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Wimbledon Park Golf Club, London. (1898 – 2019)
Wimbledon Park was landscaped by Capability Brown in the eighteenth century.
The 18-hole golf course was “laid out” under the instruction of Peter Paxton the Tooting Bec professional in 1898.
It was reported in December 2018 that the course was to be sold to the All England Tennis Club for £65m. The club had a membership of over 750 with many well known personalities amongst the membership. The golf club members voted 82% in favour of selling the 120 year old course. One member in support of keeping the course open said “120 years of playing golf at Wimbledon Park has ended because of greed. People wanted to take the money, and that’s hardly surprising. It is a lot of money. But it is a very, very sad day for the history of golf and the future of Wimbledon Park. It’s not just the golf club that will be lost, but also all the employees who will be out of a job through no fault of their own.”
Rowland Jones served as professional from 1898 until his retirement in 1935.
The opening ceremony took place on Saturday 2 April 1898 it was followed by a match between Peter Paxton and Rowland Jones, report and pictures below.
Morning Post Monday 4 April 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Penny Illustrated Paper Saturday 9 April 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Article from the Sketch Wednesday 20 April 1898. “Another golf club has been started at Wimbledon. There are already two clubs on the common, the Royal Wimbledon and the London Scottish. The new course is in Wimbledon Park it has eighteen-holes and extends over three miles. Unlike the clubs on the common the links of the Wimbledon Park club is open on Sundays. The turf is good and natural hazards are provided by the trees, hedges and water. Peter Paxton, who laid out the course, reports very highly on its “sporting” character. Rowland Jones, who was professional at Littlehampton for several years, is the professional at Wimbledon Park.”
In June 1898 the first monthly medal took place, results below.
Sporting Gazette Saturday 25 June 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
By autumn 1898 the club membership had reached 300.
In September 1900 the Wimbledon Park Professional Rowland Jones, went round the course in 67, scores; Out; 5,3,3,4,3,4,4,3,3=32; Home; 3,4,5,4,5,3,3,4,4=35.
In August 1901, the clubhouse which was erected in 1900 at a cost of £7,000, was completely destroyed by fire.
Results from the Spring Meeting in June 1904.
Surrey Comet Saturday 11 June 1904. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Entry from the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Membership of 600; hon. secretary, E O Pope; captain, R E Mills; entrance fee - £4/4s and subs £5/5s; professional, Roland Jones; visitors must be introduced by a member and pay a green fee of 2 shillings.
At the Autumn Meeting played in October 1907 the scratch gold medal was won by Mr Leo Stormont who recorded a score of 77. The bogey score for the course was 74.
Ordnance Survey Map showing the golf course at the time of WW1.
O.S. Map Revised 1911; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1920}.
In July 1912 Mr R Brown holed in one at the 125 yard eighth hole.
In August 1916 James Braid, Tom Ball, J H Taylor and Rowland Jones took part in an exhibition match on the Wimbledon Park course in aid of Kitchener Memorial Fund.
Results from the ladies’ club spring meeting played in June 1919; 18-hole stroke competition – Mrs A H Beatty and Mrs Stuart tied on 78 net; Bogey foursomes – Mrs Merton and Mrs Stuart, 2 down.
The annual caddies dinner in January 1923.
The Era Thursday 18 January 1923.
Ladies fashion in 1923.
Birmingham Daily Gazette Thursday 1 November 1923. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Golf Club Celebs 1924.
The Tatler Wednesday 23 April 1924. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 12 September 1925. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In April 1926 Mr C G C Mallam holed in one at the 180 yard fifteenth hole.
In July 1926 Rowland Jones, club professional, also holed in one on the fifteenth. It was stated that this brought is total of “ones” to 17, which equalled the record of Alex Herd.
From the 1928 Golfer’s Handbook; Wimbledon Park GC Ltd; Membership, 650; Secretary V P Johnstone; Professional, Rowland Jones; 18-holes; Course records – Amateur; J C Parsons, 65; Professional; Rowland Jones, 61; Visitors (introduction), 2s/6d per round (Monday to Friday); 5s per round weekends; £1/15s a week.
Some of the members in December 1932.
The Tatler Wednesday 7 December 1932. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The above article from The Tatler shows; Top row left to right – Slow but Sure! “Daddy” Paton, a very old member of the club; R F Croker, One of the Oirish Members of the Club; “Duggie” Major C P R Dugmore, Secretary; E W St George Spencer, Hon. Sec. Wimbledon Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club; Jimmy Mannion, fra’ Lancashire.
Middle Row – Percival Marshall, Captain 1931; “Ali Baba” one of the forty, F Holgate Barber, President; “Charlie” A highly respected Hon. Member; “Sammy” H Simonis C.B.E., Captain 1932; “Dan” Lt. Col. E Y Daniel.
Bottom Row – A Kingwell, Green Committee; Frank Howett, winner this tear of the Stage Golfing Society Trophy, played for annually by Wimbledon Park Members; “Freddy” F Simonis, a Life Member; They say the sun never sets at Wimbledon when W T Harvey is about; “Tim” Captain J T Malone, M. C.
