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Rother Golf Club, Rye, Sussex. (1923 - 1932)
First appeared in 1923 when the secretary was J M Jenkins.
The Rother golf course was laid out on land either side of Military Road at Saltburn Farm, Playden, this was following the failure of a farming venture.
Progress of the new Rother Golf Club February 1923.
Sussex Agricultural Express Friday 16th February 1923. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
It was reported in May 1923 that the new full eighteen-hole course designed by H H Hilton will shortly be ready for play. Entrance fee to the club will be £2/2s with the annual subscription £3/3s for the first 150 members, Mr R W Maclean, of the Cooden Beach Golf Club, had been engaged as professional.
Nine-holes open in June 1923 also a description of the course.
Sussex Agricultural Express Friday 22nd June 1923. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The 18-hole course was opened in June 1924. The secretary was now Leslie Schon and the professional R W McLean (1924 to 1928). Visitors’ fees were 2/6 a round and 3/6 a day. Sunday play was allowed with caddies. The station at Rye was 1 mile away. Local hotels were the George Inn, Old Flushing Inn and the Fresco club.
The course was officially opened at 2pm on Saturday June 21st 1924 by Admiral R H Anstruther C.M.G. Shortly after the opening a four-ball exhibition match was played by the following professionals; J H White (Ashford), A H Simpson (Rye), W E Muncey (Hastings) and R W McLean (Rother).
Following is the result of the 1924 June monthly medal, which finished in a tie between, Captain M T Baines, 91-20-71 and R H Newbery, 94-23-71. Mrs McCullagh won the ladies’ competition with a score of 106-35-71.
Result of a match played at St Leonards Golf Club (now defunct) in June 1924.
| St Leonards Golf Club | Rother Golf Club | ||
| L E West (2) (4 and 2) | 1 | Mr Atkinson (12) | 0 |
| E G Maltby (4) (4 and 3) | 1 | Mr McAlpine (12) | 0 |
| C A Heron (6) (halved) | 0 | Mr March (16) (halved) | 0 |
| Dr. A W Brodribb (10) | 0 | H Wallis (16) (1up) | 1 |
| F J Parsons (11) (halved) | 0 | Mr Gasson (halved) | 0 |
| E M Heron (14) | 0 | Mr Hyde (14) (3 and 2) | 1 |
| G L Gillett (16) | 0 | D Jones (18) (6 and 4) | 1 |
| 2 | 3 |
The golfers on the picture appear to be approaching the clubhouse.
Below is the result of a match played at Hastings Golf Club (now defunct) in September 1924.
| Hastings Golf Club | Rother Golf Club | ||
| R Mansell (4 and 3) | 1 | H Thorpe | 0 |
| H Blanksby | 0 | A Atkinson (2up) | 1 |
| E F Hibbs (2up) | 1 | S Hyde | 0 |
| P K Banks | 0 | H March (2up) | 1 |
| C Hickman (1up) | 1 | H H Wallis | 0 |
| P S Brooks | 0 | J S Gasson (5 and 4) | 1 |
| W G Pangbourne (2 and 1) | 1 | S Moore | 0 |
| G Wallis (halved) | 0 | A A Jones (halved) | 0 |
| 4 | 3 |
In October 1924 as recognition of his services as Hon. Secretary to the club a presentation of a silver cigarette box was made to Mr A A Atkinson who was leaving the area. A D Jones, Chairman of the Directors of the Club, made the presentation. Mr C W Allen would be taking over as secretary.
In 1925/6 the secretary was C W Allen.
The winners of the July 1925 monthly bogey competitions were; A Crisford, 1up; Mrs D A Jones, 1up.
The September 1925 monthly bogey result; W J Burnham, 1up; Mrs W J Burnham, 1up.
Result of the October 1925 monthly spoon competition; C E Tomlin, 67 net; Miss E Allen, 73 net.
In December 1925 Miss Edith Allen holed in one at the 120 yard eighth hole.
Result of a ladies' match played at Rother against Hastings Golf Club in March 1927.
