BADGEMORE PARK 1972-2022 THE FIRST 50 YEARS
123 / NEAR THE DRINK
BADGEMORE PARK GOLF CLUB BADGEMORE, HENLEY UPON THAMES, OXON 1972 MEMBERSHIP PROSPECTUS COVER
INTRODUCTION
All of us who have played golf, whether as recent converts or as long-term addicts, will relate to (but perhaps not agree with) the quotation often attributed to Mark Twain that golf is ‘a good walk spoiled.’ (The quote was actually coined by American novelist Harry Leon Wilson in 1904). I guess that we all love the game, each in our own way – and for our own reasons. But how do we correlate that love of the game with the fact that – at the end of many rounds – we walk off the course with such a sense of frustration? Once again, we have failed to play to our expectations! It’s a question that many of us have tried to answer but failed miserably to do so. What is clear, though, is that golf is more than just the act of hitting a little white ball with a selection of clubs to complete a round in the fewest number of strokes. What brings us back round after round is the combination of the game; the company of the people that we play with; the staggeringly beautiful surroundings of many of the courses and – perhaps
most importantly – the memory of that great drive from the tee, the perfect iron shot to the green or the long putt holed. The Badgemore estate was a gift from William the Conqueror to Henry de Ferrers almost 1,000 years ago. It started life as a golf club in 1972 and has existed for a mere 50 of those years, built on what at that time was a stud farm belonging to the McAlpine family. Over the years, Badgemore Park has developed from a young course carved out of South Oxfordshire farmland to a mature parkland club that attracts extremely positive praise from members and visitors alike. The atmosphere at the club is always friendly and welcoming. In recent years Badgemore has moved with (and sometimes ahead) of the times in establishing itself as an equal-opportunities club, epitomised by the appointment of a lady as its sixth club president in 2017. Now 50 years since its foundation, Badgemore Park has firmly established itself on the golfing map. This book looks back over those first 50 years.
2 / INTRODUCTION
FOREWORD
It was on 15 July 1972 that Badgemore Park Golf Club was officially opened for play. At the men’s committee meeting in January 2021, mention was made that one of the members had put together a catalogue of the numerous club trophies and their origins. From that came the idea to create a commemorative book capturing the key events and anecdotes that have led to Badgemore becoming the club it is today. We took the idea to Jon Connell, managing director, and he threw his weight fully behind the endeavour. Time was then spent gathering the source material for the book. This ranged from looking at the personal collections of members – who had kept just about every communication that had been issued by the club over the years – to carrying out informal interviews to capture anecdotes worthy of retelling. As the club is constantly looking to improve and will never rest on its laurels, the next 50 years should be very interesting indeed. This celebratory book is a reflection on the past, the present and the future of our wonderful club. We hope you enjoy the read.
ABOVE: JON AND DI CONNELL
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1 THE LIMES The first is bordered by a row of lime trees to the right-hand side. In the spring, the scent from the trees is heady and provides a fabulous welcome to the course. In addition, they add spectacular colour to the course in autumn
4 / THE LIMES
5 / THE LIMES
THE LIMES YDS 374 PAR 4 S.I 11 YDS 369 PAR 4 S.I 11 YDS 344 PAR 4 S.I 7
1
FROM THE PRO: “A demanding opening
par 4 for all levels of golfer with an accurate tee shot required to find the fairway. A five is never a bad score, so those with a stroke should play this hole as a three shotter, with the approach coming from the right-hand side. The longer hitter should aim for the right side of the fairway for a clear view to a challenging green with plenty of undulation.”
6 / THE LIMES
BADGEMORE THROUGH THE AGES – 1066 AND BEYOND
“The Badgemore settlement in 1086 was made up of five hides (approximately 280 acres), seven villagers, three smallholders and one slave”
How many golf clubs could claim a direct line back to 1066 and William the Conqueror? The Battle of Hastings may not be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of Badgemore Park and yet the connection is indisputable. The site of an ancient manor west of Henley-on-Thames, the land on which Badgemore sits was gifted by King William to Henry de Ferrers, one of the knights who fought alongside him on that October day almost 1,000 years ago. The land had previously belonged to Godric, the Anglo-Saxon Sheriff of Berkshire. Held in high esteem, de Ferrers was later commissioned to work on the Domesday survey from which the Domesday Book was compiled. Among its pages is reference to the Badgemore settlement which, in 1086, was made up of five hides (approximately 280 acres), seven villagers, three smallholders and one slave.
