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Rochester Golf Club (Oakleigh Course), Higham. (1891 - 1924) 

The club was founded in 1891.

Originally a 16-hole course at Oakleigh Farm, Higham. The course was extended to 18-holes in late 1892, it was reduced to nine-holes by its closure in the early 1920s.

The club was occasionally referred to as the Oakleigh Golf Club.

The Rochester Club at Higham was listed in the 1924 Golfer's Handbook but it's probable that the course was closed by this time.

There were stations at Higham 1 mile and Rochester 4 miles away. Local hotels were the Royal Victoria and the Bull.

There was doubt about the lease renewal in 1919 and the club needed to find a new home. This resulted in the formation of the Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club in 1920, this course is situated on the Deer Park at Cobham Hall.

Rochester Golf Club convex two part gilt button made by 'Firmin & Sons Ltd London Patent 2346'. (Patent granted c1894) features the Arms of the City. Courtesy Dixon Pickup.

The button above is a flat engraved design in gilt by Gaunt & Sons Ltd, a pretty poor thing when compared with the first. Courtesy Dixon Pickup.

The professionals were; C Crawford 1891/2, G Pearson 1892 -96, R F Walker 1896 – 1912, E N Kettley 1913 and A R Andrews 1914.

Report on the club and course in May 1891.

"Golf" Friday 22 May 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of a match against Reigate  played in October 1891.

"Golf" Friday Friday 9 October 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Below an interesting report on the course from June 1892.

From the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 11 June 1892. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

From the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 15 October 1892. Images © Illustrated London News Group.

Result of the monthly medal played on Saturday 17 June 1893; A Sealy, 93-10-83; J Holroyde, 110-25-85; C Lake, 92-6-86; G Winch, 116-25-91.

On Saturday 3 June 1893 Rochester played Redhill on the Oakleigh course at Higham.

Result of a club match played at Sidcup on Saturday 8 July 1893.

Result of the monthly medal held on Saturday 15 July 1893; T M Winch, 95-18-77; A H Atkin, 97-18-79; T Winch, 88-7-81; A C Sealy, 91-9-82.

September 1893 medal won by A C Sealy, 90-9-81.

November 1893 monthly medal result; Rev Boyd, 94-9-85 and A H Atkin, 99-14-85, tied; Major Knocker, 108-18-90; J B Barstow, 101-9-92; G K Anderson, 107-14-93; Captain Pease, 110-16-94; C Lake, 101-5-96; T Winch, 103-7-96; E K Story, 115-18-97; Major Blackburn, 113-14-99.

In November 1893 the Rochester Club played a team from the Royal Engineers at Oakleigh (see below), they also entertained Sidcup (see Sidcup for result)

There were thirty competitors for the monthly medal played on Saturday 17 March 1894, result; G K Anderson, 100-14-86; W Nicholson, 105-18-87; R P Spurway, 98-9-89; A Schacht, 90+1-91; Major Knocker; 110-18-92; A E Watherston, 109-14-95; G Winch, 124-25-99; Captain Cochrane, 116-16-100.

Result of the March 1894 ladies' medal.

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

Competitions played in April 1894.

“Golf" Friday 27 April 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the June medal 1894; Major Evans, 109-27-82; W W Nicholson, 101-18-83; K M Macdonald 98-12-86; A H Atkin, 100-13-87

Result of the November 1894 medal held in very wet conditions; E Woodgate, 113-27-86; A H Dumarsq, 95-7-88; G K Anderson, 103-10-93; Rev H B Boyd, 102-5-97; A H Atkin, 107-10-97; B H Latter, 108-10-98.

C Lake won the July 1895 medal with a net score of 81.

In October 1897 C Lake won the bogey competition for Lord Dornley’s Cup.

The January 1898 medal was won by Capt T Bigge RE, 94-15-79.

At the autumn meeting in September 1899 the mixed foursome competition was won by C Lake and Mrs Hill who beat W V Eaves and Mrs Bodden by 3 and 1. In the Atkin Cup Tournament H G Gandy (5) beat W V Eaves (10) by 6 and 4, Mr Gandy also won the monthly medal, 89-4-85.

In June 1900 the Earl of Darnley’s Challenge Cup was won by E Winch, 3up.

In 1901Frances Hatch was the stewardess, living at Golf House, Higham.

In 1902 the secretary was Colonel G Baker, Manor Farm, Frindsbury, Rochester and the professional Robert F Walker. An 18 hole course at this time the course records were, amateur G E Leman with a score of 76 and professional G Pearson 74.

Also in 1902 was Rochester Ladies Golf Club. The secretary was Mrs Buden, The Precincts, Rochester. A 9 hole course at this time, visitors’ fees were 2/6 a week. Local hotels were the Royal Victoria and the Bull.

In 1905/6 the secretary was Colonel G Barker, Manor Farm, Frindsbury, the captain was C Lake and the professional R F Walker. There was a membership of 70 permanent and 80 temporary members. Entry fee was £3/3/0 and subs £2/2/0Course records; amateur C Lake (June 1904) 76, professional James Braid (October 1902) 71. The 18 hole course with holes ranging from 145 to 428 yards was laid out on gently undulating meadow land of sandy loam soil with hazards of streams, banks, ditches, ponds reeds and wire fences!.There was a good clubhouse and the course had fine views of the Thames and the Essex coast. Stations now at Higham 1 ¼ miles and Cliffe 1 mile. Visitors had to be a member of a recognised club and were also required to be introduced by a member paid 5/- a week.

The Rochester Ladies Golf Club secretary was now Miss Prescott, Park Place, Gravesend and the professional R Walker. It was now listed as an 18 hole course which was 1 mile from Higham and Cliffe railway stations. The amateur course record was held by Miss Pochin 86. Visitors’ fees on introduction were now 1/- a day and 2/6 a week.

In 1907 there was a new amateur record held jointly by W A Henderson and A E Bewes of 74.

Ordnance Survey Map from the 1900s showing the golf course and pavilion.

O.S. Map Revised 1907; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1910}.

In 1911 the temporary secretary was W J Upton, 10 King Edward Road, Rochester. Amateur record, W A Henderson 71. Richard & Frances Hatch, living at Higham Golf Club were the club caretakers.

In 1913 the secretary was S Pritchett, The Friars, Rochester. There were 65 permanent and 75 temporary members.

In 1914 the secretary was S Pritchett, The Friars, Rochester and the professional A R Andrews.

Membership was 65 permanent and 75 temporary. There was no entry fee and the subs were £3/3/0.

Visitors fees were now 2/- a day and 5/- a week. Sunday play was allowed with caddies who had to be over 18 years of age.

The Rochester Ladies Golf Club secretary was now Miss Cobb, Mockbeggar, Rochester. A membership of 40 there was no entry fee and subs were £1/1/0.

In the last year for the Oakleigh course in 1924 the secretary was Dr C Salisbury, Theobald House, Rochester. Telephone Chatham 209.  Now listed as a 9 hole course the records were, amateur H Marriott with a score of 71 and professionals James Braid and R F Walker 71. Visitors fees as before.

Location of the Oakleigh course 1909/10.

The Rochester and Cobham Golf Club began in 1920. When the Oakleigh course eventually closed they transported the clubhouse (pavilion) to the new club.