 64.

The club moved to the new site on the opposite side of Winkfield Road, this course opened in August 2005. It was formally opened by HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in May 2006.

The former course can be seen on the Britain From Above link below.

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw026283?search=ascot&ref=29

The location of the former course is pinpointed on the Google Map below.