The Internet's Most Comprehensive Guide

Bushey Hall Golf Club, Watford. (1897 – 2019)

Bushey Hall Golf Club was founded in 1897.

Bushey Hall Golf Club took over the Bushey Hall Course when the West Herts Golf Club moved from Bushey Hall to its present location in 1897. West Herts Golf Club began playing on the Bushey course in 1890 (see separate entry on this website for the early history West Herts Golf Club.)

It was reported in October 2019 that members of Bushey Hall had gathered to say goodbye to the club that had provided many happy memories and also some sad ones - membership had gradually declined over the years. It was planned to demolish the clubhouse to make way for flats. On the optimistic side it was stated that there were plans to erect a single-storey clubhouse and the members could return in a couple of years. Many members had found new clubs so it was unlikely that the club would be revived.

The club was listed as being “Permanently Closed” in 2023.

Report on the new Bushey Hall Golf Club in May 1897.

Harrow Observer Friday 7 May 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the visit of J H Taylor in October 1897.

Golf Friday 29 October 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Professional competition played in October 1898.

The Referee Sunday 9 October 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Advert for The Hall, Bushey, Herts in March 1899.

The Sketch Wednesday 8 March 1899. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

The winner of the April 1899 medal was D S Scholes, 89-10-79.

Results from the amateur open competition played in June 1899.

Herts & Cambs Reporter and Royston Crow Friday 15 June 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1897; Membership 340; Hon. Secretary, N Lindsay; Captain, T L A Gibbs; Entrance Fee, £3/3s and Subs £4/4s; 18-holes; Professional, J B Batley; Course Records; – Professional – J B Batley, 76; Amateur – A C Lincoln, 78;Terms for visitors, 10s per week, 25s per month, £2/10s per three months. The course is 3 miles 660 yards in length and the holes vary in length from 130 yards to 574 yards. It is laid out in a park, the turf being good, and the soil mostly gravel. Besides numerous sand bunkers, the hazards are spinneys, a large gravel-pit, and a watercourse.

Also listed in the 1905 Nisbet’s was the Bushey Hall Ladies’ Golf Club; Instituted in 1897; Membership 80; Hon. Secretary, Miss E Bennett; Captain,  Mrs B Schofield; Entrance Fee, £1/1s and Subs, £2/2s; Professional, J B Batley; Terms for visitors, 5s per week, 12s/6d per month, £1/5s per month.

Result of the Bushey Hall open professional tournament played in May 1905; James Braid (£100); J H Taylor (£30); Alex Herd (£25); Braid did the four rounds of 72-holes in 294.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 27 May 1905. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

In November 1905 the final of the Harmsworth Challenge Bowl took place when W J Barton beat J D Geddes 4 and 3.

In September 1907 E Burr set a new amateur course record of 75.

In June 1908 Robert Harris, the Scottish Amateur International, went round the course in 73, breaking the course record by 2 strokes.

Golf in a suit of armour in April 1912.

Daily Mirror Wednesday 24 April 1912. With thanks to Reach PLC. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.

In June 1913 Miss Cecil Leitch won the scratch prize at the ladies open meeting with a score  of 77.

Result of a match played in July 1914.

London Evening Standard Saturday 4 July 1914. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Below are pictures of Bushey Hall and the golf course from the 1920s.

From the 1928 Golfer’s Handbook; Bushey Hall Golf Club Ltd.; Membership 380; Secretary, J D Geddes; Professional, A F Kettley; 18-holes; Visitors, 3s/6d a day, Weekend, 10s  (5s with member), 22s/6d a week, £2/10s a month.

Professional competition played on the Bushey Hall Course in November 1929.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 23 November 1929. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

From the Golfer’s Handbook 1933; Membership 380; Secretary, J F Wyllie; Professional, A F Kettley; Green-keeper, G Smith; Course Records – Amateur; J S Pearson, 70; Professional: A F Kettley, 66; Visitors, 3s/6d a day, Weekend, 10s  (5s with member), 22s/6d a week, £2/10s a month.

