Archive Record
WALTON HEATH GOLF CLUB: RECORDS, 1902-1991
Reference Number: 7894
Descriptive Information about the Record (click to expand) Provenance Deposited by the Club Secretary in January and March 2006.
-Introduction In 1902 Sir Cosmo Bonsor commissioned William Herbert Fowler, a leading amateur golfer and designer, to lay out a golf course on Walton Heath. The club was officially opened in May 1904 with an exhibition match between the legendary golfers Harry Vardon, JH Taylor and James Braid. A second course, also designed by Fowler, opened in 1907, firstly as a nine-hole course, extended to 18 holes in 1913.
In its opening year membership numbered 165 men and 52 women and the Club soon became one of the foremost in the country. The Club attracted many well-known names as players, including David Lloyd George, Winston Churchill and the Prince of Wales, who became Edward VIII during his year of Captaincy in 1935/36.
The Club was originally set up as Walton Heath Golf Club Company Limited with a Board of Directors. A number of share registers and certificates appear in this collection in section -/2/-. According to Phil Pilley (in Heather and Heaven, Walton Heath Golf Club, 1903-2003), by 1934 83% of its shares were held by Sir George Riddell, one of the directors of the Club, and managing director and proprietor of the News of the World newspaper.
By 1958 the News of the World owned 93% of the Club, later increasing its holding to 98.3% (see share ledger, -/2/9). The News of the World had first acquired shares in the Company in 1941 when Sir Emsley Carr, editor of the newspaper and chairman of the Club, died and his 37% holdings in the club company were transferred to the News of the World organization. In 1969 the News of the World organization under Rupert Murdoch decided to sell the Club. It was, after much negotiation, purchased by the members and became, in 1971, a members' club run by a committee elected by its members.
The Club has hosted over 60 major amateur and professional championships, including the 1981 Ryder Cup, five European Open Tournaments, and 23 News of the World Match Play Championships.
-The records - Related records For copy of formal agreement and notes on the setting-up of the golf course on Walton Heath, 1902-1905, and title deeds for the manor of Walton on the Hill, 1857-1902, see 585/3/3 and 585/3/5.
For papers and photographs of W Herbert Fowler, Managing Director of Walton Heath Golf Club, 1856-1917, see 6714/-.
Post-1971 directing Committee minutes have been retained by the Golf Club.
Heather and Heaven, Walton Heath Golf Club, 1903-2003 by Phil Pilley (Walton Heath Golf Club, 2003).
-Related records For copy of formal agreement and notes on the setting-up of the golf course on Walton Heath, 1902-1905, and title deeds for the manor of Walton on the Hill, 1857-1902, see 585/3/3 and 585/3/5.
For papers and photographs of W Herbert Fowler, Managing Director of Walton Heath Golf Club, 1856-1917, see 6714/-.
Post-1971 directing Committee minutes have been retained by the Golf Club.
Heather and Heaven, Walton Heath Golf Club, 1903-2003 by Phil Pilley (Walton Heath Golf Club, 2003).
-Access Conditions Records less than 40 years old are closed to public inspection.
-- Series information for this collection
series: 7894/1/ - MINUTES Scope: Post-1971 directing Committee minutes have been retained by the Golf Club. Date: 1902-1976 sub series: 7894/1/ - Board minutes Date: 1919-1971 Signed minutes of Board of Directors' meetings. 1 volume, indexed ... Title Signed minutes of Board of Directors' meetings. 1 volume, indexed Reference 7894/1/1 Unit Date 1 Nov 1919 -10 Oct 1952 Start Date 19191101 End Date 19521010 Signed minutes of Board of Directors' meetings. 1 volume, indexed ... Title Signed minutes of Board of Directors' meetings. 1 volume, indexed Reference 7894/1/2 Unit Date 14 Nov 1952 -17 Jul 1964 Start Date 19521114 End Date 19640717 Signed minutes of Board of Directors' meetings. 1 loose-leaf file ... Title Signed minutes of Board of Directors' meetings. 1 loose-leaf file Reference 7894/1/3 Unit Date 30 Oct 1964 -4 Oct 1971 Start Date 19641030 End Date 19711004
