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Chertsey Golf Club, Surrey. (1903 - 1938)
The Chertsey Golf Club was formally established in 1903 after a group of local businessmen had first met the previous year to discuss the laying out of a golf course and the formation a golf club. A site of some 96 acres on Laleham Reach, a stretch of meadowland alongside the River Thames, was selected and a lease negotiated with the owner, Charles George Bingham the Fourth Earl of Lucan. The Earl became the club’s first president, and his son the first captain. Access to the course was difficult, with the only two means of access being by foot along a lane from Chertsey, or by the ferry that ran between Chertsey and Laleham. There were stations at Chertsey 1 mile and Staines 2 miles. In later years there was a bus service from Shepperton and Staines.
The initial 18-hole course was about 5,700yds in length with a bogey score of 80. Jack White, 1904 Open Champion, was engaged to design the course and it was ready for play by August 1904.
Match between Jack White and J H Taylor in October 1904.
Morning Post Monday 24 October 1904. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1903; number of member 150; hon. secretary – Dr P Head, Houseboat “Syringa,” Laleham-on-Thames; captain, Lord Bingham; entrance fee nil; subscriptions , £5/5s, ladies £3/3s; professional, Jas Brian (sic); professional record, J H Taylor, 69; amateur record, E J Byrne, 78. The course is three and a quarter miles in length. The soil is good, consisting of loam on gravel, and the turf is excellent. There are both artificial and natural hazards. The clubhouse is situated on the banks of the Thames and is in a unique position.
The winner of the February 1905 monthly medal was J Head, 81 net.
In 1906 the secretary was Dr P T Head, Laleham on Thames. The professional was James O’Brien (1903 - 1908). Course records were, professional J H Taylor with a score of 69 and amateur J N Byron 78. Visitors’ fees were 2/6 a day, 7/6 a week and 10/- a month.
A new amateur course record was set in April 1906, S H Fry of Mid-Surrey, went round in 74.
Article from the Globe Thursday 15 August 1907. “The Chertsey Golf Club, Laleham, of which Lord Bingham is captain, announces an open professional tournament on 19 October. The leading professionals; J H Taylor, H Vardon, Braid, White, R Jones, T Vardon, G Carter, and others, have already signified their intention to compete and handsome prizes will be offered.”
Result of the professional tournament played in October 1907; R Thomson (North Berwick) 76+77=153, £25; Rowland Jones (Wimbledon Park) 77+77=154, £10; J H Oke (Sutton Coldfield) 79+77=156, £8/8s; E P Gaudin (Felixstowe) 77+79=156, £8/8s; E Ray (Ganton) 77+79=156; Ben Sayers, jun. (Cuckfield) 78+78=156 £8/8s; J Hepburn (Home Park) 78+78=156. Other scores; N E Reid (Banstead Downs) 157; E T Forrest (Wellington College) and H Cawsey (Ashford) 158. Unfortunately Braid, Taylor and Vardon did not play.
The professional from 1908 to 1912 was W H Horne.
In May 1909 W H Horne, the local professional set a new professional record of 69; Out - 4,3,4,4,5,4,3,3,5 = 35; Home - 4,4,3,4,4,2,4,4,5 = 34. J H Taylor went round in 69 about five years ago but the course had since been lengthened and altered.
From the Sports Argus Saturday 10 July 1909. With thanks to Trinity Mirror. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.
Above is a pre-WW1 postcard of the “Golf Links,Chertsey.”
Result of the December 1911 monthly medal; Senior - Commander Simpson, 79 net; Junior - W Warren Hudson, 76 net.
The monthly bogey competition for April 1912 was won by J Gilman, 3up.
In May 1912 Frank Coltart, formerly professional at Clacton-on-Sea, was to succeed W H Horne, who had resigned.
Club dispute in January 1913.
The Sketch Wednesday 22 January 1913. Image © Illustrated London News Group.
Chertsey clubhouse and course. Image courtesy of Frank Accleton.
