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Reading (Caversham & South Oxon) Golf Club, Emmer Green. (1899 - 2021)   

The original Reading Golf Club was founded in 1899 with a course on Norcot Farm. See separate entry on this website for the history of Swindon Golf Club at Norcot. 

The Caversham, Caversham and South Oxon Golf Club (South Oxfordshire) appears in 1910 with a course at Emmer Green designed by James Braid.

It later became the Reading & South Oxon Golf Club but old habits die hard and its former title was often used. 

It became known as Reading Golf Club in 1939.

It was reported in 2019 that Reading Golf Club would be merging with Caversham Heath Golf Club and would be known as The Caversham. It was stated that the club would leave the Emmer Green site by March 2021. 

Part of the former Emmer Green course would be developed for housing. A portion of the course to the north was occupied by the nine-hole Fairways Family Golf Centre, this is now permanently closed.

Report on the formation of the club in 1909. 

Berkshire Chronicle Saturday 3 April 1909. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

James Braid visited the Emmer Green site of the Caversham and South Oxon Golf Club  on 1 March 1910. Originally a 12-hole course Braid added a further six-holes in April 1911. Woods and copses had a strong influence on the design.

Report on the new Caversham and South Oxfordshire Golf Club in February 1910.

Reading Observer Saturday 26 February 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Below a report on the opening of the clubhouse in November 1910.

Reading Observer Saturday 5 November 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competitions played on the Caversham course in 1912. 

Berkshire Chronicle Friday 10 May 1912. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Whitsuntide competition May 1913.

Berkshire Chronicle Friday 16 May 1913. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Results from the autumn meeting in October 1913.

Reading Observer Saturday 18 October 1913. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Reading Observer Saturday 25 October 1913. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In 1914 the secretary was C Pett-Triscott, Golf Club Emmer Green, Caversham and the professional Alec H Bishop (1910 -1920). An 18–hole course with a club membership of 325. There was no entry fee. Subs for gents were £3/3/0 and ladies £2/2/0. Visitors’ fees were 2s/6d a day, ladies paid 1/6 with no restrictions. Sunday play was allowed with caddies. The station at Reading was about 2 miles away.

Later in 1914 the secretary was Albert Bird. 

Below the course pre-WW1.

Ordnance Survey Map © Crown Copyright {1914}

Thanks to Dixon Pickup for the pictures of the South Oxon Golf Club buttons below. There is no mention of Caversham on the buttons but judging by the size (22mm and 15mm) there was probably no room for the full name. Dixon suggests that the buttons are most probably pre WW1.  

Above images courtesy of Dixon Pickup.

The report below mentions the Caversham and South Oxon Golf Club.

From The Reading Mercury Saturday 28 March 1914. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the October 1914 monthly bogey competition at Caversham & South Oxon; A W Barlow, 2up; W E Pope and R E Crofts, all square; J Bruce Simmons, 1down; O Taylor and H D Hawkins, 2down.

In November 1914 the ladies' section held a flag competition in aid of the Queen's "Work for Women" Fund; winner, Miss M A Norris; second, Mrs G S Abram; third, Mrs J E S Griffith.

Result of the Maitland Cup played in February 1915; Semi-final - R E Crofts beat J Lee, 2 and 1; W B Williams beat J Bruce Simmons, 1up; Final - W B Williams beat R E Crofts, 3 and 2.

During WW1 most of the course was taken over for ploughing, grazing and for the growing of crops.

Meeting of the lady members in November 1920.

Reading Mercury Saturday 20 November 1920.

A remarkable match was played In May 1922 in the final for the Crawshay Cup between F Neale and R Godden. The competition was played over 36-holes, in the event of the result being all square the same number of holes to be played again until a definite result was arrived at. Twice the full 36-holes were played and each time the match ended all square. On the third time of asking R Godden won at the 35th by 2 and 1. 

In the early and mid 1920s the secretary was J O Anderson, professional D Crook and the green-keeper ? Green. Course records were; amateur M E Neale 72; professional A H Bishop 69. Visitors' fees; 2/6 a day (weekends and bank holidays 3/6) 10/- a week, ladies 2/s.

In 1927 the secretary was H D Hawkins. Membership was about 320. Local hotel was the Bridge. 

In the late 1920s Caversham & South Oxon Golf Club disappeared and Reading & South Oxon Golf Club appears. 

From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Reading and South Oxfordshire Golf Club, Emmer Green; Membership of 325; Secretary, Major H Hawkins, D.S.O; Professional, D Crook; Green-keeper, Mr Green; Course records - amateur, M E Neale, 72; professional - A H Bishop, 69; Visitors - gents; 2s/6d a day (weekend 5s), 15s a week, ladies, 10s a week.

Golfer's Handbook 1937; Reading and South Oxfordshire Golf Club; Membership 325; Secretary - Major H Hawkins, D.S.O.; Professional, R H Flitney; Green-keeper, Mr Green; 18-holes, SSS 73; Course records; Amateur; M E Neale, 72; Professional; A H Bishop, 69; Visitors, 2s/6d a day (5s), 15s a week.

