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Hawkhurst Golf Club, Kent. (1913 - 2020)
The first nine-hole club and course on Rye Road appeared in 1913 and continued until the 1950s.
The later club was founded in 1968 with a course on High Street. This club closed in 2020. It was proposed that the course would be used for housing development. Many locals were unhappy with the proposed plans.
In 1913 the secretary was Frank Springett, “Ashfield”, Hawkhurst and the professional was George Mann (1913 to 1917). A 9-hole course with a membership of 80. Entry fee was £1/1/0 and subs £2/2/0. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 2/- a day. Sunday play without caddies was allowed after 1pm.
It was reported on the 4th of June 1914 that a match had been arranged with Burwash Golf Club, it was to be played during this month.
The course reopens in 1924.
Hastings and St Leonards Observer Saturday 17 May 1924. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Advert for the Tudor Hall Hotel (opposite the golf course).
Hastings and St Leonards Observer Saturday 18 September 1926. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s the secretary was Lt Com W Morley RN, Fothersby, Hawkhurst, telephone 72 the professional was J B Saunders and the greenkeeper A Sinden. Membership at this time was 70. The professional course record set by J B Saunders 66. Visitors’ fees were 2/6 a day (2/- late 1920s), 6/- (5/- late 1920s) for 3 consecutive days, 8/- (7/6 late 1920s) a week and 20/- a month. Sunday play was allowed. Local hotels were the Tudor Hall, Queens, Collingwood and the Royal Oak.
Result of a ladies' match played at Hawhurst against Rother Golf Club, Rye, (now defunct) in May 1929.
| Hawkhurst Ladies' Golf Club | Rother Vale Ladies' Golf Club | ||
| Mrs Walford (halved) | 0 | Mrs Bennett (halved) | 0 |
| Mrs Ingram | 0 | Miss D McCullagh | 1 |
| Miss Grove (halved) | 0 | Miss E Allen (halved) | 0 |
| Mrs Nesfeld | 1 | Mrs Offen | 0 |
| Mrs Morley | 0 | Miss N Delves | 1 |
| Mrs Horsfield | 0 | Miss McCullagh | 1 |
| 1 | 3 |
Ordnance Survey Map from the 1930s Showing the golf course.
O.S. Map Revised 1932; © Crown Copyright {year of publication ca. 1934}.
Scorecard dated September 1933. Images courtesy of Norman Leary.
Below competition results, new clubhouse and meeting from April 1934.
From the Kent and Sussex Courier Friday 27 April 1934. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1935 the secretary was Com J Horsfield RN, Bayford House, Sandhurst, telephone 22. The professional and green-keeper was J B Saunders. Membership had now reached 135.
Result of a match played at Hawkhurst against Tenterden Golf Club in April 1937.
| Hawkhurst Golf Club | Tenterden Golf Club | ||
| Comdr. W Morley | 0 | F T Paine | 1 |
| Col. Davenport Jones | 1 | J J Fuggle | 0 |
| P R Guest | 1 | P Johnstone | 0 |
| Major Staples | 0 | Col. Findlater | 1 |
| Capt. E J Bedwell | 0 | Captain Porter | 1 |
| Major Clarke | 1 | Col. Jackson | 0 |
| Miss P Braybrooke | 1 | Miss Baker | 0 |
| Miss K Murton-Neale | 1 | Miss A Smith | 0 |
| Mrs Ingram | 0 | Miss B Smith | 1 |
| Miss M Dickson | 0 | Mrs Johnstone | 1 |
| Mrs Morley | 1 | Miss Findlater | 0 |
| Mrs Murton-Neale | 0 | Mrs Luke | 1 |
| 6 | 6 |
Below is the result of a club match played against Lamberhurst at Hawkhurst on 11 May 1939.
