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Maidstone Golf Club, Bearsted/Oakwood Park, Kent. (1897 - 1960s)

The Maidstone Golf Club founded in 1897 was originally sited where the current Bearsted Golf Club is located today. Maidstone played their golf on the 2,760 yard, bogey 39, nine-hole course at Bearsted until 1913 when the club split-up. The Maidstone Golf Club moved to Oakwood Park with Bearsted continuing at their current site.

The report below shows evidence of an earlier golf course at Linton Park in 1891.

"Golf" Friday 13 November 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The winner of the Ladies' monthly medal played on 24 November 1898 was Mrs C Poyce, 126-25-101.

The following report is from the Kent & Sussex Courier Friday 3 February 1899; “Maidstone Golf Club – The annual meeting in connection with the Maidstone Golf Club was held at the Club House on the links at Bearsted, on Saturday last, there being a good attendance of members. The balance sheet to the end of last year was read, by which it appeared that in spite of the large amount of work carried out on the links in the way of drainage, for bunkers, and other operations, besides the ordinary expense of a golf club, a deficiency of only £70 was shown. This was considered very satisfactory. With the New Year further improvements are in contemplation, which the increasing number of members, already about 170, warrants. A very nice pavilion has been erected and furnished, with separate rooms for ladies and gentlemen, at a cost of about £500. The money is being raised by debentures, the greater part of which have been taken up. A formal opening of the building will take place in early March when a match will be played against Folkestone.”  

Maidstone Golf Club button.

Result of a match played in March 1899.

"Golf" Friday 24 March 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The competition for the Maidstone Golf Club monthly prize was played on Saturday 25 March 1899; W E Collier, 110-27-83; A B Fry, 101-10-91; S A Smith, 101-10-91; T H Oyler, 102-8-94.

Result of the May 1899 monthly medal; A H B Hallowes, 100-20-80; C Norwood, 92-12-80; J Harrison, 91-8-83.

Result of the September 1899 monthly medal; Rev H L Boldero, 89-6-83; T H Oyler, 96-12-84; S A Smith, 95-10-85.

Result of the February 1900 monthly medal; T H Chittenden, 95-10-85; E B Chittenden, 107-18-89; Rev H L Boldero, 94-4-90; A H B Hallowes, 110-16-94; F G Stenning, 102-6-96; C Norwood, 113-10-103.

In 1900 the secretary was H Bansted, Bearsted, Maidstone.

Below is the result of a ladies' match played at Maidstone against Culverden (now defunct) on 29 June 1900.

The fourth annual general meeting was held in January 1902, Rev C G Duffield in the chair. The treasurer, Mr W Holyoake, submitted the balance sheet which showed a balance in hand of 19s/7d, this was considered satisfactory. Mr F C Stenning, one of the hon. secretaries, stated that membership had now reached 150, including ladies, and that many improvements had been made to the course. Thanks were passed to the other hon. secretary, H Bensted, and to the auditor, J Tootell. Sir G F Hampson, Bart., was re-elected captain.  

In 1906 it was listed as being founded in 1897. The secretary was F G Stenning, 50 Earl Street, Maidstone. The captain was Sir G Hampson Bart. Professional was J Tickle who also held the course record of 73. Amateur course record F G Stenning 75. Entry fee was £2/2/0 and subs £2/2/0. A 9 hole course at this time. Visitors’ fees were 2/- a day, 7/6 a week and £1 a month.

Maidstone Golf Club clubhouse at Bearsted in the 1900s.

From 1911 to the end of the 1940s the secretary was Edwin Ruck,1 Buckland Hill, Maidstone and the professional was M Lurcock. Originally a 9 hole course it was extended to 18 sometime after WW1 and then reduced to 9 holes in the 1950s. The railway stations were at Maidstone East and West 1 mile away. Local hotel was The Star.

At the annual meeting in February 1913 a new site nearer the town was discussed, at a park owned by one of the members, Oakwood Park. James Braid visited the 90 acre site and said it had "a very suitable character for golf", had designed the course. It was an eighteen-hole course of 5,900 yards. It was to be called Maidstone Golf Club.

In 1914 the entry fee was £3/3/0. Subs for gents were £2/2/0 and ladies £1/11/6. Visitors’ fees were, 2/- a day, 3/- at weekend, 7/6 a week and £1 a month. Ladies 1/- a day and 5/- a week. Sunday play was allowed without caddies.

