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Wadhurst Castle Golf Club, Sussex. (1897 - WW2)
The club was founded in 1897.
A nine-hole course that was laid out on land adjacent to Wadhurst Castle. There was no clubhouse and most of the work was taken on by the green-keeper.
No information could be found immediately following WW1.
It was reported in the Sevenoaks Chronicle in March 1926 that "The proprietor of the Wadhurst Castle Country Club has decided to revive the Wadhurst Castle Golf Course."
Description of the course from April 1927.
Kent & Sussex Courier Friday 1st April 1927. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The new Wadhurst Castle Country Club Golf Course was opened on Saturday 17th September 1927 with a four-ball challenge match between the Hon. Osmond Scott and Captain Watson-Smyth against Mrs De Winton (the Sussex Lady Champion) and Miss Doroth Pearson (runner-up in the Ladies' Open Golf Championship, 1927.)
Left to right; Miss Dorothy Pearson, Mrs De Winton, Hon. Osmond Scott and Captain Watson Smyth. (Picture - Kent & Sussex Courier September 1927).
The reduced subscriptions from September 25th to March 25th 1928 were; No entrance fee; men £1/10s, ladies £1/1s. These rates applied to the first 25 applicants (apply to the secretary.)
The following is an extract from a report that appeared in the Kent & Sussex Courier on Friday 30th March 1927. It gives a description of the "new" course.
"The old Wadhurst Golf Club has recently been revived. The improvements in balls and the different requirements of players necessitated the complete reconstruction of the course in order to make it conform to modern ideas.
The first hole is the same on both rounds and measures 389yards and calls for a well controlled tee shot, although there is a reasonable margin for error. The second hole measures 165yards on the first round and 265 on the second. As is correct in the case of a short hole, the bottom of the pin can be seen from the teeing ground. The third is one of the most imposing holes. It measures 245, and 210yards from the "A" and "B" tees respectively. From the "B" teeing ground the green can be reached as the hole is slightly below the level of the tee on the other side of a valley.
The fourth hole measures 487 and 427yards. The ground slopes to the right all the way, so that good practice in playing brassie shots from a hanging lie is obtained. The fifth, although a short hole, is probably the best on the course, and compares favourably with many short holes. From the forward tee it is 125yards, and 150 from the back teeing ground. The green is protected at the back and on the right by a ravine. The sixth is not so good as most of the holes. It would have been an improvement if it had been made longer. As it is, it measures 325 and 345yards, but, as it is slightly uphill, it plays longer than it looks. The seventh measures 380 and 500yards, but, as it is downhill, it plays shorter than it looks, though wood is always required for the second shot from the back tee.
The eighth is another short hole of 168 and 148yards. It looks as if it were possible to reach the green from the back tee with an iron. So it is, but it requires a very powerful shot, and most people will play it with a spoon or a baffy. The ninth is a grand finishing hole of 460 and 504yards. The ground slopes slightly away from the tee for about 200yards, and then rises in a very easy slope to the green. At the same time it falls from right to left, being the opposite to the fourth. The total measurement of the course is 2,843yards out, and 2,829 in, a total of 5,672. The bogey score is 76."
Leading scores in the November 1928 Ladies' monthly competition; Mrs Morris (spoon winner), 99-20-79; Mrs Watson Smyth, 90-10-80; Miss E Bagster, 111-24-87; Mrs Dickson, 118-27-93.
Result of the Flag Foursome played on the 27th December 1928; first - W A K Royle and Mrs Reid on the last green; second - Captain Snelgrove and Miss G Wild eighteenth fairway.
Result of an eclectic competition played in June 1929; H B Johnstone, 40-9-31; J Hollis, 35-3-32; Captain C H H Nutton, 35 scratch; Mrs J B Reid, 49-12-37; H O'Dell, 42-5-37; Mrs Long, 51-14-37; Mrs Patton, 57-18-39.
At the annual meeting held in the clubhouse in April 1930 it was proposed by Mr E H Cavaliero and seconded by Captain M Shuldham-Legh that it would be advisable to extend the course to 18-holes and to improve the general standard of its upkeep. It was explained that this would mean raising the subs to 5 guineas (2 guinea increase). The opinion of leading Golf Architects was being obtained. If a quick start could be made it was thought the any changes could be completed by Christmas.
Ladies' match played in November 1934.
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser Friday 16th November 1934. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In the mid 1930s the secretary was P G Bankart, telephone 4. The professional was T Dyke and the green- keeper W Oliver. A nine-hole course the station at Wadhurst was 1 mile away. Visitors’ fees were 3/- a day and 4/- a week. Local hotel was the Wadhurst Castle.
It was reported in February 1939 that Mr A C Matthews was to offer Wadhurst Castle for auction in April. The attractive freehold residential property, covering an area of about 100 acres, had its own private nine-hole golf course in the park and was situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Sussex.
The Google Map below shows the location of the former course.