Please consider supporting our efforts.
| 
| Hits: 12007
New Addington Golf Course, Croydon, London. (1923 - WW2)
The Addington Golf Club was founded in 1913. During the 1920/30s The Addington Golf Club had two courses, the “Old” opened in 1919, and the “New” opened in 1923. Both courses were designed by J F Abercromby.
In 1944 Croydon Council applied for compulsory purchase of the new course, it was planned to use the land for the ever growing demand for housing.
Report on the construction of the "New" Abercromby course in August 1922.
Above from Motor Owner Tuesday 1 August 1922. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The New Addington 18-hole course was opened on the 7 October 1923. Prior to the official opening a match was played between twelve leading professionals. Abe Michell was the winner with a score of 70.The opening ceremony was conducted by the President, the Duke of Leeds, who struck the opening shot.
A view of the course.
Below the Addington Foursomes being played on the New Course at Addington in April 1938.
From the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News Friday 22 April 1938. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Dai Rees on the tee at the short ninth on the New Course.
From the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News Friday 2 December 1938. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Below a match played on the New Addington course against Cambridge University in February 1939.
From the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News Friday 10 Feruary 1939. Image © Illustrated London News Group.
During WW2 the new course was requisitioned for the war effort.
In 1944 Croydon Council applied for compulsory purchase, it was planned to use the land for the ever growing demand for housing. The site was eventually sold to the Council in 1948 for £100,000.
Bernard Darwin was particularly saddened by the demise of the new course and wrote “I must shed a tear over the New course at Addington that has, I fear, gone forever, taken over by the municipal authorities for the building of pre-fabs. It was a course full of charm and interest, the mature fruit of Mr Abercromby’s genius as an architect, and nobody who knew it can think of certain holes there – the spectacular fourth or the subtle eighth – without lasting regret”
Below is the scorecard for New course (SSS73).
Above is the layout of the “New” course.
The above map shows the Addington Golf Courses. O.S. Map Revised 1938; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1954}.
The former course can be seen on Britain From Above below. The picture shows the Shrublands estate of prefabricated houses on land previously forming part of the New Addington golf course.
The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the “New” course.