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Maidenhead Golf Club, Shoppenhangers Road. (1896 – 2026)

Founded in 1896 with an 18-hole course. In February 1908 J H Taylor visited the club to advise on changes to the course.

An Artisans' Section was formed in the 1930s.

There had been plans to develop the Maidenhead golf course for housing for several years. The club and course finally closed in January 2026. It was proposed that the Maidenhead Golf Club would merge with and play over the Flackwell Heath Golf Club course from January 2026.

Report on the formation of the club in 1896.

Maidenhead Advertiser Wednesday 2 December 1896. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Reports on the opening in 1896.

Maidenhead Advertiser Wednesday 16 December 1896. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Golf Friday 12 February 1897. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Ladies' competition and mention of a ladies' course in July 1897.

Golf Friday 9 July 1897. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It was reported in Golf in November 1897 that the ladies’ links were now ready for play. The secretary Dr Beak, stated that there were now over 70 lady members.

In October 1898 a competition for a gold medal restricted to the twelve previous monthly medal winners was played, result; T Haig, 96-18-78; W H Lunnon, 93-8-85; Owen Spearing, 102-17-85; C Biddell, 96-10-86; G F Heath, 101-11-90; Major Bulkeley, 110-17-93.

Competitions played in January 1899; Wootten’s prize; T Haigh defeated G F Heath, 6 and 5; G F Heath Challenge Cup; G F Heath’s Challenge Cup; G F Heath defeated C Biddell, 4 and 2.

Match against Reading in November 1899.

Reading Mercury Saturday 11 November 1899. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Thanks to Dixon Pickup for the images below and following information – “Maidenhead Player’s Jacket button c. 1896 – 1910. Large size 23mm, two piece by E W Jackson & Co.,58 Gracechurch Street, London. Features the Ancient Seal of the town. Also a small cuff example, 15mm, same details.”

Match played in May 1900.

Berkshire Chronicle Saturday 26 May 1900. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1896; Number of members 230; 50 ladies; Hon. secretary – A J Berger, Elm Grove, Maidenhead; Captain, Col. F Clayton; Entrance fee £5/5s and subs £4/4s; 18-holes; Professional, A Simpson; Course records; Professional; A Simpson, 73; Amateur; R Harris, 72; Terms for visitors, 2s/6d green fee. The course is close to Maidenhead station (G.W.R.) and is situated on a hill with good views on all sides. The land is undulating and the subsoil is sand and gravel.

Competitions played in November 1905.

Maidenhead Advertiser Wednesday 8 November 1905. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The Bystander Wednesday 28 February 1906. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Leading scores in the Club Cup played in December 1907; L C Shone, 83-1-73; T Wootten, 89-14-75; D G Spiro, 79-2-77; A E Davis, 87-9-78; C R Mullings, 95-14-81; W H Lunnon, 82 scratch.

Visit of J H Taylor in 1908 to advise on changes to the course.

Globe Saturday 29 February 1908. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Vardon and Duncan match played in May 1913.

Berkshire Chronicle Friday 30 May 1913. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

At the general meeting in October 1921 Sir Walter de Frece, M.P., was unanimously elected captain in succession to Lord Athlumney.

In July 1922 the 36-hole competition for the Captain’s Prize played. The winner was J N Wilton, 183-30-153. The monthly medal was won by S F Oxhey, 87-9-78.

Golfer’s Handbook 1928 to 1933; Membership 300; Secretary, R Garrett Cox; Professional, Stanley Haynes; Green-keeper, D Baldwin; 18-holes; Course records; Amateur; Commander F R Barry, R.N., 71; Professional, James Braid, 71; Visitors (intro), 3s a day (5s weekend and bank holidays), £1 a week, 30s a month.

Match played at Maidenhead in May 1929.

Reading Standard Saturday 25 May 1929. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In December 1930 the club approved the formation of an Artisans’ section and the rules included the following “No members of the Artisans’ will be entitled to use the golf links while in receipt of unemployment benefit except by the express permission of the committee of the Maidenhead Golf Club.”

Golfer’s Handbook 1937; Membership 275; Secretary – J D Kenyon, “Tresco” Braywick Road, Maidenhead; Professional, Stanley Haynes; Green-keeper, D Baldwin; 18-holes, SSS75; Course records; Amateur; Commander F R Barry, R.N., 71; Professional, P Holland, 70; Visitors (intro), 3s a day (5s weekend and bank holidays), £1 a week, 30s a month; Licensed.

Artisans’ competition played in April 1939.

Reading Mercury 22 April 1939. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

It was reported in December 1939 that the members of the Maidenhead Artisans' Golf Club had undertaken to maintain the course belonging to the parent club in the event of wartime depletion of staff. 

It was reported in December 1942 that another ten acres of the Maidenhead golf course was to be ploughed for growing food.

Golfer’s Handbook 1947; Membership 350; Secretary, R H Johnson; Professional, Stanley Haynes; Green-keeper, D Baldwin; 18-holes, Par and SSS, 75; Course records; Amateur; W Y Forrest, 69; Professional; J Hawkins, 67; Green-keeper, D Baldwin; Visitors, 4s a day (7s/6d).

Earlier undated picture of the course.

Annual Dinner for the Maidenhead Artisans' Section in February 1949.