Golfer’s Handbook 1937; Membership 380; Secretary, N T Garnet; Professional, T Burrell; Green-keeper, G Smith; Course Records – Amateur – M A Wiggs, 69; Professional; A F Kettley, 66; 18-holes, SSS 72; Visitors, 3s/6d a day, Weekend, 10s  (5s with member), 22s/6d a week, £2/10s a month.

The following text accompanied the pictures below in December 1939; “Will golf clubs that feel they would like to help raise funds for the Red Cross Sportsman’s Appeal, by staging a match and have Henry Cotton play in it, please write to us. Cotton’s services are entirely free and the gross amounts taken go to the Red Cross Fund. Only the very small local organizing expenses have to be defrayed by the club or some generous person.” Cotton visited Bushey Hall in December 1939.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Friday 8 December 1939. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

Golfer’s Handbook 1947; Membership 200; Hon. Secretary – A W Hings, 15 Chiltern Avenue, Bushey; Professional, T Burrell; Green-keeper, G Smith; Visitors, £3s/6d a round, 5s a day; Weekend and Bank Holiday, 7s/6d  round; 10s a day.

Golfer’s Handbook 1951; Membership 350; Hon. Secretary – J W Harle, 9 Avenue Rise, Bushey; Professional, A Andrews; Green-keeper, Course Records – Amateur; M A Wiggs, 69; Professional; A F Kettley, 66; 18-holes, Par and SSS 72; Visitors, £3s/6d a round, 5s a day; Weekend and Bank Holiday, 7s/6d  round; 10s a day.

Golfer’s Handbook 1957; Membership 400; Secretary – F C Adhimar, Corner Cottage, Stratford Road, Watford; Professional, A E Rowlands; Green-keeper, G Smith; Course Records – Amateur; M A Wiggs, 69; Professional; A F Kettley, 66; 18-holes, 6,149 yards, Par and SSS 71; Visitors, 4s a round, 6s a day; Weekend and Bank Holiday, 7s/6d  round; 10s a day.

Golfer’s Handbook 1964/66; Membership 300; Secretary, F Lyon; Professional, A E Rowlands; Green-keeper, L C Johnson; Course Records – Amateur; J Warrilow, 67; Professional; A F Kettley, 66; 18-holes, 6,149 yards, Par and SSS 71; Visitors, 7s/6d a round, 12s/6 a day; Weekend and Bank Holiday, 15s  round; 20s a day.

Golfer’s Handbook 1972; Membership 370; Secretary, Cdr. G A K McCombe; Professional, G McCarthy; 18-holes, 6,174 yards, SSS 69; Course Records – Amateur; J Warrilow, 67; Professional; A F Kettley, 66; Visitors, £1.35p (£1.75p weekend).

Golfer’s Handbook 1975; Membership 400; Secretary, R P Grey; Professional A E Rowlands.

Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Membership 450; Secretary, J Donnachie; Professional, Terry LeBrocq; 18-holes, 6,071 yards, SSS 69; Amateur course record – L M French, 67; Fees on application.

Golfer’s Handbook 1988; Membership 500; Secretary, J A Pearce; Professional, K Hughes; 18-holes, 6,071 yards, SSS 69; Amateur course record, G Kemble, 67.

Golfer’s Handbook 1991; Membership 600; Secretary, C A Brown; Professional, D Fitzsimmons; 18-holes, 6,099 yards, SSS 69; Course records; Amateur – M Bowen, 66 (1990); Professional – M Squire, 67 (1990); Fees, £18.

From the 1998 Golf Course Guide; 18-holes, 6099 yards, SSS 69, designed by Robert Stewart Clouston; Professional, Christian Mower; Green fees, £12 weekdays, £18.50 weekends.

From the 2004 Golf Course Guide; 18-holes, 6,099 yards, SSS 69; Professional, Ken Wickham; Fees, £26 (£33).

Golfer’s Handbook 2006; Membership 460; Secretary, R Penman; Professional, K Wickham; 18-holes, 6,055 yards, SSS 69; Fees, £25 (£32).

Golfer’s Handbook 2009 – 2014; Secretary, Gordon Dawson.

The Golfer’s Handbook ceased publication in 1915.

Course scorecards and pictures below.