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The Naze Golf Club, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. (1928 - WW2)

It was reported in January 1925 that 120 acres of land had been purchased at the end of the Naze for a golf course. The area was being tilled in preparation for sowing in the spring. Mr E E Alexander M.P. for Leyton, bought the land and offered it for purchase outright to the promoters of the golf club at a cost of £5,500 over a period of 10 years. The cost of laying out the course would amount to about £3,500. Additional cost would be the clubhouse which would be built on “palatial lines.” It was hoped the course would be ready for play in early 1926. 

The Naze club was Instituted in 1928.

The 18-hole course was designed by James Braid. The first hole on the plan below is bottom left, it then runs in an easterly direction. The mostly well drained course was laid out on the cliff top with the sea on three sides. The Braid layout included seventy two bunkers and watering to all parts of the course.

The James Braid layout of The Naze Golf Course.

Interesting to compare the original layout with the overlay below. You can see the coastal erosion that has taken place over the years.

Holes, yardages and bogey score.

It appears that the Naze golfers were keen to start playing. Could they have been playing on a temporary course? Following is a result for the Coronation Cup which was played in April 1925!; R G Mack, 89-12-77; R H Andrew, 88-9-79; G O Heron, 85-5-80. The Hargreaves Cup (bogey); A Kearsley 3down; T Deacon, R H Andrew and F M Green 6down. The April medal; S M Green, 86-9-77; April bogey; R H Andrew (9) 1up.

Results of competitions played over the holiday in May 1925; Annual Cup (36 holes, final) D O Heron beat F T Goddard; Rath-Palmer Cup, R Beard, 80-11-69; E R B Upton, 80-7-73; R H Andrew, 82-9-73; Yeomans Cup (mixed foursome) M V Taylor and Miss Hoskins, 1up; D O Heron and Miss Hodges, 2down; Driving, E R B Upton, 307 yards; R G Mack, 300 yards.

August 1925 competition results; bogey, H V Upton, 4up; medal, E R B Upton, 74-7-67.

Result of the April 1926 medal; E R B Upton, 80-6-74; W M B Newcomb, 90-14-76.

From the Chelmsford Chronicle Friday 21 October 1927; "GOLF ON THE NAZE CLIFFS - Wonderful site of the New Course Now Ready for Play at Walton - The new golf course upon the Naze Cliffs is to be open for play on 1 November. Already a number of famous players, as well as prospective members, have tested the course, and it was in response to their urgent representations that Mr E E Alexander, M.P., agreed to make a commencement at this time.

His intention had been to have a formal opening in the spring, but so many players pointed out the remarkable dryness of the course in spite of the phenomenally wet summer, and urged that they should be allowed to play during the winter months when many courses are under water, that in the end Mr Alexander compromised, and agreed to an informal start in November, with the ceremonial opening to follow in the spring.    

The committee of the club have also decided that all those who put in their applications for membership on or before 31 October shall be excused from any entry fees. We are informed that there has been a rush of applicants. Many well known county people and famous golfers have been among the earliest to be accepted. There is no intention of curtailing the privilege, which will continue right up to the end of the month, and will apply to all classes of membership. This concession means thousands of pounds, but the committee are anxious that the original members of the club shall be in this advantageous position. No one who sees the course today can fail to be impressed by its wonderful possibilities, or be surprised that there should be a rush to join."

The following is an extract from a report that appeared in the Chelmsford Chronicle on Friday 9 December 1927. It was headlined – The New Walton Club; “Mr Howard W Franklin, the first captain of the new Naze Golf Club at Walton-on-the Naze “played himself in” on Saturday, and drove a ball from the first tee. Mr R F Garnham presided at a luncheon in the beautifully appointed clubhouse, supported by; Mrs Garnham, E E Alexander M.P, Mrs Alexander, Mr & Mrs H W Franklin, Mr & Mrs Dix, Brig.-Gen. Tufnell and others.

Interesting to note  that the above competition mentions "The New Walton Club," could this have been an earlier name?

The course had magnificent views which were second to none, with splendid view of the sea for fifteen of the eighteen holes. There were already nearly 300 members in 1927. 

The Naze clubhouse. Image courtesy of Frank Accleton.

From 1928 it  is referred to as the “Naze Golf Club”. 

In 1928 the secretary was J A Bolton the professional A Tingey, green-keeper H Cordell. Winter fees for visitors were 3/- a round and 5/- a day. Summer fees 7/6 a round and 10/- a day. Sunday play allowed.

There were over 80 entries for the open amateur meeting held at the Naze on Saturday 24 May 1930. Results; The Naze Cup, best scratch score played over 36 holes, C J Anderson (Muswell Hill) 75-82=157; The Douglas Challenge Cup, 36 hole handicap, F J Dobson (Naze) with an aggregate of  152. Both would have qualified for other awards but no competitor was allowed to take more than one prize. J S Brown (Clacton) won a scratch prize and M G Gibbs (Naze) a handicap prize.

At the AGM in June 1930 Mr G A Dutfield JP was elected captain.

In August 1930 record entries were received for the holiday competitions. The Seligman Cup, 18 holes bogey, was tied for by R Garnham (3) and F Garnham (6) both all square. In the play off R Garnham won 3up. The Grinter Challenge Cup, mixed foursomes over 18 holes resulted in a tie; Mrs Hulford and E S Wyer, 94-12 ½ - 81 ½ and Mrs Pugsley and C Willcox, 101–19 ½ -81 ½ Mrs Pugsley and C Willcox were the ultimate winners.