In 1914 the secretary was A B Paine, The Crossway, Walton-on-Thames and the professional was Frank Coltart (1912 -1921). There was no entry fee. Subs for gents were £5/5/0 and ladies £3/3/0. For members living outside a 15 mile radius gents paid £3/3/0 and ladies £2/2/0. Sunday play was allowed with caddies.
The winner of the Gingham Cup (36-holes) In April 1914 was H Baskett, 165 net.
Following are the results from the spring meeting May 1914; Mr A E Anderson's prize - W J Woolley, 73 net; Mr G Challenor's prize - Mr Casson Smith, 71 net; Mr O J Steinhart's - A D Venables and F Sweetman, tied on 73 net.
Chertsey Golf Club Spoon.
In February 1920 the foursome challenge shield was won by P Kann and G P Jones. The monthly bogey was won by P Kann, 5down.
The Earl of Lucan Cup (36-hole medal) was played in April 1920. Lord Lucan personally presented the cup to the winner, the vicar of the Parish, Rev. J B Shackleford, 174-16-158.
It was reported in December 1920 that the professional, Frank Coltart, would be leaving to take up an appointment in America.
In June 1922 Dr Mackenzie, the well known golf architect from Leeds, reconstructs the course.
Leeds Mercury Monday 12 June 1922.I mage © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Nein Crafter is an expert on the life and work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie and states “World War One saw a large drop in membership and in 1922 the club was taken over by the Chertsey Golf Club Ltd. This coincided with the involvement of Dr MacKenzie in remodelling their old course. Exactly what those changes were that he made at Chertsey are not known.”
In 1923 the secretary was H J Oakley, Cambridge Cottage, Laleham-on-Thames. Telephone number 188.
The professional was Ernest Hooker (1922 - 1925). Membership was now 300. Course records were, amateur C D Harris with a score of 71 and professional F Coltart 66. Visitors’ fees were 2/6 a day, bank holidays and weekends 5/- a day and £1/10/0 a month Ladies paid £1 a month.
From 1925 to 1928 the professional was J Schofield.
In July 1928 Fred Golds, assistant professional at East Brighton, was appointed professional at Chertsey Golf Club.
From The Sketch May 9th 1928. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1930 the secretary was P G Hudgell, May Cottage, Laleham-on-Thames the professional from 1928 was F Golds and the greenkeeper W Slade. Course records, amateur S H Fry 72, professional A Schofield 68.
Images below are courtesy of Neil Crafter and are extracts from the golf club handbook.
Images below of the Chertsey Challenge Cup are courtesy of Gabrielle Warner.
Winners of the trophy from 1906 to 1918. Not competed for during WW1.
Winners of the trophy from 1919 to 1931.
In October 1932 Squadron Leader E A Fawcus created a new course record with a round of 68. His score contained no fewer than seven birdies and beat the amateur record by one stroke.
Entry from the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 300; secretary - P G Hudgell, May Cottage, Laleham-on-Thames; professional, F Golds; green-keeper, F Turner; course record - amateur; S H Fry, 72; professional; A Schofied, 68; visitors; 2s/6d a day, weekend and bank holidays, 5s; £1 a month.
Six-inch hole trial in February 1933.
Dundee Courier Wednesday 22 February 1933. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1935 the secretary was Capt E I M Barrett, professional F Golds and the greenkeeper A Dash. Visitors fees were now 2/6 a round.
As well as being secretary at Chertsey Golf Club in 1935 Captain E I M Barrett was also hon. secretary of the County Cricketer's Golf Society.
The Tatler Wednesday 13 November 1935. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Chertsey Golf Club disappeared in 1938 and became Laleham Golf Club (see separate entry).
The Chertsey Golf Course can be seen on the Britain From Above (1934) link below.
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw043774?search=golf&ref=370
Laleham Golf Club took over the course and came into being in 1938.
Sadly, Laleham Golf Club closed its doors in March 2017 (see separate entry.)