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Castle Ashby Golf Club, Northants. (1908 - 1950s)
The professional from 1908 to 1917 was Willie Aveston who was also a club-maker.
The Castle Ashby Golf Club had a private course of nine-holes belonging to the Marquess of Northampton. The station at Castle Ashby was 2 miles away. Local hotel was the Falcon.
The annual meeting was held in the clubhouse in May 1922. Mr W G Dunkley, Lodge Farm, Yardley Hastings was elected hon. secretary in place of Mrs Cruwys of Castle Ashby who resigned. Mr A Cruwys was re-elected treasurer, and the committee was re-elected en bloc with the additions of ; Mrs Cruwys, Mrs Macaulay, Dr. Macaulay, D Willison, C Gnawdin, D McKinnel, J Dazeley.
Result of the Whit-Monday 18-hole medal played in June 1925; Dr. Macaulay and T Groves tied with 81; W Dunkley and C Clarke tied with 83.
Below a hole-in-one by J Gilkes in May 1928. He appeared in the Fort Dunlop Roll of Honour for holing out with a Dunlop ball.
From the Northampton Mercury Friday 18 May 1928. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From the Golfer's Handbook 1933; Castle Ashby Golf Club; Membership of 110; Joint secretaries, B Rubython and L B Robinson; Nine-holes; Visitors' fees, 1 shilling a day, 2s week end an bank holidays.
Below presentation of a challenge trophy in January 1937
From the Northampton Mercury Friday 29 January 1937. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Below is the result of a match played at Castle Ashby against Leighton Buzzard in July 1938.
| Castle Ashby Golf Club | Leighton Buzzard Golf Club | ||
| F Payne (half) | 0 | H Shepherd Carter (half) | 0 |
| A Gilkes | 1 | A K Horne | 0 |
| R W Tester | 0 | A Poulton-Bond | 1 |
| T A Wells (half) | 0 | W W Kyle (half) | 0 |
| E Fuller | 0 | N Burroughs | 1 |
| W Hollingsworth | 1 | A Clare | 0 |
| K Waite | 0 | R Jinks | 1 |
| R H E Deane | 0 | E Taylor | 1 |
| Payne and Gilkes (half) | 0 | Carter and Horne (half) | 0 |
| Tester and Wells | 0 | Poulton-Bond and Kyle | 1 |
| Fuller and Hollingsworth | 1 | Burroughs and Clare | 0 |
| Waite and Deane | 0 | Jinks and Taylor | 1 |
| 3 | 6 |
Result of a mixed foursome competition played in July 1938; W Hollingsworth and Mrs W H Chapman, 82-13-69; S Clarke and Mrs R W Beale, 92-17-75; A Gilkes and Mrs E A Wood, 88-13-75; R W Tester and Mrs W H Fox, 84-9-75.
Below is the result of a match played at Leighton Buzzard in September 1938.
| Leighton Buzzard Golf Club | Castle Ashby Golf Club | ||
| L B Faulkner | 1 | H G Sheppard | 0 |
| H S Carter | 0 | F Payne | 1 |
| P Bond | 1 | R W Tester | 0 |
| A K Horn (half) | 0 | A Gilkes (half) | 0 |
| W W Kyle | 1 | T Wells | 0 |
| H Ruggles | 0 | P S James | 1 |
| K A Carpenter (half) | 0 | W Percival (half) | 0 |
| H G Trill | 1 | F C Whiting | 0 |
| A Clare | 0 | W Hollingsworth | 1 |
| E Taylor | 1 | E Whittaker | 0 |
| 5 | 3 |
Below result of a four ball match played at Castle Ashby against Northampton Golf Club In November 1938.
| Castle Ashby Golf Club | Northampton Golf Club | ||
| W Percival and D C James | 0 | F C Roe and A Allibone | 1 |
| R W Tester and G Ward | 1 | A Faulkner and E Roberts | 0 |
| F Payne and F C Whiting (half) | 0 | L Perrin and R Markie (half) | 0 |
| A Gilkes and W H Chapman | 1 | G Dazeley and T Markie | 0 |
| E F Fuller and K Waite | 0 | A Anderson and W Arnold | 1 |
| W Hollingsworth and A E Sear | 0 | W A Dunn and S N Hill | 1 |
| 2 | 3 |
Below is the result of a match played at Castle Ashby against Mid Bedfordshire Golf Club (also now defunct) in May 1939.
| Castle Ashby Golf Club | Mid Bedfordshire Golf Club | ||
| E Wood | 0 | H E Phillips | 1 |
| W Hollingsworth | 1 | H Wale | 0 |
| W Percival | 0 | R Hayes | 1 |
| A Gilks | 0 | W H Croker | 1 |
| G Ward | 1 | W H Copers | 0 |
| K Waite | 0 | B Mantle | 1 |
| S Kilsby | 1 | R Wale | 0 |
| F Fuller (captain) | 1 | W S Green (captain) | 0 |
| E Wood & W Hollingsworth | 1 | H E Phillips & H Wale | 0 |
| W Percival & A Gilks | 1 | R Hayes & W H Croker | 0 |
| G Ward & K Waite | 1 | W H Copers & B Mantle | 0 |
| S Kilsby & F Fuller | 1 | R Wale & W S Green | 0 |
| 8 | 4 |
Below presentation of the Captain's Prize in February 1940.
From the Northampton Mercury Friday 16 February 1940. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Below the sad realities of WW2 close in.
From the Northampton Mercury Friday 9 February 1940. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1940 the club had a membership of 150. Visitors’ fees 1/- a day, 2/- a day at weekend and Bank Holiday, 5/- a week.
In 1947 and throughout the 1950s visitors’ fees 2/- a day, 2/6 at weekend and Bank Holidays and 5/- a week.
It was reported in November 1951 that Castle Ashby Golf Club, whose course was ploughed up during the war, is to hold a spring meeting and competitions next year.
| Secretary | Professional | |
| 1940 | Reverend W F Need | R W Beale |
| 1947/50s | S Kilsby, 74 Kingsley Road, Northampton. |
Advert for new members in February 1952.
From the Northampton Mercury Friday 15 February 1952. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The final mention of the course was in November 1957 when a member of the club, Alister Donaldson Cathie, was married in Kettering.
The course was believed to have been originally constructed by the landowner for his golf loving wife. When war broke out (which war isn't known,) he was required to work away, and it is alleged by local inhabitants that, on his return, he discovered that his wife had enjoyed amorous pursuits on the golf course with a gentleman friend. In his fury, he ploughed up the course, and nothing now remains. However, this local legend may be mere village gossip!
Location of the Castle Ashby course.