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Sidcup Golf Club, Kent. (1891 - 1970s)

The club was founded in 1891.

The club had two courses prior to the move to Lamorbey Park in 1910. The first was at Manor Farm, North Cray Road, from 1891 to 1895. The second was at Sidcup Place, Frognal, from 1895 to 1910.

The Club moved to an 18-hole course, designed by James Braid, at Lamorbey Park in 1910.

The Braid course at Sidcup was one of the oldest and finest 18-hole courses to have been lost in the South East. It was reduced to nine-holes due to redevelopment in the 1950s. The remaining holes disappeared in the 1970s.

The present Sidcup 9-hole course is mostly to the north of the original Braid course.

Club Professionals; R B Wilson, 1892-93; W Thomson, 1893 - 1902; T Twitchett, 1902 - 1908; W Burrows, 1908 -1910; H Wilson, 1910 - 1960s.

Report on the new club in December 1891.

Golf Friday 11 December 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the first and second class medal played in April 1893; First class, W Hewitt, 93-17-76; R A Patterson, 103-24-79; J Horsefield, 100-17-83; Dr J Crombie, 107-24-83; Second class, T H Platt, 114-40-74; E Meade, 113-35-78.

On Saturday 8 July 1893 Sidcup entertained Rochester.

Result of the monthly medal held on Saturday 29 July 1893; first class, R A Patterson, 86-16-70; M Hewitt, 86-13-73; second class, T H Platt, 102-22-80.

Result of the monthly medal held on Saturday 26 August 1893; first class, W J Harries, 92-14-78; second class, T Monckton, 118-30-88.

Professional match in October 1893

From "Golf" Friday 27 October 1893.

In November 1893 Sidcup played a club match against Rochester Golf Club at Higham (also now defunct).

On Saturday 10 March 1894 Sidcup played a team from the Royal Engineers on the Sidcup course.

Report on the opening of the new nine-hole course in June 1895.

"Golf" Friday 28 June 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the December 1895 bogey ; First class, L W Fry (10) 6dn; Second class, E Spreckley (20) 5dn.

Monthly medal played on 25 January 1896; F W Fry, 88-9-79. (could be T W Fry)

Monthly bogey February 1896 resulted in a tie between J Horsefield (14) and F Spreckley (14) both 3 down.

In April 1896 L P Kekewich woh the monthly bogey with a score of 4 down.

Result of the December 1898 medal; J Horsefield, 98-12-86; J Wilson, 104-14-90. The monthly bogey for December was won by J H Jones (18) 2down.

The monthly bogey for January 1899 was a tie between H J Jones and W W Nicholson at 6down. The play off was won by H J Jones (18) with a score of 2down.

Result of the February 1899 medal; C Spreckley, 91-7-84; F H Monckton, 92-8-84.

Result of the March 1899 medal; J H Donaldson, 91-6-85; W W Nicholson, 98-10-88; G P Baker, 100-12-88.

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted, 1891; Membership, 150; Hon. secretary - C C Tunks, Lynton, The Drive, Sidcup; Captain, T P Griffin; Professional, T Twitchett; 9-holes; Amateur course record; H J Donaldson, 73; Entrance fee £5/5s; Ladies; £1/1s; Subs, £3/3s; Ladies, £1/1s; Visitors on introduction, 2s/6d a day, 10s a week, £1 a month.

On his visit to Lamborey Park in April 1906 James Braid put forward his plans for the 18-hole Lamorbey Park course.

Postcard of the former Sidcup course, it looks like the cattle could be a hazard, apologies for the poor quality. Authors Collection.

A much clearer postcard of the Sidcup course. The card was posted in the early 1900s. Authors Collection.

In June 1906 J H Taylor (Mid-Surrey) and James Braid (Walton Heath) played a 36-hole match at Sidcup. Taylor won the match by 3 and 2.

Caddies competition in August 1909.

Eltham & District Times Friday 27 August 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The second Sidcup Course at Sidcup Place, Frognal. Reproduced from the (1897) Ordnance Survey Map.

The above image shows the early Sidcup Golf Club “Pavilion” and a horse drawn mower.

The Sidcup extended clubhouse at the time of WW1.

The Sidcup Golf Club clubhouse and course in the 1930s.

Gilt Jacket button. Button images courtesy of Dixon Pickup.

A Silver award hallmark London 1904.

Sidcup Ladies’ Golf Club button. Birmingham hallmark 1910.

The James Braid 18-hole layout at Lamorbey Park which was completed in autumn 1910.

Results of the September 1910 monthly medal; First Division; H J Donaldson, 80-2-78; A C Horn, 80 scratch; G T Buckham, 89-9-80; J W Dickinson, 87-4-83; Second Division; W W Whittington, 92-18-74; J R King, 91-14-77; N L Buckham, 96-18-78; F H Oarr, 96-16-80.

London Evening Standard Thursday 27 October 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition results from September 1911; monthly medal; First Division - C L Corthorn, 84 net; Second Division - H W Astell, 82 net; Directors' Cup, T H Pillman, 159 net.

Result of the October 1911 monthly medal; Senior - T H Pillman, 84-7-77; Junior - D G Waring, 92-14-78.

In May 1913 it was announced that an exhibition match was played at the official opening of the “new course.”

A four-ball match was played in the morning, Ted Ray and Jack Randall against James Braid and H Wilson. At the first hole Wilson had an unfortunate experience with his drive when his club head snapped at the socket and the head ended up flying some distance away. He recovered well and hit a splendid second and finished with a five. Braid and Wilson won the match by 2 and 1.