On Thursday 2 July 1914 Harry Vardon (South Herts) the Open Champion, J H Taylor (Mid Surrey), James Braid (Walton Heath) and George Duncan (Hanger Hill) played over the new 18-hole course at Oakwood Park, morning singles scores below:

J H Taylor; out – 3,5,4,4,5,4,4,4,4 = 37; home – 4,4,4,5,3,4,4,4,5 = 37, total 74.

H Vardon; out – 5,5,5,5,3,5,3,3,4 = 38; home – 5,5,5,4,4,4,4,4,4 = 39, total 77.

G Duncan; out – 4,6,4,4,4,8,4,3,4 = 41; home – 5,4,5,4,4,4,4,4,4 = 38, total 79.

J Braid; out – 5,5,4,5,3,4,4,4,5 = 39; home – 6,5,5,5,3,4,5,4,4 = 41, total 80.

In a four ball in the afternoon Braid and Duncan beat Vardon and Taylor by 4&3. The winners had a best-ball score of 65. 

During WW1 the course was reduced to nine-holes, it regained its full complement following the war.

Below is the result of a match played against Hythe Golf Club (now defunct) in October 1921.

From the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald 15 October 1921. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the October 1922 medals; Senior - J G Clarke, 90-9-81; Junior - S G Postgate, 100-24-76. 

In 1923 the greenkeeper was H E Kirby. A membership of 300. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 3/- a day, 4/- a day at weekend, 15/- a week and 30/- a month.

Result of a match played in November 1925.

Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser Saturday 21 November 1925. Image © KM Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Ordnance Survey Map from the 1930s showing the course and clubhouse.

O.S. Map Revised 1931 to 1933; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1936}.

Maidstone visit Tonbridge Golf Club in May 1934.

Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser Friday 25 May 1934. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Below is the result of a match played at Tunbridge Wells Golf Club on 10 May 1936.

In March 1937, after sixteen years as assistant professional at Nevill Golf Club, Mr Norman Huckle was appointed professional at Maidstone. 

In 1940 and 1947 the address was Maidstone Golf Club, Bower Moat Road, Maidstone. Telephone number 419111. The 18-hole course had a SSS and Par of 71. The club had a membership of 220. Visitors’ fees on introduction had been reduced to 2/6 a day and 10/- a week. Sunday play was allowed.

From the Whitstable Times & Herne Bay Herald Saturday 14 August 1948. Image © Local World Limited/Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In the early 1950s the secretary was S H V Bing, 33 Palmar Road, Maidstone and the professional F Taylor. The 18-hole course now had a SSS and Par of 69 and a membership of 200. Course records were, amateur W F Reitzler 65, professional F Taylor 64. Visitors’ fees on introduction were now 3/6 a round and 5/- a day.

There were changes to the course in the mid 1950s when it was reduced to 9-holes measuring a total of 6,100yds and with a SSS of 70. The professional and green-keeper was T Wilcox.

Article from the 1950s (note; nine-hole course.) From the Christoph Meister Archive.

By 1960 the course measured 5,981yds. Course record holders were, amateur E F Harvey and T Dilks Page 64, professional F Taylor 64. Visitors’ fees were now 5/- a round and 7/6 a day, weekend and Bank Holiday 7/6 a round and 15/- a day.

The club's final appearance was in the mid 1960s when the secretary was R Hodgkinson and the green-keeper T Wilcox. Membership was 200.

Location of the Oakwood Park course.Grid reference TQ74460,55650, co-ordinates 574460,155650.

Memories of Oakwood Park from David Wallis:-

“I recall as a lad we lived in a house which backed on to a golf course, now gone. It was in 38 now renumbered 20 Bower Mount Road, Maidstone, Kent. This was in the 1920s and 30s and the course was in Oakwood Park, entrance off  Bower Mount Road near to us. My father was a member and I used to walk round with him sometimes (but didn’t  play). The main feature of the course which sticks in my mind is that in the middle of the back nine somewhere about 13th – 15th the approach on the first of these holes was over a deep grass lined gully called “the quarry” it probably had been one, the second of those three holes was a par 3 back across the quarry and the third a long hole driving across the quarry again. The council acquired the Oakwood Park and built schools and other council buildings on it and the club ceased to exist”

Thanks to David Hole for the following:-

“The course was really nice and green and the holes over the big chasm were the 16th, 17th and 18th. I had always heard that the chasm was formed by two bombs. I always had a 10 iron in my bag in case I landed in the chasm. There was a beautiful clubhouse and it was a great course”

Remnants of the former Oakwood Park course could still be seen in 2017.