The tenant at the time was recorded as ‘one Ralph’, whose successors adopted the surname ‘of Badgemore’. According to records, the Badgemore family remained connected to the site until the early part of the 13th century when tracts of land were sold off. Among the transactions recorded was the sale of around four hides to John de Grey, the Bishop of Norwich and a close confidant of King John. The land stayed within the Grey family and was, until the early 15th century, part of the Rotherfield Greys manor. No evidence has been found on the current estate for a main residence, although historians have suggested one may have existed near today’s Badgemore House. Nothing further is documented until the 18th century when Richard Jennings – master carpenter to Sir Christopher Wren at St Paul’s Cathedral – bought the estate from William Corderoy, a yeoman, in 1710.
7 / THE LIMES
It was on a plot of land close to the present Badgemore House that Jennings replaced a farmhouse with an impressive mansion that was reputedly built with the same bricks as those used in the construction of St Paul’s and brought to Henley by river. From Jennings’s death in 1719 until the late 1800s the property had a number of owners, among them Joseph Grote, who was appointed High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1786 and served as commissioner for Henley Bridge, which was opened in the same year. In 1883, the house and land were bought by Richard Ovey, the founder of the Henley Show, who came from a long- established local farming family. Ovey decided to remodel and enlarge the house and commissioned celebrated architect John Norton to redesign it. A photograph taken in 1886 shows a grand three-storey building with a brick façade and nine bays. The pedimented
CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: THE HOUSE INTERIOR 1880, EXTERIOR 1880, ROBERT EDWIN MCALPINE, ENTRY FOR WILLIAM HEPBURN MCALPINE ON THE FAMILY TREE KEPT AT FAWLEY HILL - COURTESY OF LADY MCALPINE
8 / THE LIMES
entrance is believed to have survived from Jennings’s original design. In 1890, Ovey acquired the Hernes Estate in Rotherfield Greys, to which the family moved around 1902. They retained ownership of Badgemore and leased the house to Richard James Mead, Admiral of the Fleet, the 4th Earl of Clanwilliam. In April 1905, Clanwilliam received a visit at Badgemore from Queen Carola of Saxony. He died at Badgemore in August 1907. In 1916 Ovey sold the house and the estate to Augustas Vlasto, part of a family of successful international merchants originally from Greece. He found the house too large, however, and between 1939 – 41 set about building a replacement immediately to the north. This is the current Badgemore House that sits adjacent to the eighth tee. It was built in the Georgian style and incorporated some doors and fittings from the original building. During World War II both houses were requisitioned, with the older of the two eventually being demolished in 1946, the year that Vlasto died. On the death of Augustas Vlasto in 1946, the house was taken over by his son Michael who lived in the new house until 1950. The eagle-eyed may have spotted the monogrammed rainwater hoppers on the side of Badgemore House facing the eighth tee. One carries the initials AV; the other MV. By 1950, the property and its grounds were in the hands of the McAlpine family, owners of Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd., the civil engineering company. William Hepburn McAlpine, the second son of Sir Robert, was living at Badgemore Park
with his wife Margaret Donnison and their daughter Margaret Elizabeth Henderson McAlpine (Miss) and her two adopted daughters Elizabeth Ann and Margaret Lynn. On William’s death in 1951, his widow (affectionately known by the family as ‘Great White Granny’), his daughter and two adopted granddaughters continued to live at Badgemore. William’s widow passed away in 1970 and the family put the estate up for sale (in October 1970). It included Badgemore House, a coach house (a stable and garage block with two flats over), an indoor riding school, The Shetland Stud (adjacent to the walled garden), The Lodge, Garden Cottage, West Lodge, and Home Farm (known as Badgemore Stud Farm) together with 120 acres of surrounding woods and parkland. The Coach House, now the clubhouse, was a six-car garage with staff accommodation above. One of WH McAlpine’s sons, Robert Edwin (Lord McAlpine of Moffat) was an enthusiastic racehorse breeder and ran a stud at Brackenhill, just outside Henley-on-Thames. It was there that his son Sir William built the current house Fawley Hill in 1960. In addition to the stud, the estate is shared with over 20 animal species, a restored Victorian railway station and a steam railway. In conversation with Lady McAlpine at Fawley Hill, we learned that when the Badgemore Park estate was sold, Miss McAlpine moved to another of the local properties owned by the McAlpine family, Westfield Farm (which they had purchased in 1948). Within two years, Badgemore Park Golf Club was open for business. But that’s another story.