sub series: 7894/1/ - Pre-1971 committee meetings Scope: This was the main organizing committee of the Golf Club. Its duties included the approval of the election of new members, who are listed. Date: 1909-1964 Signed minutes of committee meetings. 1 volume ... Title Signed minutes of committee meetings. 1 volume Reference 7894/1/4 Unit Date 27 Mar 1909 -26 Apr 1947 Start Date 19090327 End Date 19470426 Signed minutes of committee meetings. 1 volume ... Title Signed minutes of committee meetings. 1 volume Reference 7894/1/5 Unit Date 17 May 1947 -12 Dec 1964 Start Date 19470517 End Date 19641212
sub series: 7894/1/ - Match committee Date: 1935-1938 Signed minutes of match committee. 1 volume ... Title Signed minutes of match committee. 1 volume Reference 7894/1/6 Unit Date 6 Jul 1935 -17 Dec 1938 Start Date 19350706 End Date 19381217
sub series: 7894/1/ - Ladies committee meetings Date: 1902-1959 Signed minutes of Ladies committee meetings. 1 volume ... Title Signed minutes of Ladies committee meetings. 1 volume Reference 7894/1/7 Unit Date 20 Jul 1902 -23 Jul 1936 Start Date 19020720 End Date 19360723 Signed minutes of Ladies committee meetings. 1 volume ... Title Signed minutes of Ladies committee meetings. 1 volume Reference 7894/1/8 Unit Date 5 Oct 1936 -3 Nov 1959 Start Date 19361005 End Date 19591103
sub series: 7894/1/ - Green and Handicapping committee Date: 1971-1976 Signed minutes. 1 volume ... Title Signed minutes. 1 volume Reference 7894/1/9 Unit Date 27 Nov 1971 -7 Nov 1976 Start Date 19711127 End Date 19761107
series: 7894/2/ - FINANCIAL Scope: For membership subscriptions see section -/3/-. Date: 1903-1980 sub series: 7894/2/ - Ledgers and journals Date: 1903-1938 Income and expenditure journal, arranged by date. Itemises expenses ... Title Income and expenditure journal, arranged by date. Itemises expenses such as catering, rents of Dormy House and Nursery Field, payments to caddies etc, and income from subscriptions, catering, cellar, green fees etc. Not indexed Reference 7894/2/1 Unit Date 1903-1938 Start Date 19030101 End Date 19381231 Ledger recording payments to individuals and businesses, arranged by ... Title Ledger recording payments to individuals and businesses, arranged by name. Indexed Reference 7894/2/2 Unit Date 1926-1938 Start Date 19260101 End Date 19381231 Ledger recording payments to individuals and businesses, arranged by ... Title Ledger recording payments to individuals and businesses, arranged by name. Indexed. Reference 7894/2/3 Unit Date 1929-1938 Start Date 19290101 End Date 19381231
sub series: 7894/2/ - Annual accounts Date: 1905-1980 Bundle of printed annual balance sheets and profit and loss accounts ... Title Bundle of printed annual balance sheets and profit and loss accounts for Walton Heath Golf Club Company Limited. Lacks 1920 Reference 7894/2/4/1-16 Unit Date 1905-1921 Start Date 19050101 End Date 19211231 Annual accounts for Walton Heath Golf Club Company Limited. Include ... Title Annual accounts for Walton Heath Golf Club Company Limited. Include profit and loss accounts and balance sheets. Some years also include detailed accounts and report. 1928, 1930-1931, and 1936 lacking. 1935 has report only Reference 7894/2/5/1-18 Unit Date 1918-1939 Start Date 19180101 End Date 19391231 Bundle of printed annual Directors' Reports and statement of accounts... Title Bundle of printed annual Directors' Reports and statement of accounts for Walton Heath Golf Club Company Limited. 1943-1944 lacking Reference 7894/2/6/1-13 Unit Date 1942-1956 Start Date 19420101 End Date 19561231 Photocopy of balance sheet and income and expenditure account for Wal... Title Photocopy of balance sheet and income and expenditure account for Walton Heath Golf Company Limited (stamped: 'Archives of the News of the World') Reference 7894/2/7 Unit Date 1970 Start Date 19700101 End Date 19701231 Printed reports of the Committee and annual accounts, 1976, 1977, 197... Title Printed reports of the Committee and annual accounts, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980 Reference 7894/2/8/1-4 Unit Date 1976-1980 Start Date 19760101 End Date 19801231