It was still appearing as the Reading & South Oxon Golf Club in 1937.

From The Bystander Wednesday 28 July 1937. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Below a report on the change of name to Reading Golf Club in May 1939. 

From the Reading Mercury Saturday 27 May 1939.

Result of a match played at Henley in May 1939.

From the 1947 Golfer's Handbook; Reading Golf Club, Emmer Green; Membership, 500; Hon. Sec., T Cornfoot; Professional and green-keeper, H Burrows; 18-holes, Par 71, SSS 72.

Course reconstruction in 1950.

Berkshire Chronicle Friday 7 April 1950. Copyright © 2025 Newspapers.com

Golfer's Handbook 1951; Reading Golf Club, Emmer Green; Membership 300; Hon. secretary - J G Maxwell, 31 Derby Road, Caversham; Professional, George Jackson; Green-keeper, W Kingston; 18-holes, Par 71, SSS 72; Visitors, 3s/6d a round, 5s a day.

Competitions played in October 1951.

Reading Standard Friday 12 October 1951. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1956/7; Membership 300; Hon. secretary - G R Ramsden, 82 Kidmore Road, Emmer Green; Professional, P Roberts; Green-keeper, W Kingston; 18-holes, 6,077 yards, SSS 73; Amateur course record; W A Goodwin, 67; Visitors, 5s a day (7s/6d).

Golfer's Handbook 1961; Membership 350; Secretary, I R D Napier; Professional, P Roberts; Green-keeper, W Kingston; 18-holes, 6,126 yards, SSS 71; Course records; Amateur; W A Goodworth, 67; Professional; H A J Young, 67; Visitors, 10s a day (15s).

Golfer's Handbook 1964; Membership 400; Secretary, R Taylor; Professional, M M Caines; Green-keeper, W Kingsyton; 18-holes, 6,126 yards, SSS 71; Course records; Amateur; W A Goodworth, 67; Professional; H A J Young, 67; Visitors, 10s a day (15s).

Golfer's Handbook 1966; Reading Golf Club, Emmer Green; Membership 400; Secretary, A R Addington; Professional, J Larrad; Green-keeper, W Kingston; 18-holes, 6,126 yards, SSS 71; Course records; Amateur; W A Goodworth, 67; Professional; H A J Young, 67; Visitors, 15s a day.

Presentation to Michael King in October 1969.

Reading Evening Post Saturday 25 October 1969. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1972; Membership 545; Secretary, A R Addington; Professional, J Larrad; 18-holes, 6,136 yards, SSS 71; Course records; Amateur; M G King, 65; Professional; J Larrad, 66; Visitors, £1.50p.

Golfer's Handbook 1975; Membership 545; Secretary, J A Hay; Professional, J Larrad; 18-holes, 6,136 yards, SSS 71; Course records; Amateur; M G King, 65; Professional; J Larrad, 66; Visitors, £2.20p.

Golfer's Handbook 1982; Membership 425; Secretary, Wing. Comdr. L V Denning; Professional, J Larrad; 18-holes, 6,025 yards, SSS 69; Course records; Amateur; M G King, 65; Professional; A P Morley, 64; Visitors, £6.

Golfer's Handbook 1985; Membership 425; Secretary, A N H Weekes; Professional, J Larrad; 18-holes, 6,011 yards, SSS 67; Course records; Amateur; M G King, 65; Professional; A P Morley, 64; Visitors, £9.

Golfer's Handbook 1988; Membership 688; Secretary, A N H Weekes; Professional, T P Morrison; 18-holes, 6,204 yards, SSS 70; Course records; Amateur; M G King, 65; Professional; A P Morley, 64; Visitors, £13.

Golfer's Handbook 1991; Membership 700; Secretary, A N H Weekes; Professional, T P Morrison; Course records; Amateur; M G King, 65; Professional; A P Morley, 64; Visitors, £25.

Golfer's Handbook 1994; Membership 725; Secretary, A N H Weekes; Professional, A R Wild; 18-holes, 6,212 yards, SSS 70; Course records - Amateur; L K Pearce, 67; Professional; T P Morrison, 64; Visitors fees , £27.

Golfer's Handbook 1998; Membership, 725; Secretary, T Jackson; Professional, A R Wild; 18-holes, 6,212 yards, SSS 70; Course records - Amateur; B Smith, 66; Professional; T P Morrison, 64; Visitors fees, £30.

Report on the history of the club at Emmer Green.

Reading Evening Post Thursday 8 April 1999. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Reading Evening Post Thursday 6 May 1999. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 2002; Membership 585; Secretary, R Brown; Professional, S Fotheringham; 18-holes, 6,212 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £25 (£40).

Golfer's Handbook 2004; Membership 600; Secretary, R Brown; Professional, S Fotheringham; 18-holes, 6,251 yards, SSS 70; Visitors, £30 (£45).

Golfer's Handbook 2006 - 2009; Membership, 600; Secretary, A Chaundry; Professional, S Fotheringham; 18-holes, 6,251 yards, SSS 70; Visitors fees in 2009, £40 weekday, £50 weekends. 

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