MICHAEL VLASTO
In World War II, Michael Vlasto was awarded the DFC and Bar. On 28 April 1943, he piloted a Dakota aircraft, which landed 150 miles inside enemy territory in the Burmese jungle and rescued 18 wounded and sick men. To assist with the landing, the words ‘PLANE LAND HERE NOW’ and a white line had been painted on the ground. This was the first time an airborne rescue mission had been attempted and it led to the air recovery of the sick and wounded all over Southeast Asia. One description of the take-off from the jungle recounts ‘Michael Vlasto gripped the control column as the end of the field rushed towards his plane. The runway was too short and they were overloaded. With knuckles white and his face dripping with sweat, he pulled back on the stick and the plane staggered into the air, brushing against the treetops below.’ In 1972 Michael presented the newly formed golf club with its first competition trophy, The Vlasto Trophy.
9 / THE LIMES
2 THE LONG HAUL The longest hole on the course and the only par 5 on the men’s card at Badgemore, the name Long Haul is fully justified. Playing into the prevailing westerly wind only adds to the challenge
10 / THE LONG HAUL
11 / THE LONG HAUL
THE LONG HAUL YDS 497 PAR 5 S.I 7 YDS 477 PAR 5 S.I 7 YDS 456 PAR 5 S.I 3
2
FROM THE PRO: “The only par 5 on the
course and a great chance to pick up a stroke. A fairly straight hole, players should aim to leave 100 yards for their approach and avoid the well-placed bunkers short of the green. A long drive will give players a chance to hit the green in two – but if you miss the green, it will lead to a tricky up and down.”
12 / THE LONG HAUL
FAIRWAY TO GO
When the Badgemore estate was put up for sale by the McAlpine family in 1970, Henley locals Tony Duke (estate agent) and Godfrey Paddick (architect and surveyor) got together to explore what opportunities could exist for the 120 acres and associated buildings. The estate comprised: Badgemore House, Entrance Lodge, West Lodge, Garden Cottage, Stable and Garage Block with two flats over, Indoor Riding School, The Shetland Stud (adjacent to the walled garden), The Lodge, Home Farm (known as Badgemore Stud Farm) and 120 acres of land, railed gallop paddocks and surrounding woods and parkland. After much deliberation, they decided to purchase and develop the estate. Badgemore House, Home Farm (with 20 acres of land), West Lodge, Garden Cottage, The Orangery and the temple by the 18th tee were separated from the estate. Garden Cottage was purchased by Cyril Stevens (who went on to become the golf club’s first club champion). Tony Duke demolished The Orangery in the 1980s, building and then living in The Bothy, and Godfrey Paddick converted the temple into a small lodge. The remaining buildings and some 100 acres of land were developed as a golf and country club. The Shetland Stud occupied the land where the ninth green now sits and was removed when the course was created. Richard McDougall, who became the club’s first professional, recalls: “In the early 1970s I was teaching Herman Paddick, a senior member at Henley, whose nephew Godfrey Paddick was part of a group who had purchased land at Badgemore. They were working on what to do with
the estate – one option was to develop it into a fine golf course and upmarket club. He suggested that we meet to look at the project and asked if I would like to be the first club professional. This was very exciting, especially as new courses were fairly rare then. With such a prestigious location it was a great plan – and opportunity – as golf was rapidly gaining popularity at that time.” Tony and Godfrey joined forces with Harry Gold (solicitor and company director) and added Renee Paddick (schoolteacher) as a fourth director. Godfrey was an architect, and he designed the conversion of the stable block into the clubhouse. Godfrey’s father, Sydney Paddick, owned a building company based in Sonning-on-Thames and they carried out the building work. Having decided that golf was the way to go, Badgemore Park Golf Course was put into development. The directors secured the services of international golf course architect Robert Sandow (Bob) to design and build the course. As well having a love for golf, Bob had been a flight lieutenant in the RAF and fought in the Battle of Britain, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross. He played alongside the likes of Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson during his membership of the USPGA. He also met and played alongside Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Andy Williams in pro-am tournaments and represented Canada in international matches. Bob turned his hand to designing and building golf courses and worked for a time with Robert Trent Jones, one of the world’s leading golf-course architects. He went on to become director of golf to the Shah of Iran and was building