| Hawkhurst Golf Club | Lamberhurst Golf Club | ||
| R A Harrison | 1 | H G Wallis | 0 |
| Comdr W Morley | 1 | Col H A Hanley | 0 |
| P R Guest | 1 | A Padgham | 0 |
| D R Murton-Neale | 1 | Capt V T G Hore | 0 |
| Col Davenport Jones | 1 | Rev G R Fothergill | 0 |
| J E Clarke | 1 | Col C E Kitchin | 0 |
| Miss P Braybrooke | 1 | Miss M Jose | 0 |
| Miss K Murton-Neale | 1 | Mrs Wimshurst | 0 |
| Mrs Ingram | 1 | Mrs Bostock | 0 |
| Mrs Murton-Neale | 1 | Mrs Morland | 0 |
| Miss M Dickson | 0 | Mrs Bland | 1 |
| Mrs Braybrooke | 0 | Mrs Ralling | 1 |
| Miss P Braybrooke & Harrison | 1 | Miss Jose & Wallis | 0 |
| Miss Murton-Neale & Morley | 1 | Mrs Wimshurst & Hanley | 0 |
| Mrs Ingram & Murton-Neale | 1 | Mrs Bostock & Padgham | 0 |
| Mrs Bletsoe & Guest | 1 | Mrs Morland & Hore | 0 |
| Miss Dickson & Major E Clarke | 1 | Mrs Ralling & Kitchin | 0 |
| Miss H Braybrooke & Major Bartlett | 1 | Miss Savill & Fothergill | 0 |
| 16 | 2 |
In 1940 the secretary was Captain E J Bedwell, R N, Pipsden Lodge, Hawkhurst, telephone 58. The professional and green-keeper was still J B Saunders. 9-holes with a SSS and Par of 68 and a membership of 125. The professional course record was held by J B Saunders with a score stated to be 58. The railway station at Hawkhurst was 2 miles away.
From 1947 to its disappearance in the 1950s the secretary was still Captain E J Bedwell who had now been awarded an OBE. Membership had now dropped to 80.
The course is up for sale in May 1951.
From the Sussex Agricultural Express Friday 18 May 1951. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Location of the earlier Hawkhurst course.
The later golf club and squash club came into being in 1968. The golf course closed in 2020 for a proposed building development, to which there was much opposition.
Report on the opening of the new nine-hole course in July 1968.
Kentish Express Friday 19 July 1968. Image © KM Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From the 1972 Golfer’s Handbook; Hawhurst Golf and Country Club; Founded 1968; Membership, 188; Secretary, C S A Denman; Professional, M Wolstenholme; 9-holes, 4,919 yards, SSS 65; Visitors, 75p weekdays, (£1.25 weekends).
Golfer’s Handbook 1975; Membership 392; Secretary - Dr I A Williams, The Old Oast, Hawkhurst; 9-holes, 4,919 yards, SSS 65; Visitors, 75p (£1.25).
Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Membership 300; Secretary, P Gravett; 9-holes, 5,791 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £3 (£6).
Golfer’s Handbook 1985 to 1988; Membership 300; Secretary,A W Shipley; Professional T Collins; Course records; Amateur, B Betts, 70; Professional, R Cameron, 68; Visitors, £5 (£8).
Golfer’s Handbook 1991; Membership 450; Secretary, A W Shipley; Professional, T Collins; 9-holes, 5,769 yards, SSS 68; Visitors, £10 (£14).
Golfer’s Handbook 1994; Membership 450; Secretary, R C Fowles; Professional, T Collins; 9-holes, 5,769 yards, SSS 68; Course records; Amateur, B Betts, 70; Professional, R Cameron, 68; Visitors, £15 (£25)
Golfer’s Handbook 1998; Membership 450; Secretary A Shipley; Professional, T Collins; 9-holes, 5,769 yards, SSS 68; Course records; Amateur, R Gerrard, 66; Professional, R Cameron, 68; Visitors 18-holes, £10 (£12); 9-holes, £9.
Golfer’s Handbook 2002; Membership 450; General manager, S B Morrison; Professional, T Collins; 9-holes, 5,791 yards, SSS 68; Visitors, 18-holes, £18 (£20); 9-holes, £12.
Golfer’s Handbook 2004 – 2006; Membership 450; General manager, S B Morrison; Professional, J Walpole; 9-holes, 5791 yards, SSS 68; Visitors, 18-holes, £20 (£24); 9-holes, £12.
Golfer’s Handbook 2007/8; Membership 450; General manager, B Morrison; Professional, P Chandler; 9-holes, 5,791 yards, SSS 68; Visitors, 18-holes, £22 (£26); 9-holes, £13.50.
Golfer’s Handbook 2009; Membership 250; Secretary, John Roberts; Professional, P Chandler; 9-holes, 5,791 yards, SSS 68; Visitors, 18-holes, £22 (£26); 9-holes, £13.50.
The club continued to be listed in the Golfer’s Handbook until it ceased publication in 2015.
The Google Map below shows the location of the later course.