sub series: 7894/2/ - Shares Date: 1903-1971 Register of members and share ledger for Walton Heath Golf Club Compa... Title Register of members and share ledger for Walton Heath Golf Club Company Ltd. Indexed. Also includes register of transfers, debentures, particulars of directors, and annual returns of shareholders for 1903-1909 Reference 7894/2/9 Unit Date 1903-1971 Start Date 19030101 End Date 19711231 Register of transfers and debentures, particulars of directors and an... Title Register of transfers and debentures, particulars of directors and annual returns of shareholders for 1942-1947 of Walton Heath Golf Club Ltd Reference 7894/2/10 Unit Date 1942-1947 Start Date 19420101 End Date 19471231 Register of members and share ledger for Walton-on-the-Hill Manor Ltd... Title Register of members and share ledger for Walton-on-the-Hill Manor Ltd. Also includes register of transfers, directors and annual returns of shareholders, 1960-1969 Reference 7894/2/11 Unit Date 1959-1971 Start Date 19590101 End Date 19711231 Volume of share certificates for Walton Heath Golf Club Company Limit... Title Volume of share certificates for Walton Heath Golf Club Company Limited. Share nos 1 to 7666; 25 certificates. Gives name and address of purchaser and number of shares purchased. Reference 7894/2/12 Unit Date 5 Aug 1903 -16 Jul 1913 Start Date 19030805 End Date 19130716 Volume of share certificates, as -/2/12. Share nos 7667 to 9600; 15 ... Title Volume of share certificates, as -/2/12. Share nos 7667 to 9600; 15 certificates Reference 7894/2/13 Unit Date 16 Jul 1913 -11 Mar 1935 Start Date 19130716 End Date 19350311 Volume of share certificate stubs for Walton heath Golf Club Company ... Title Volume of share certificate stubs for Walton heath Golf Club Company Ltd. Gives name and address of purchaser and number of shares purchased Reference 7894/2/14 Unit Date 31 Aug 1935 -31 May 1971 Start Date 19350831 End Date 19710531
sub series: 7894/2/ - Agreement Date: 1942 Guarantee, by Sir Frederick Howard Hamilton, Sir Henry Strakosch and ... Title Guarantee, by Sir Frederick Howard Hamilton, Sir Henry Strakosch and the 'News of the World' Ltd to Coutts & Co, bankers, for repayment of any monies owed by Walton Heath Golf Club Co Ltd. (Cancelled). [Found inserted in -/2/12] Reference 7894/2/15 Unit Date 12 Feb 1942 Start Date 19420212 End Date 19420212
series: 7894/3/ - MEMBERSHIP Date: 1904-1991 Annual Subscription Book. Ledger arranged by year giving names of in... Title Annual Subscription Book. Ledger arranged by year giving names of individual members (Ladies and Gentlemen, in alphabetical order) and subscription paid, and summary accounts, 1919-1926. [For summary sheets 1913-14 and 1918-19 see -/3/2] Reference 7894/3/1 Unit Date 1913-1919 Start Date 19130101 End Date 19191231 Annual Subscription Book, as -/3/1, 1919-1926. Also contains summar... Title Annual Subscription Book, as -/3/1, 1919-1926. Also contains summary accounts for 1913-14 and 1918-19 Reference 7894/3/2 Unit Date 1913-1926 Start Date 19130101 End Date 19261231 Annual subscription sheets, as in -/3/1, 1927-1931, 1932-1936. [Sheet... Title Annual subscription sheets, as in -/3/1, 1927-1931, 1932-1936. [Sheets found loosely inserted in -/3/2] Reference 7894/3/3 Unit Date 1927-1936 Start Date 19270101 End Date 19361231 Annual subscription sheets, as in -/3/1. [Sheets found loose] ... Title Annual subscription sheets, as in -/3/1. [Sheets found loose] Reference 7894/3/4 Unit Date 1931-1932 Start Date 19310101 End Date 19321231 Annual subscription sheets, as in -/3/1. [Sheets found loosely insert... Title Annual subscription sheets, as in -/3/1. [Sheets found loosely inserted in -/3/1] Reference 7894/3/5 Unit Date 1936-1937 Start Date 19360101 End Date 19371231 Gentlemen's Annual Subscriptions. Ledger arranged alphabetically by ... Title Gentlemen's Annual Subscriptions. Ledger arranged alphabetically by name giving names and addresses of individual members and subscriptions paid, letters A-K