“He suggested that we meet to look at the possible project and asked if I would like to be the first club professional. This was very exciting” - RICHARD MCDOUGALL
ABOVE: BOB SANDOW COURSE ARCHITECT
13 / THE LONG HAUL
a golf course on Kish Island for the Shah. With the revolution in 1978 and the arrival of Ayatollah Khomeini, Bob fled Iran, leaving behind a fortune; his dreams shattered. Tony Duke recalls: “Bob escaped in the bottom of an Arab fishing boat with nothing but two gold presentation medals from the Shah – which he proudly showed to me.” Following his arrival back in the UK from Iran, Bob continued designing and building golf courses. Examples of his notable projects were The Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club in Wales, built on the Rolls (of Rolls Royce fame) estate, and The Grove in Hertfordshire (where he was club president). In total, Bob designed more than 170 golf courses around the world. On a point of interest, Bob designed both Badgemore Park and (in collaboration with Sir Henry Cotton) what is now the sister course at The Drift. Bob Sandow designed 13 preliminary layouts for Badgemore before arriving at the final design. ”We walked and stepped out the last one in pouring rain, just to be sure” says Tony. The clever design of a beautiful 18 holes within a tight boundary was done with great thought. Bob Sandow described the design of the golf course as basically of North American origin in its variation and designed essentially for total grooming by efficient and “newly conceived” mechanical means to reduce manpower. The tees are, in the main, kept fairly low to the surrounding area. Few fairway traps are used, instead by careful layout of the ‘rough’ and by the use of trees and vegetation or hazards and narrow curved fairways (there are four proper doglegs), a high skill will be demanded of the golfer. The putting surfaces are not large and are surrounded by large bunkers in the true sense of the word, not merely sand splashes. They are subtly and strategically placed. In view of the ideal subsoil very little land drainage has been necessary and the course will probably be fully
playable while other courses are waterlogged. The course is designed to become progressively more difficult. It has been laid out to ensure a quick get-away from the first tee to minimise any delay. But, Bob reckoned that the last four holes would have people “talking to themselves” and no doubt it would be a topic for conversation at the 19th. Badgemore was designed to be a modern test of golf, to up-to-date standards, and would compete with the very best. The project was completed and Badgemore Park Golf Club established in the estate in 1971 and 1972, which was a remarkable achievement. FROM THE ORIGINAL MEMBERSHIP PROSPECTUS: ‘The consortium having decided that the estate could provide a delightful parkland 18-hole golf course, for which there is great demand in the area, has formed a company to promote the design and construction of a suitable course. There has been made available to that company, Badgemore Park Golf Club Limited, some 100 acres of land, the indoor riding school, the large garage and stable block, the pony stud buildings and the walled garden together with access drives and parking areas etc., essential to the proper layout of the course and the running of the club. In this layout, use has been made of the many existing natural contours and features and it is intended to carry out a considerable amount of re-afforestation especially in the far western area.’ Richard McDougall comments: “Whilst the course was being built, I was able to start giving lessons and also, in a small way, was able to help with the construction and even seeded the ninth green.” The golf course has clearly continued to evolve and has matured so well and looks magnificent.
FROM TONY DUKE: “When the course was first started it was very open at the far end and used to grow oats. It was also full of stones on the top surface, so we used the local Cubs to pick them up with myself as the ice cream and soft drinks man (one of those hot summers!). I think we gave them two large tents as a thank you.”
ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: TONY DUKE, MARK HOWELL, TERRY WALLBANKS, JOHN MOORE
14 / THE LONG HAUL
TONY DUKE RECALLS: “To put some character in the far end and some
delineation between the holes, we were fortunate to be creating the course at the time of the Valley housing development. When they were on a third try at getting the roads carved out of the chalk and needed a place to dispose of it, we struck a deal with the contractor to clear the topsoil, deposit and grade the chalk and replace the topsoil to form our mounds of today, at the third and 11th fairways. Some 16,000 cubic yards were deposited with them paying the club two shillings and sixpence per cubic yard. That’s 12.5p! The initial cost to build the course and alter the stable block into the clubhouse was about £60,000 each.” Squash courts were constructed in the walled garden, with plans to build an indoor swimming pool and saunas at a later date. FROM FORMER CUBS AND LONG-TERM BADGEMORE MEMBERS KEVIN WOODS (PICTURED HERE ON THE LEFT) AND MARK STEVENS: KEVIN RECALLS: “We each carried a bucket, filled it and then threw the stones into a trailer that was being towed alongside” MARK RECALLS: “As an incentive one flint in the field had been marked with a symbol and whoever found that flint on the day won a prize – a compass if I remember correctly.” They have very fond memories of collecting stones and then sitting in the ‘barn’ (indoor riding school), to eat their sandwiches sitting on the straw bales that were stored in there.
The former stable block built by Richard Ovey in 1885 (by that time a six-car garage) was converted into a clubhouse, while Vlasto’s Badgemore House became offices. In 1971, a promotional flyer to attract members was produced. It contained a proposed course layout that included some interesting characteristics: the practice putting and 18th greens were located in the middle of what is now the car park, the fourth, seventh and ninth tees were all on one hexagonal teeing ground, the first and 10th holes shared a single teeing ground and the pro shop was located in the indoor riding school adjacent to the first tee.
15 / THE LONG HAUL
3 SID’S ELBOW The hardest hole on the course and deserving of its stroke index 1 on the men’s card, the third is a right-angle dogleg to the left from the tee. It’s named after Carry On film actor Sid James, who hit the official opening tee shot at the club on 15 July 1972
16 / SID’S ELBOW
17 / SID’S ELBOW
SID’S ELBOW YDS 460 PAR 4 S.I 1 YDS 455 PAR 4 S.I 1 YDS 429 PAR 5 S.I 11
3
FROM THE PRO: “One of the toughest holes on the course, this sweeping dogleg to the left presents many challenges. The tee shot looks narrow, but the landing zone is wider than it appears. Out of bounds to the left, right and through the fairway means accuracy is a premium. Playing this hole as a three shotter is a sensible play. Those aiming to get home in two should aim their tee ball 15 yards left of the marker post to leave a long iron approach into a very narrow green. Attack this hole at your peril!“
18 / SID’S ELBOW
THE EARLY YEARS – OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
The drive for members started with a meeting at Henley Town Hall in June 1971, where the founders asked for a number of men volunteers to form a committee to assist them with the formation of the club. In spring of 1972, a formal brochure was created and adverts placed in the local press. Each founder member was required to purchase a share in the club (£100 for a seven-day member for a Class A share and £50 for a five-day member for a Class B share). The annual fee for a seven-day member was £75 and five-day membership fees were £40. When it opened its doors, the club was to consist of golf and social memberships, with squash membership to be added once the courts were constructed (this was completed by June 1974). On 15 July 1972, Badgemore Park Golf Club was completed and ready to welcome members for play. The radio, television, and film personality Sid James of Carry On film fame cut the ribbon and hit the opening tee shot to officially declare the course open for play. As reported in the Henley Standard at the time: “I last played golf 22 years ago and I’m never playing again,” said Sid James. “It’s too much graft. I’d rather go fishing.” The reporter went on to observe ‘He is, however, an interesting golfer. His first swing on the first tee at Badgemore was full of style and power but unfortunately it missed the ball. With his next swing he did rather better. The ball stayed where it was, but his club sailed merrily over the nearest hedge!’
