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Basingstoke (District Golf Club), Kempshott Park Course. (1907 - 2021)

The club first appeared in 1907.

The original nine-hole Basingstoke and District course was designed by the first Basingtsoke professional, Charles Lloyd.

The later Basingstoke Golf Club came into being in 1926 with a course on Kempshott Park. The 18-hole course was designed by James Braid.

It was reported in July 2020 that plans had been passed for 1,000 homes to be built on the Kempshott golf course.

The following message appeared on the Dummer Golf Club website – “We are happy to announce that Basingstoke Golf Club has acquired Dummer Golf Club. From 21 June 2021 Dummer Golf Club will cease to be and Basingstoke Golf Club will have relocated to their new home at Dummer.

Advert from the Hampshire Observer and Basingstoke News Saturday 11 April 1908 - "C Lloyd, Professional to the Basingstoke Golf Club has a large selection of Ladies' and Gent's CLUBS from 4s/6d each; Rubber Cored BALLS from 1os/6d a dozen. Clubs repaired. Course laid out."

Result of a competition played in September 1908. 

Hampshire Chronicle Saturday 3 October 1908. Images © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In 1911 the secretary was Frederick A Prance, Norn Hill House, Reading Road.  Frederick Prance was one of the founders of the golf club, he was also Mayor of Basingstoke in 1911. 

Result of a match played at Basingstoke against Reading Golf Club in September 1913.

The annual meeting of the Basingstoke & District Golf Club was held in Mr H E Powell's Music Room on Friday 14 April 1916, S L Bullock presided. Others present; F A Prance, hon. secretary; H E Powell, hon. treasurer; F R Phipps; W G Hailstone; B C Lear; P D Hoddinott; C Taylor. The club was shown to be in a highly satisfactory position.  

The two O.S maps below are both pre-WW1; the lower one shows the location of the first Basingstoke and District Golf Club course, just to the north of the railway station. The Basingstoke and District Golf Club was founded in 1907 and played on this course until the outbreak of WW1 when the course was requisitioned for the war effort.   

The map below shows a course on Kempshott Park home of the later Basingstoke Golf Club which came into being in 1926. This begs the question - who was playing over Kempshott Park prior to WW1. 

In the centre of the above map there is clearly a golf course to the south of Kempshott Park. O.S. Map Revised 1909; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1911}.

The above map shows the location of the earlier Basingstoke and District Golf Club course. The present Queen Mary Avenue and Oakridge Road are nowadays on the boundary of the above course. O.S Map Revised 1908 to 1909; © Crown Copyright {Year of Publication 1912}.

The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the first Basingstoke and District Golf Club.

At a public meeting in the town hall on Monday 24 January 1927 plans were put in place to create a new golf club for Basingstoke. James Braid had already visited the site in Kempshott Park, in December, and declared it “in every way favourable” he laid out the course of eighteen-hole in two loops, with greens as naturally sighted as possible.

Part of the course was playable by the autumn of 1927.

The completed course was formally opened on Thursday 29 March 1928. Below is a report on the opening of the golf course.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 14 April 1928. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

From the 1928 to 1933 Golfer’s Handbook; Hon. Secretary – T A Pullen, 27 Winchester Street, Basingstoke; 18-holes; Membership 200; Station at Basingstoke, 3 miles. 

Golfer’s Handbook 1937; Membership 250; Hon. secretary – T A Pullen, 12 Wote Street, Basingstoke; Professional, S Hills; Visitors’ fees, 3s/6d a day (2s/6d with a member), weekends and holidays, 5s a day (3s/6d). Licensed.

Report on the annual meeting in May 1939.

Reading Mercury Saturday 27 May 1939.

From the 1947 to 1951 Golfer’s Handbook; Membership 275; Hon. secretary – T A Pullen,12 Wote Street, Basingstoke; Professional, S Hills; Visitors’ fees, 3s/6d a day (2s/6d with a member), weekends and holidays, 5s a day (3s/6d).

Hants Golf Alliance meeting at Basingstoke in June 1953.

Portsmouth Evening News Monday 29 June 1953. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

From the 1956 Golfer’s Handbook; Membership 300; Hon. secretary – W J Lawrence, New Street, Basingstoke; Professional and green-keeper, S Hills;18-holes, SSS70; Amateur course record – H P Lock, 68; Visitors, 5s a day, weekend and holidays, 7s /6d.

Golfer’s Handbook 1957; Hon. secretary, F Richmond; Professional, S Hills; Green-keeper, R Willoughby; Visitors, 5s per round, 7s/6d a day.

Golfer’s Handbook 1961 to 1966; Founded 1927; Membership 250; Hon. secretary, F C Paskell (1961), J N Dolding (1964/66); Professional, S Hills; Green-keeper, A G Brant; Amateur course record – B Tarrant, 68. 

New amateur course record in July 1969.

Reading Evening Post Thursday 17 July 1969.Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The presentation to trophy winners took place in January 1970. Mrs E Russell-Cave, ladies’ captain, presented Mrs P Foden with the Coronation Salver. Captain of the club, W Balmforth, introduced his wife, Mrs U Blamforth, who presented the following prizes; Championship Salver – A Murray; President’s Putter – A Llewellyn; Gourlay Chambers – F Barrett and R Haycock; Bombay Bowl – Mrs Barrett and I Whyte; Lucas Coney Cup –G Russell-Cave; Ann Jones Salver – G Russell-Cave; Wallis Cup Jeremy Carter; Lewis Cup – A Bird; Baird Bowl – Ian Meiklejohn; Sixty-Six Bowl – W and J Cook; Burberry Cup – H Woolley; Bolton Cup – E Spencer; Sutton Trophy – Mrs M Clark and I Whyte; Wood Trophy – L Wooldridge. Ladies’ Competitions; Gordon Hubbard Bowl – Mrs E Russell-Cave; Baird Bowl – Mrs E Russell-Cave; Ryecroft Cup – Mrs R Hubbard; MacCallum Foursomes – Mrs R Hubbard and Mrs A Hatherly. 

Early picture of Kempshott House which was demolished in the 1970s due to the construction of the M3.

Kempshott House.

Golfer’s Handbook 1972 to 1975; Membership 650; Secretary, Stanley Johnston; Professional, S Hills; 18-holes, 6,230 yards, SSS 70; Course records; Amateur -  J Foden and J Meiklejohn, 66; Professional – I McDonald, 67; Visitors, £1, (£1.50 weekends).

Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Membership 650; Secretary, Norman Luker; Professional, Ian Hayes; Course records; Amateur – A R Murray, 63; Professional – I McDonald, 67; Visitors, £3.50p.

Golfer’s Handbook 1988; Membership 700; Secretary, P A Gill; Professional, Ian Hayes; 18-holes 6,284 yards, SSS70; Course records; Amateur – I S Whyte, 67 (1987); Professional, G Stubbington, 70 (1987); Visitors, £10.50p.

Golfer’s Handbook 1991; Membership 725: Secretary, I Osborough; Professional, I Hayes; 18-holes, 6,309 yards, SSS 70; Course records; Amateur – C Tuck, 67 (1989); Professional, G Stubbington, 65 (1989); Visitors, £14.

Golf Course Guide 1998 and 2004; Original course designed by James Braid; Professional, I Hayes (1998), Guy Shoesmith (2004);18-holes, 6,334 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £20.50p.

Golfer’s Handbook 2009: Membership 700; Secretary, S Lawrence; Professional, R Woolley; 18-holes, 6,350 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £40.

Course scorecards.

Kempshott Park scorecards and course plan.