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Warlingham Golf Club, Surrey. (1897 - 1951)

The club was founded in 1897. 

Result of a bogey competition played in December 1898, prize presented by Mr E H Coles for winners and runners-up in club competitions during the year; Dr A Rotherham (18) 3down, P L Deall (7), W E Wallis (10), O J Trinder (15) all finished 4down. The monthly medal was tied between A F Charlesworth, 90-11-79 and H A Bell, 93-14-79.

Postcard by H Hodgson (3163) of the golf links Whyteleafe (Warlingham). Authors Collection.

The captain in 1899 was G H Emmet.

Result of the monthly medal played on Saturday 5 August 1899; Rev S J W Shilcock, 88-11-77; A J R Meredith, 91-10-81; F S Huskisson, 96-15-81; Mr Morgan Hughes, 99-18-81.

A professional tournament was held over 18-holes (2x9) on Saturday 11 November 1899. A stroke play match was held in the morning in which Peter Paxton (Tooting Bec), Alexander Thomson (North Surrey), John Rowe (Ashdown Forest) and John Hill (Warlingham) competed. Paxton won with a score of 82, as follows; 4,3,4,7,5,3,4,4,4 = 38; 5,4,4,8,5,5,4,5,4 = 44; Thomson was second with 83; Rowe 84; Hill 86. In a foursome match in the afternoon Paxton & Hill won by 1up.

The competition for the Mr E H Coles prize played on Tuesday 26 December 1899 was won by the club captain G H Emmet (5) with a score of 4down.

The bogey competition for the President’s prize was played in May 1900 and was won by E W Leighton (17) 2down, E H Coles (5) 3down was runner-up. At the Whitsun meeting the winner was Mr Morgan Hughes (10) 1up, second was A M Kettlewell (11) all square, and third F H A Ball (11) 2down.

On Saturday 27 July 1901 another professional tournament was held on the Warlingham course with prize amounting to £40. James Braid (Romford), H Vardon (Ganton), J H Taylor (Mid Surrey) and  J Hill, the local professional, competed. The morning stroke play competition was won by Vardon with a score of 77, Taylor was second with 78, Braid third with 79 and Hill fourth 81. In the afternoon foursomes Taylor and Braid won by 2&1.

The following is from the Nisbet's Golf Yearbook 1905; Instituted 1897; Number of members, 150; Nine-holes; Hon. Secretary - F S Huskisson, Hill Brow, Warlingham; Captain - E H Coles; Professional - W R Lonie; Professional Record, J Hill 72 - Amateur Record, P S May, 78; Entrance Fee, £10/10s and Subs, £5/5s; Temporary members are admitted on introduction  by the secretary of any recognised club at 2s/6d a day. The course is in the Caterham Manor Park, in a beautiful position on the slope of the Surrey Hills between Warlingham and Caterham. The clubhouse is the old Caterham Manor House. *There are no lady members. Sunday play is permitted.

* Not sure how long this was in operation! 

The annual competition for the Tooting Bec Cup was played at Ashford, Middlesex in April 1906 and was won by the Warlingham professional W R Lonie with a score of 152.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 5 May 1906. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

In the professional foursome tournament played at Bushey Hall in April 1909 W R & J C Lonie (Warlingham) lost to H J Frostick and F H Frostick (North Surrey) by 2 holes.

It was announced in January 1911 that William McWatt, a native of Musselburgh, who had worked with Willie Park, had been appointed professional at Warlingham in succession to W Lonie. Mc Watt was a fine player and a skilled club maker. He would go on to serve as professional until the 193os he later took on the roll as steward.

In 1914 the secretary was Francis S Huskisson, Caterham Manor, and the professional W McWatt. The president was The Right Hon Lord Dunedin of Stenton.  A 9-hole course that was situated in Caterham Manor Park, a beautiful position on the slope of the Surrey hills between Warlingham and Caterham. The clubhouse was the old Caterham Manor House. There was a membership of 150. Entry fees were £10/10/0 and subs £5/5/0. There was no entry fee for members living over three miles away. Visitors had to give 48 hours notice to the secretary paid 2/6 a day, on prize and competition days and bank holidays 10/- a day. There were stations at Warlingham (SE&CR) 3 minutes walk and Upper Warlingham (LB&SCR and SE&CR) 10 minute walk. There was a separate club for ladies.

Below is the result of a match played at Bletchingley Golf Club (now defunct) on Saturday 16 May 1931.  

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

Above picture shows from top left to right- (1) A Hands (committee member) and E W Lighton (hon. secretary); (2) W L Macdona and D J Billes; (3) G A Williamson and J G Williamson; (4) A G Batley and C O Hown; (5) E L Vaus and M L Carr; (6) J A Billes and G F Mathieson; (7) H L Plummer and W J Honey; (8) W McWatt (steward) and C French (professional.)  

From 1923 and into the 1930s secretary was O V Asser, “Edgemount”, Whyteleafs telephone Purley 438.  In the later 1930s the secretary was E W Lighton. The professional was W McWatt, and in the mid 1930s C French. The 9-holes had a SSS of 74 and a membership of 100. Course records were, amateur A E S Mullholland 68 and professional J C Lonie junior 70. Visitors were required to be members of a recognised club and paid 2/6 a day, weekend and Bank Holiday 5/- a day, 10/- a week, 30/- a month. Any week containing Bank Holiday or Prize Competition days 15/-. 

The Ordnance Survey Map below shows the golf course and Caterham Manor (the clubhouse).

O.S. Map Revised 1934 - © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1937}.