After a champagne reception, three local professionals joined first club professional Richard McDougall to play an exhibition game of nine holes on the back nine. “As you can imagine, it was very nerve-racking in front of the new members, many of whom had not seen me before” recalls Richard. “I managed a birdie at the 11th hole, which was the first birdie at Badgemore, so I managed to pass the test.” The opening golfing exploits turned out well despite the more serious golfing event taking place at Muirfield that day. Guy Hunt and Malcolm Gregson were the attached professionals of the club when it opened. The course at Badgemore From its conceptual design, there are some notable things to point out: The order of the holes on the front nine was different to today The length of the course was longer Par for men was 72 The first and 10th tees shared a teeing ground There was a hexagonal tee box serving the now fourth, seventh and ninth holes The 18th green and practice putting greens were in the middle of what is now the car park The tee boxes were designated as Red, White and Blue. When the course was opened for play, the hole routing remained as per the design, but par was 71 off both the White and Red tees. The White Course measured 6,340 yards
ABOVE AND BELOW: SID JAMES AT BADGEMORE
19 / SID’S ELBOW
20 / SID’S ELBOW
and the Red Course 5,775 yards. The change in par was due to the fifth hole (now the eighth) being reduced from a par 5 to a par 4. Par for men was further reduced to 69 with par on the 11th and 16th holes being changed from 5 to 4. The indoor riding school housed the professional shop and a large open area that had the potential to be used as an indoor driving range or for other indoor sports. Barbara Pointing was appointed to run the Ladies ‘Famous Grouse’ event when players from all over the country played at Badgemore Park. The first hole-in-one came shortly after opening day on a Sunday afternoon. “John [her husband] and I were playing with Alan Gerrard,” says Barbara. “On the 17th, Alan scored the first hole-in-one at Badgemore. The three of us rushed into the bar for Alan to buy everyone drinks – but it was almost empty, so Alan had a cheap round!” The club developed at pace and soon became established in the area. From the start, it acquired a reputation as an open, friendly and welcoming place for both established and new members. The club’s first-ever competition took place on 8 October 1972 for the Vlasto Trophy. The trophy had been presented to the club by Michael Vlasto who had lived in Badgemore House until 1950. The following weekend there was a presentation evening, which was followed by a buffet dance. Tickets were £1.75 per person which covered the cost of the band and buffet. Five-day golf Membership included five-day from the start, but it wasn’t until 1977 that any competitive golf was organised for the five-day membership. At this time, five-day membership included associate members from Thames Valley Police, Reading Area Fire Service and, for a time, an element of the
Royal Air Force at High Wycombe and West Drayton. The Club Captain at the time, George Gooch, had encouraged the formation of a five-day committee under the chairmanship of Dawson Whitman. By 1989, the membership comprised a total of 920 members. Seven-day men 400 Seven-day ladies 20 Five-day men 220 Five-day ladies 30 Joint seven-day (persons) 160 Joint five-day (persons) 90 Total 920 Pro-Am competitions The first pro-am at Badgemore took place in September of 1980. In 1989, 1990 and 1991, three quite special pro-am competitions were held at Badgemore Park. This was in the early days of what was to become the European Tour and touring pros regularly teed it up with club professionals. Notable players in 1989 were Bernard Gallacher, Barry Lane, Paul Way, Roger Chapman and Jamie Spence. In 1990, Bernard Gallacher and Paul Way returned and were joined by Brian Barnes and Craig Defoy. Paul Way returned once more in 1991 and was joined by Tommy Horton, Malcolm Gregson and Guy Hunt. It is interesting to note that Bernard came out the winner in his two appearances, sharing first place in 1989 with Mark Howell and Peter Harrison. Roger Chapman commented that the third hole was the hardest that he’d ever played! Mickey Walker Mickey Walker visited Badgemore in February 2002 to give a talk to the ladies. Mickey was a ladies professional who
LEFT: BADGEMORE IN 1972
21 / SID’S ELBOW