Golfer’s Handbook 1933; Membership, 600; Secretary, Major C P R Dugmore; Professional and green-keeper, Roland Jones; 18-holes; Course records – Amateur; J C Parsons, 65; Professional; Rowland Jones, 61; Visitors (introduction), 2s/6d per round, 3s a day (Monday to Friday); 5s per round weekends; £1/1s a week.
Daily Mirror Tuesday 20 March 1934. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
It was reported in April 1934 that – “The new “Admiral” of the Wimbledon Park Golf Club has assumed command of his “flag-ship.” The “Admiral” is Billie Coombes, the club’s deputy caddie master and starter, and the “flagship” is the boat which was used for nearly 30 years by the previous “Admiral” – Tom Brewer – who died last month.”
The clubhouse.
The lake and golf course.
On Saturday 15 June 1935 the new clubhouse of the Wimbledon Park Golf Club, built with the co-operation of the Wimbledon Corporation, was opened by Lady Roney, the Mayor of Wimbledon.
It was reported in September 1935 that long serving professional Rowland Jones was to retire. He was to hand over the post to W J Cox.
Leicestershire Daily Mercury Friday 20 September 1935. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The Tatler Wednesday 2 October 1935. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
New professional welcomed in November 1935.
Sunday Mirror Sunday 3 November 1935. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In January 1936 Sir Ralph Millbourn was elected president in succession to Mr Percival Marshall, who had been in office for three years. The new captain was Frank Howett.
Golfer’s Handbook 1936/7; Membership, 600; Secretary, T Stanley Perry; Professional, W J Cox; Green-keeper, W J Clack; 18-holes, SSS 70; Course records – Amateur; J C Parsons, 65; Professional; Rowland Jones and Henry Cotton, 61; Visitors (introduction), 2s/6d per round, 3s/6d a day (Monday to Friday); 3s/6d per round, 5s a day; weekends; £1/1s a week.
In August 1937 sixty years after he started playing golf, Mr G M Preston aged 75, a member of the Wimbledon Park Club, twice holed out in one.
In October 1939 two hundred spectators watched the four-ball match on Wimbledon Park course in aid of the Overseas League Tobacco Fund. Rain fell throughout, but the drenched spectators saw some brilliant play by Archie Compston who was partnered W J Cox, beat Dai Rees and Alf Perry one up.
Golfer’s Handbook 1947 to 1956; Membership, 500; Secretary, Commander E V Hume-Spry; Professional, H L Whiting; Green-keeper, W J Clack; Course records – Amateur; K Leslie Smith, 69 (1947), J J Redmond, 65 (1951) ; Professional; W J Cox, 59; Visitors, 3s/6d weekdays, £1 weekend (1947), 7s/6d a day (1956).
Footballers at golf in October 1959.
Nottingham Guardian Thursday 22 October 1959. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Golfer’s Handbook 1961; Membership, 500; Secretary, Commander G R Fuller; Professional, H L Whiting; Green-keeper, W J Clack; 18-holes, SSS 66; Course records – Amateur; E M Pollitt, 64; Professional; W J Cox, 59; Visitors, 7s/6d a day, £1 weekend.
Golfer’s Handbook 1966; Membership, 500; Secretary, W R J Mann; Professional, F C Lucas; Green-keeper, W J Clack; Visitors, £1 a day, £1.50 weekend.
Golfer’s Handbook 1975; Membership, 500; Secretary, P F Bodvan-Griffith; Professional, F C Lucas; 18-holes, 5,450 yards, SSS 66; Amateur course record, Dr R D Rogers, 64.
Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Membership, 569; Secretary, L Brian Robinson; Professional, F C Lucas; 18-holes, 5,450 yards, SSS 66; Amateur course record, Dr R D Rogers, 64; Professional course record, A Dixon, 65; Visitors, £7.
Golfer’s Handbook 1988; Membership, 580; Secretary, M K Hale; Professional, F C Lucas; 18-holes, 5,465 yards, SSS 67; Amateur course record, S J Bennett, 66; Professional course record, A Dixon, 65; Visitors, £14 (£17 weekend)
Golfer’s Handbook 1991 to 1994; Membership, 580 (1991), 650 (1994); Secretary, M K Hale; Professional, D Wingrove; 18-holes, 5,492 yards, SSS 66; Course records – Amateur; S J Bennett and B King, 61; Professional; M Gerrard, 60; Visitors, £25.
From the Irish Independent Wednesday 22 September 1993; “The All England Club, home to the Wimbledon Championships, purchased the neighbouring Wimbledon Park golf course yesterday for £5.2 million.”
Golfer’s Handbook 1998; Secretary, P J Dell; Professional, D Wingrove; 18-holes, 5,492 yards, SSS 66; Course records – Amateur; D Braggins, 60; Professional; M Gerrard, 60; Visitors, £40.
Golfer’s Handbook 2002; Membership, 650; Secretary, Mrs E Inwood; Professional, D Wingrove; 18-holes, 5,492 yards, SSS 66; Visitors, £40.
Golfer’s Handbook 2006 to 2009; Membership, 850; Secretary, P Shanahan; Professional, D Wingrove; 18-holes, 5,483 yards, SSS 66; Visitors £50.
The club continued to be listed in the Golfer’s Handbook until it ceased publication in 2015.
Course scorecards and pictures.