Braid and Wilson; Out - 5,5,3,5,4,3,4,4,4 = 37; In – 2,4,5,4,4,4,2,4 = 29; total for seventeen holes, 66.

Ray and Randall; Out – 5,5,2,6,5,4,3,4,4 = 38; In – 3,4,4,4,4,4,3,4 = 30; total for seventeen holes, 68.  

Report on the annual meeting in October 1913.

Eltham & District Times Friday 31 October 1913. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Eltham & District Times Friday 8 May 1914. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The driveway to the Sidcup clubhouse and course in the early 1920s.

Result of the August 1923 monthly bogey; C H Pillman (+1) 3up.

The pavilion of the Sidcup Golf Club was completely destroyed by fire on Saturday 6 October 1923. At 11.30 pm the clubhouse was closed and everything seemed in order. Ten minutes later fire broke out, and though the fire brigade turned out promptly, they were unable to save the building. The professional’s stock and the contents of the secretary’s office were saved but hundreds of golf clubs belonging to the members were destroyed. Some members of Sundridge Golf Club, who were to have played a match against Sidcup on Sunday, deposited their clubs in the clubhouse on Saturday, and these were also destroyed.

Kent Ladies’ Championship November 1924 was played at Sidcup. Only once in four years since the event was instituted had Mrs Cautley, Thanet, failed to appear in the final, and on Thursday the 6th she won her semi-final against Mrs Kenneth Morris, Chislehurst, the holder, by 7 and 5 to book her place in the final. The other finalist was Miss I Doxford, Bromley and Bickley, who beat Mrs Major, Chislehurst by 4 and 3 in the other semi-final.

From the Sketch 12 November 1924. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

A sad event associated with the club. John Wilson, a golf caddie, aged 63, known as “Old Jock” at the Sidcup Golf Club, was buried on Friday 18 January 1929 with members of the club and twenty caddies attending as mourners. Practically nothing was known of “Old Jock” and he left behind nothing by which any relatives could be traced. Only two farthings were found in his purse. He had no house and slept in the woods and fields, but on Saturday night he went to the clubhouse stoke hole to get warm by the furnace and fell asleep. The next morning he was found dead. At the inquest it was stated that death was due to coke gas poisoning.

To save him from a pauper’s grave the members of the club paid all funeral expenses, they also sent a wreath and flowers, four caddies carried him to the graveside.

A wreath from the caddies bore the inscription “With deepest respect to our old friend Jock.”  

In 1932/3 the secretary was W H D Chamberlain, The Meadow, 4 Beaverwood Crecsent, Chislehurst. The professional was H Wilson. The joint amateur course record of 71 was held by F le Stone and C H Pillman. Visitors’ fees were; 5/- a day, 10/- at weekend.   

Britain From Above image from 1932 showing new housing around Marlborough Park and the Golf Course at Lamorbey Park.

Britain From Above image from 1933 showing the Penhall Park Estate, Sidcup Golf Course and Environs.

Above the Lamorbey Park Course and Clubhouse. Reproduced from the (1934) Ordnance Survey Map.

From The Tatler 1 January 1936. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Above image from The Bystander 25 March 1936. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The above picture from top left shows; (1) Charles Stuart (chairman), T Chilton (ex-Kent amateur champion), C A Bullock; (2) J C Irving (chairman of finance committee), H Wilson (professional), R E Hart, A M Johnston (chairman of green committee); (3) W P Taylor (ex-captain), W F Taylor, E A Blanch (ex-captain); (4) A C Horn (ex-captain), G A MacDonald (chairman of house committee); (5) G C Jarvis, H W Astell, N S McGowan (secretary); (6) E E C Graessle, R T Mallett, T W Wood; (9) C V Thompson (ex-captain), A R S Nicol.

In June 1937 G McLaren set a new amateur course record with a score of 69.

In 1947 the secretary was W M Wilson, 37 Selborne Road, Sidcup. The professional was H Wilson and the greenkeeper H Rhodes. It was still an 18-hole course at this time with a Par and SSS of 74. Course records, amateur G A McLaren 69, professional A H Padgham 66. Visitors’ fees, on introduction, 2/6 a round, 5/- a day.

Report on Harry Wilson celebrating 50 years at the club. 

Daily News (London)Friday 1 April 1960. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Above images show a golf putter stamped "H Wilson, Lamorby Golf Club, Sidcup, Kent." Images courtesy of Graham Blunden.

Golfer's Handbook 1961; Membership, 200; Secretary - H Wilson, 48 Old Farm Road Avenue, Sidcup; Professional, H Wilson; Green-keeper, S Ellis; 9-holes, 5,752 yards; Visitors (intro), 3s/6d a round, 5s a day. 

Golfer's Handbook 1964; Membership, 200; Secretary - H Wilson, 48 Old Farm Road Avenue, Sidcup; Professional, J H Ellis; Green-keeper, R Thornett; 9-holes, 5,752 yards; Visitors (intro), 7s/6d a round, Saturdays, 15s a round

Thanks to Christoph Meister for the article below from Browning’s “Golf in Kent” from the 1950s. The majority of the Braid course had been lost by this time.

Scorecard and course plan for the nine-hole course from the 1980s. From the Christoph Meister Archive.

The current Sidcup course is just to the north east.