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Medway Golf Club, Borstal, Rochester. (1908 - WW1)
The club was founded in 1908.
Sometimes referred to as Borstal Golf Club.
A nine-hole course with proposed extension to eighteen-holes, laid out by James Braid.
Nine hole course yardages; Hole One - 260 yards, bogey 4; Two - 270, 4; Three - 495, 5; Four - 140, 3; Five - 450, 5; Six - 267, 4; Seven - 352, 5; Eight - 274, 4; Nine - 418, 5; Total - 2926, 39.
On Saturday 25 September 1909 J H Taylor (Mid Surrey), the Open Champion, played James Braid (Walton Heath), on the "new" course of the Medway Club. Two eighteen-hole matches were played to celebrate the opening of the course, nine-holes only were available for play. As can be seen below Taylor struggled in the morning match scoring 87. sixteen shots more than his opponent.
Braid - 4,4,5,3,5,4,5,3,5 = 38; 3,4,4,3,5,3,4,3,4 = 33 - Total 71.
Taylor - 4,4,7,3,4,5,6,5,6 = 44; 4,4,5,3,6,5,5,5,6 = 43 - Total 87.
In the afternoon Taylor played much better, but was unfortunate with his putting on a couple of occasions. Braid again played better beating the champion by 4 and 3.
Braid - 3,4,5,3,4,3,4,4,4 = 34; 4,3,5,4,4,3,4,4,5 = 36 - Total 70.
Taylor - 4,4,5,3,4,4,5,3,4 = 36; 4,4,6,3,4,4,4,3,5 = 37 - Total 73.
Scoring Card for the match.
In Golfing in May 1910 it stated that the course "has been extended to eighteen holes." The course was laid out on marshland with good turf. Grazing animals roamed the course requiring the greens to be fenced off.
South Eastern Gazette Saturday 14 May 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The above image shows the nine-hole course layout with the proposed additional nine-holes to the west.
In 1913/4 the secretary was Ernest A Gill. Telephone Chatham 157. The professional was A R Andrews 1913/4 and R H Pratt 1915. *A 9-hole course* on gravel with a membership of 80. There was no entry fee. Subs were £3/3/0. Visitors’ fees were 2/- a day, 2/6 a day at weekends. Sunday play was allowed. The station was at Rochester, then by tram for 1 ½ miles.
*It seems that the course had reverted to nine-holes.*
Result of a match played at Faversham in June 1914.
Faversham Times and Mercury and North-East Kent Journal Saturday 27 June 1914. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Report on the annual meeting in April 1919.
Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph Saturday 12 April 1919. Image © Iliffe News & Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Result of a match played at Herne Bay in May 1920.
Herne Bay Press Saturday 8 May 1920. Image © Iliffe News & Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Borstal Golf Club disappeared in the 1920s.
The Google Map below pinpoints the area occupied by the former course.