Reference 7894/3/6 Unit Date 1914-1943 Start Date 19140101 End Date 19431231 Gentlemen's Annual Subscriptions. Ledger as -/4, letters L-W ... Title Gentlemen's Annual Subscriptions. Ledger as -/4, letters L-W Reference 7894/3/7 Unit Date 1914-1942 Start Date 19140101 End Date 19421231 Ladies' Annual Subscriptions. Ledger arranged alphabetically by name... Title Ladies' Annual Subscriptions. Ledger arranged alphabetically by name giving names and addresses of individual members and subscriptions paid Reference 7894/3/8 Unit Date 1914-1942 Start Date 19140101 End Date 19421231 Lady members resigned. Ledger arranged alphabetically by surname giv... Title Lady members resigned. Ledger arranged alphabetically by surname giving names and addresses of individual members and subscriptions paid. The ledger is possibly composed of pages removed from -/5 on resignation of member Reference 7894/3/9 Unit Date 1914-1930 Start Date 19140101 End Date 19301231 Register of handicaps, arranged alphabetically by surname (Ladies onl... Title Register of handicaps, arranged alphabetically by surname (Ladies only) Reference 7894/3/10 Unit Date nd [?1920s] Start Date 19200101 End Date 19291231 Register of handicaps, arranged alphabetically by surname (Ladies onl... Title Register of handicaps, arranged alphabetically by surname (Ladies only) Reference 7894/3/11 Unit Date 1931 Start Date 19310101 End Date 19311231 sub series: 7894/3/ - Visitors green fee books Scope: These give name of visitor, name of introducing member and fees paid. Later books also give the name of the visitor's club. Separate books were presumably kept for the 'Old' and 'New' courses for the later years, hence the two series in the 1980s. Date: 1904-1988 Temporary members book ... Title Temporary members book Reference 7894/3/12 Unit Date 6 Jul 1904 -2 Oct 1937 Start Date 19040706 End Date 19371002 Visitors Book ... Title Visitors Book Reference 7894/3/13 Unit Date Nov 1938 -Aug 1940 Start Date 19381100 End Date 19400800 Visitors Book ... Title Visitors Book Reference 7894/3/14 Unit Date Sep 1940 -May 1942 Start Date 19400900 End Date 19420500 Visitors Book ... Title Visitors Book Reference 7894/3/15 Unit Date May 1942 -Dec 1943 Start Date 19420500 End Date 19431200 Temporary members book ... Title Temporary members book Reference 7894/3/16 Unit Date Jan 1944 -8 Sep 1945 Start Date 19440100 End Date 19450908 Temporary members book ... Title Temporary members book Reference 7894/3/17 Unit Date 9 Sep 1945 -19 Oct 1946 Start Date 19450909 End Date 19461019 Green fee book ... Title Green fee book Reference 7894/3/18 Unit Date 20 Oct 1946 -28 Aug 1949 Start Date 19461020 End Date 19490828 Visitors green fee book ... Title Visitors green fee book Reference 7894/3/19 Unit Date 29 Aug 1949 -29 Dec 1951 Start Date 19490829 End Date 19511229 Visitors green fee book ... Title Visitors green fee book Reference 7894/3/20 Unit Date 30 Dec 1951 -25 May 1954 Start Date 19511230 End Date 19540525 Visitors green fee book ... Title Visitors green fee book Reference 7894/3/21 Unit Date 7 Aug 1983 -23 Apr 1985 Start Date 19830807 End Date 19850423 Visitors green fee book ... Title Visitors green fee book Reference 7894/3/22 Unit Date 24 Apr 1985 -31 Dec 1986 Start Date 19850424 End Date 19861231 Visitors green fee book ... Title Visitors green fee book Reference 7894/3/23 Unit Date 2 Jan 1987 -9 Sep 1988 Start Date 19870102 End Date 19880909 Visitors green fee book ... Title Visitors green fee book Reference 7894/3/24 Unit Date 30 Jul 1984 -27 Jul 1986 Start Date 19840730 End Date 19860727 Visitors green fee book ... Title Visitors green fee book Reference 7894/3/25 Unit Date 28 Jul 1986 -27 Mar 1988 Start Date 19860728 End Date 19880327
sub series: 7894/3/ - Suggestions book Date: 1971-1991 Suggestions book [suggestions for improvements/alterations at the Clu... Title Suggestions book [suggestions for improvements/alterations at the Club, with replies by the Committee] Reference 7894/3/26 Unit Date 29 Oct 1971 -22 Jul 1991 Start Date 19711029 End Date 19910722
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