Monthly bogey August 1930, was a tie between, N N Bach (8) and W C Hepworth (14) 2down. Mixed foursomes, Mrs Bolton and W C Poyser, 90-16-74.

Result of the ladies’ medal played in September 1930; Mrs Bolton, 104-30-74; Mrs Hicks, 103-28-75. In a ladies’ team match the side chosen by the captain, Mrs Garnham, beat the secretary's team  by six matches to five.

Result of the November 1930 medal; G L Seabrook, 89-15-74; T G Grinter, 91-10-81; R F Garnham, 97-16-81.

The Ladies' open meeting at Walton-on-the-Naze in 1931. Author's Collection.

From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Membership of 500; secretary, J A Bolton; green-keeper, H Cordell; visitors - 4s a day, Sunday play allowed.

A prominent family of golfers at the Naze Golf Club were the Garnhams. In 1935 R F Garnham was Chairman at the club, Mrs R F Garnham was Lady Captain there was at least two other Garnhams Kathleen and Bob.

Kathleen Garnham was one of Britain’s leading amateur golfers prior to WW2. She was named golfer of the year in 1931 by fellow women golfers. She was a member of the British team which toured the United States in 1933. She was a member of the English Ladies Golf Union team which won the International matches played at Ranelagh (also now defunct) in 1934 and 1935. She won the French Open in 1933 and the Belgian Open in 1939. She was also an accomplished painter of portraits and landscapes.

From The Sketch Wednesday 2 August 1933. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

During the Second World War she served as an officer in the British Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. She moved to Baltimore in 1948 and married architect Charles M Nes Jnr.

She continued to play golf and was a member of the Green Spring Valley Golf Club, Maryland, where she won the club championship in 1972 at the age of 68. She also won the US Women’s Golf Association Senior Championships (70 years and over class) five of the first six years she was eligible, she missed out on six out of six because of a broken wrist.

Kathleen Nes died in a car accident in the US in 1990 at the age of 86.

The English team and winners of the trophy in 1934 at the Ladies Golf Union International meeting at Ranelagh Golf Club (now defunct); Left to right, Miss Phyllis Wade, Mrs Herbert Guedalla, Miss Diana Fishwick and Miss Kathleen Garnham.

Result of the monthly medal played at the Naze in January 1934; G L Seabrook, 99-11-88; J Fenn, 100-12-88.

The Tower, Golf Links and eighth green Walton-on-the-Naze. 

Walton-on-the-Naze golfers. From the Tatler 1935. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

From The Bystander 25 September 1935. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Personalities in the above picture from top left to right - (1) Frank Ritchie, Robert Warner (ex-captain); (2) Sir Albert Clavering, R F Garnham (chairman), J A Bolton (secretary); (3) H H Heap (ex-director); J C McTurk, A E Hillary. Middle row - (4) Walter Leuw, J Arnold Dix; (5) C Nethercott, F Mullis, F J Dobson; (6) W F MacLaglan, T C Price, J D Dean. Bottom row -  (7) C Clifford Reeves, L C Patterson; (8) H H V Carter, Major B Carlyon-Hughes; (9) J E Farr, S H Sutcliffe; (10) G Boon (steward), C G Bright (professional.)

Below are the results of club matches played against Chelmsford Golf Club on Sunday 26 July 1938.

The first team result played at Walton. The matches were played in pairs but the games were singles. Chelmsford winning 6 - 1.

The second team result played at Chelmsford. The home team winning 6 - 1.  

In 1938 and to its closure the secretary was J A Bolton telephone 97 and the professional C G Bright. The 18-hole course had a SSS of 75 and a membership of 500. Course records were, amateur L A Wilson 71 and professional C A Whitcombe 71. Visitors’ fees from October to June were 3/6 a round, 5/- a day, gents 15/- a week, ladies 10/6. Easter and Whitsun 5/- a round 7/6 a day. August and September 4/- a round, 6/- a day. Saturday and Sunday 5/- a round, 7/6 a day. Gents £1/5/0 a week. ladies £1. There was a licensed clubhouse. The station at Walton-on-the-Naze was one mile from the course.

On Sunday 6 August 1939 Miss Kathleen Garnham (Walton-on-the-Naze), the English international, won the Belgium women’s championship beating Mme J de Meulemester (Belgium) by 5&4 in the 36-hole final.

Chelmsford Chronicle Friday 11 August 1939. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In March 1940 a mixed foursome was played in which included two international golfers, Miss Pam Barton and Miss K Garnham, result; Miss Garnham and A Webb, 76-2-74; Miss Barton and S Gibbs, 80-3-77. Both ladies played of scratch. 

Two views of the course, fifteenth green (top) sixteenth green (bottom)

It was a thriving club up until the onset of WW2 when the land was requisitioned by the war department for the emplacement of anti-air craft batteries and observation posts. The area was virtually destroyed as a golf course and with no funds available following the war the club was never reinstated.

With the coast line erosion the sea has already claimed parts of  the former golf course.

A James Braid masterpiece lost forever.

Bartholomew Revised Half-Inch Map; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1943}.