Golfer’s Handbook 1951; Membership 250; Hon. secretary, S Slater; Professional, J Hawkins; Green-keeper, D Baldwin; Course records; Amateur; W Y Forrest, 69; Professional; J Hawkins, 67; Green-keeper, D Baldwin; Visitors, 5s a day (10s).

Competition and hole-in-one in November 1954.

Reading Mercury Friday 12 November 1954. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer’s Handbook 1956; Membership 250; Secretary, R G Jacobs, O.B.E.; Professional, J H Hawkins; Green-keeper, D Baldwin; 18-holes, 6,070 yards, SSS 73; Course records; Amateur; D A S Robertson, 72; Professional; J H Hawkins, 63; Visitors, 5s a day (10s).

Golfer’s Handbook 1957; Membership 260; Secretary, W S Penfold; Professional, J H Hawkins; Green-keeper, D Baldwin; 18-holes, 6,239 yards, SSS 72; Course records; Amateur; D A S Robertson, 72; Professional; J H Hawkins, 63; Visitors, 5s a day (10s).

Golfer’s Handbook 1961; Membership 350; Secretary, W S Penfold; Professional, J Hawkins; Green-keeper, G Payne; 18-holes, 6,213 yards, SSS 72; Course records; Amateur; G S Smith, 69; Professional; J Hawkins, 63; Visitors, 7s/6d a day (15s).

Report on the course in July 1963.

The Sphere Saturday 13 July 1963. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer’s Handbook 1964; Membership 400; Secretary, W S Penfold; Green-keeper, G Payne; 18-holes, 6,213 yards, SSS 72; Course records; Amateur; G S Smith, 69; Professional; G Wolstenholme, 64; Visitors, 10s a day (£1).

Golfer’s Handbook 1966; Membership 400; Secretary, W S Penfold; Professional, Green-keeper, G Payne; 18-holes, 6,167 yards, SSS 69; Course records; Amateur; G S Smith, 69; Professional; G Wolstenholme, 64; Visitors, £1 a day (30s)

Golfer’s Handbook 1972; Secretary, H E A White; Professional, R Newman; 18-holes, 6,266 yards, SSS 70; Course records; Amateur; S Read, 67; Professional; G Wolstenholme and A N Walker, 64; Visitors, £2.

Golfer’s Handbook 1975; Membership 500; Secretary, Cmdr. J Morris, R.N. retired; Professional, R Newman; 18-holes, 6,345 yards, SSS 70; Course records; Amateur; S Read, J Parsons and J McBeath, 67; Professional; G Wolstenholme and A N Walker, 64; Visitors, £3.30p.

Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Membership 450; Secretary, F R Shaw; Professional, R Newman; 18-holes, 6,360 yards, SSS 70; Course records; Amateur; S Read, J Parsons and J McBeath, 67; Professional; G Wolstenholme and A N Walker, 64; Visitors, £8.

Golfer’s Handbook 1985; Membership 450; Secretary, D A Watkins; Professional, R Newman; 18-holes, 6,360 yards, SSS 70; Course records; Amateur; S Read, J Parsons and J McBeath, 67; Professional; G Wolstenholme and A N Walker, 64; Visitors, £10.

Golfer’s Handbook 1988; Membership 450; Secretary, B Kirby; Professional, R Newman; 18-holes, 6,360 yards, SSS 70; Course records; Amateur; M Briggs (1985) and L Hawkins (1986), 66; Professional; G Wolstenholme and A N Walker, 64; Visitors, £15.

Golfer’s Handbook 1991; Membership 750; Secretary, J Lindsay; Professional, C Dell; Course records; Amateur; M Briggs (1985) and L Hawkins (1986), 66; Professional; G Wolstenholme and A N Walker, 64; Visitors, £25.

Golfer’s Handbook 1994; Membership 600; Secretary J Lindsay; Professional, C Dell; Course records; Amateur; M Briggs (1985) and L Hawkins (1986), 66; Professional; G Wolstenholme and A N Walker, 64; Visitors, £27.

Reading Evening Post Thursday 18 September 1997. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 Golfer’s Handbook 1998; Membership 600; Secretary JS W Scott; Professional, S Geary; J Lindsay; Professional, C Dell; Course records; Amateur; M Briggs (1985) and L Hawkins (1986), 66; Professional; G Wolstenholme and A N Walker, 64; Visitors, £35.

Golfer’s Handbook 2002; Membership 600; Secretary, T P Jackson; Professional, S Geary; 18-holes, 6,360 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £35.

Golfer’s Handbook 2004; Membership 600; Secretary, J R Naguire; Professional, S Geary; 18-holes, 6,360 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £35.

Golfer’s Handbook 2006/7; Membership 600; Secretary, J Randall; Professional, S Geary; 18-holes, 6,360 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £35 (£50).

Golfer’s Handbook 2008/9; Membership 600; Secretary, J Pugh; Professional, S Geary; 18-holes, 6,360 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £37 (£40).

The club continued to be listed in the Golfer’s Handbook until it ceased publication in 2015.

Course scorecards and pictures.

Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WWII showing the Golf Course and Pavilion.

O.S Map Revised 1938; © Crown Copyright (year of publication ca.1947).