turned professional in 1973 and played on the USA based LPGA Tour from 1974 to 1981. She was a founding member of the Ladies European Tour and won six times between 1979 and 1984. Mickey was Europe’s Solheim Cup captain the first four times the cup was held in 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1996, captaining Europe to its first victory in the competition in 1992. Starter The official starter from 1987 to 2003 was Oliver Dyer. He joined Badgemore in 1973 as a five-day member and was invited to become the club’s official starter in 1987 (he had retired five years earlier). Although many members used the affectionate abbreviation of Ollie, he preferred to be known as Oliver. When interviewed in 1994, Oliver had this to say: “I have seen a lot of changes in my time as starter. I love my job; the members are so very friendly, although I do get a bit shirty when the odd one or two hold things up – when they turn up on the tee without their clubs or a scorecard or needing to go to the loo. The atmosphere and spirit in the club recently is absolutely brilliant.” Changing hands The club was first put up for potential purchase by the members in 1974. A meeting was called for 8pm on Tuesday, 10 December at Henley-on-Thames Town Hall for members to explore the possibility. A figure of £500,000 had been mentioned as a possible purchase price. This would be the first of three such considerations by the membership between 1974 and 1997. In 1975 the club name was changed to Badgemore Park Country Club. The club stayed in the ownership of two of the original directors and founders until it was acquired by KF Holdings Limited in October 1987. KF Holdings was owned by Mr John Steven. In December 1987 the name changed
1972
BADGEMORE PARK COUNTRY CLUB
RULES & FIXTURES
22 / SID’S ELBOW
Clubhouse extension and new pro shop Following the demolition of the indoor riding school, the pro shop had been operating out of a portacabin located close to the first tee. A decision was made to extend the clubhouse to create a new two-storey facility. Upstairs was The Hadleigh Suite, named after the owners. It comprised a function room that included a bar, dining area, lounge area, large dance floor and private entrance, loos etc. Downstairs was the new pro shop, and an office at the back with a separate entrance. The opening of the Hadleigh Suite was 18 April 1992, by Ken Arlett who was Henley mayor at the time (Ken was later to become club captain). From Ken’s old mayor books, we know that this was his 299th official function of his year so far. It was a formal Easter ball and dinner and of course, Ken knew most of the guests. Very little investment was made in the course during this time, a far cry from years to come. The start of the next 25 years In April 1997, Costpark announced that the club was up for sale. Once again, then club captain David Roe announced that the committee was looking at the feasibility of a members’ buyout. Before anything could be put in place, it was discovered that the club had already been sold. This final change of ownership took place on 26 June 1997 when the club was acquired by the Connell family. This included all facilities on the site, with the exception of Badgemore House. The Badgemore estate was finally reunited in 2013 when Badgemore House was acquired by the owners. Previous owners of Badgemore House along the way included Hallmark Cards and Sun International (of Sun City golf fame in South Africa).
again to Badgemore Park Golf Club and was incorporated as The Leisure Group. At the club’s AGM in January 1988, John Steven announced that he had plans for the development of the club that included building a timeshare unit housing 20 to 30 flats, a new professional shop and management office. Later that year, the indoor riding school was demolished to create space for the proposed timeshare development. Land from the 16th fairway was required and the layout of the 16th and 17th holes was changed. The 17th green became the 16th green, and the 16th green became the 17th green. A new tee was installed between the bunker that now sits to the front right of the 17th green and the conifer hedge by the 18th tee. There was a long walk back from the 17th green to the 18th tee. The course layout remained this way for about a year before it reverted to the original routing. In late 1988, the club was acquired by Hadleigh Holdings inc. (a Middle-Eastern shipping company owned by the Nanji brothers who had made their money in the oil and gas business). The club-facing representative of Hadleigh Holdings was Mr Shiraz Rahemtulla. In April 1989, club captain Theo Ziffo announced that Hadleigh Holdings inc. had decided to sell the club and that the committee was investigating the feasibility of a member buyout. In late 1989, Costpark Limited was appointed to manage the club on a day-to-day basis. They were represented by Jim Park (MD) and Rod Park (general manager and professional golfer). Roddy was one of the best amateur golfers at the time and defeated Jose Maria Olazabal in the World Amateur Championships at Hillside. Mary Morley took over as general manager in 1995.
“I love my job; the members are so very friendly, although I do get a bit shirty when
the odd one or two hold things up.”