Sussex Agricultural Express Friday 1st April 1927. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Result of a match played against Greatstone Golf Club (now defunct) in June 1927.
| Rother Golf Club | Greatstone Golf Club | ||
| G Tweedale | 0 | F Carey (5 and 4) | 1 |
| C T Tomlin (5 and 4) | 1 | V G Kennett | 0 |
| W J Bennett (halved) | 0 | R Howlett (halved) | 0 |
| R Newberry (2up) | 1 | D Carey | 0 |
| W Merricks (2 and 1) | 1 | T Wiles | 0 |
| B Offen (5 and 4) | 1 | W Savage | 0 |
| J Moore (2up) | 1 | W Taylor | 0 |
| D A Jones | 0 | R Carey | 1 |
| Tweedale and Tomlin (2 and 1) | 1 | F Carey and Kennett | 0 |
| Bennett and Newberry (6 and 4) | 1 | D Carey and Howlett | 0 |
| Merricks and Offen (3 and 2) | 1 | Wiles and Savage | 0 |
| Moore and Jones (4 and 3) | 1 | Taylor and R Carey | 0 |
| 9 | 2 |
The winner of the monthly bogey competition in June 1927 was J S Moore, 3down.
Result of a match played at Tenterden Golf Club in May 1928.
| Tenterden Golf Club | Rother Golf Club | ||
| Capt. Swallow | 0 | R Newberry (2up) | 1 |
| Capt. Chalk | 0 | W J Burnham (2up) | 1 |
| Major Findlater (2 and 1) | 1 | Capt. Plews | 0 |
| L K Davis | 0 | J H Cooke (5 and 3) | 1 |
| Major Paine | 0 | J Moore (2up) | 1 |
| Mr Forrest | 0 | W Merricks | 1 |
| 1 | 5 |
Result of a match played at Hollingbury Park in September 1928.
| Hollingbury Park Golf Club | Rother Golf Club | ||
| C J Steers | 1 | A Adams | 0 |
| D J Potter | 0 | W J Burnham | 1 |
| A E Hewett | 1 | J H Cook | 0 |
| W Horton-Stevens | 1 | R Moore | 0 |
| T R Wagstaff | 1 | J Moore | 0 |
| A W Wingfield | 0 | R Woodhead | 1 |
| A Longley | 1 | D Jones | 0 |
| A Saunders | 0 | H C Gower | 1 |
| 5 | 3 |
Result of a ladies' match played against Hawkhurst Golf Club (now defunct) in May 1929.
| Hawkhurst Ladies' Golf Club | Rother Vale Ladies' Golf Club | ||
| Mrs Walford (halved) | 0 | Mrs Bennett (halved) | 0 |
| Mrs Ingram | 0 | Miss D McCullagh | 1 |
| Miss Grove (halved) | 0 | Miss E Allen (halved) | 0 |
| Mrs Nesfeld | 1 | Mrs Offen | 0 |
| Mrs Morley | 0 | Miss N Delves | 1 |
| Mrs Horsfield | 0 | Miss McCullagh | 1 |
| 1 | 3 |
Winner of the May 1929 monthly bogey was N Standen, 5up.
It was still listed in the Golfer's Handbook in the late 1920s. The address was given as Rother Golf Club, Keighton Farm, Playden , Rye, telephone Rye 60. The secretary was J H Cooke, Newmans, Udimore, Rye. The professional and green-keeper was J Wilkinson.
In the final of the Cheeseman Cup in August 1930 T Crump defeated W J Bennett by 7 and 5.
The club had problems in 1930, but, the course reopens in 1931.
Sussex Agricultural Express Friday 1st May 1931. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
As can be seen below the optimism was short lived.
Sussex Agricultural Express Friday 9th September 1932. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The club disappeared in 1932.
The former owner of the Rother Golf Club was prominent in the re-opening of the Camber Castle course (see separate entry.)
Location of the Rother course. Grid reference TQ92850,22275, co-ordinates 592850,122275.