ABOVE: OLIVER DYER
23 / SID’S ELBOW
4 DEER LEAP An abundance of wildlife can be seen while out on the course at Badgemore. This includes the variety of deer that regularly cross the fairways. The fourth is a favourite for the deer to graze, especially on a warm summer’s evening with the sunshine on their backs
24 / DEER LEAP
25 / DEER LEAP
DEER LEAP YDS 223 PAR 3 S.I 13 YDS 175 PAR 3 S.I 13 YDS 140 PAR 3 S.I 17
4
FROM THE PRO: “A long par 3 to a green guarded by two bunkers either side that slopes from right to left. Aim between the bunkers on the tee shot, and taking an extra club here is never a bad play. There is less danger at the back of the green and it will also leave an uphill putt, rather than a downhill chip. Three is a great score.”
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THE CONNELL FAMILY
It was Lorraine (Larry) Connell who started the family in the property field. The story goes that Larry, who was from very humble beginnings and one of eight siblings, borrowed £100 from under his mother’s mattress, bought a house in Luton, sold the house to a young couple for a small profit and founded Connells estate agents in 1936 with a single branch. After devoting his working life to the business, Larry saw Connells become a nationwide success. In 1984, it became one of the first estate agencies to obtain a full listing on the London Stock Exchange. Larry had sold the business by then but remained a well-known figure in the property field for the rest of his life. Larry’s son, Michael Connell (later Sir Michael) was born in 1939. He was lucky enough to be given a scholarship to Harrow School where he excelled both academically and at sport. He was head boy and captained the school boxing team. One Saturday morning during term time, Sir Michael was summoned to see his father, who had arrived at Harrow to pick him up. Then aged 16, he was already a proficient amateur jockey, and his father wanted him to ride in a
“Sir Michael raced the course on his thoroughbred, Sandyland, hanging on for dear life as the horse cleared fence after fence”
Sir Michael stepped away from the family business and went up to Brasenose College, Oxford, to read law. He was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1962. Excelling in both his criminal and family practices, he chose to concentrate on the latter and became a QC in 1981. After service as a recorder from 1980 to 1981, he was appointed a High Court judge and knighted. Sir Michael met his wife Annie (Lady Anne) in the late 1950s through their mutual love of horses. Annie was a renowned amateur show jumper and had a passion for horse racing. The couple married in 1965. In 1990, the family moved to Steane Park in Northamptonshire and, over the next 20-odd years, Sir Michael and Lady Anne enjoyed training horses on their home gallops.
demanding point-to-point race at Friars Wash in Hertfordshire. Sir Michael raced the course on his
thoroughbred, Sandyland, hanging on for dear life as the horse cleared fence after fence. He arrived at the finish, exhausted after the physical effort and concentration, to find that he had won! This was a remarkable achievement given that he had not trained at all to develop the fitness for such a demanding race. This flair and easy-going, natural talent with people and horses was to become a lifelong trademark.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: JON, SEAN, LADY ANNE, SIR MICHAEL, LISA AND SIMON
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SIR MICHAEL AND LADY ANNE
Jon recalled: “Previous owners had promised much but had delivered little by way of improvements to the clubhouse and the course – and that had to change if we were to become a thriving club. I clearly remember a getting-to-know-you meeting in the Fairway Suite when I stood up, fresh-faced, in front of committee members and the club’s powers that be and said what a wonderful place Badgemore was going to become. There had been a chequered history of ownership however, and I believe there was a great deal of scepticism in the room. They had heard it all before. Among those asking questions that day were Ken Arlett – Henley’s mayor a few years earlier, who has since gone on to serve a second term – Mike Wood, who went on to become Club Captain and Alison Wood that year’s Lady Captain. Also in attendance were the SAGS, the Saturday and Sunday afternoon golfers, who were a big clique within the club at the time. As new owners, we soon realised we had a lot to prove. Some staff moved on when we took over and others stayed with us. Among them was Lindsay Anderson, our esteemed course manager, who has been with the club for 31 years and has overseen the development of a course that has gone from being open and lacking in definition to arguably one of the finest parkland layouts in the county.”
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Sir Michael served on the Jockey Club’s disciplinary committee and represented the club on the board of the British Horseracing Authority. Famously, Sir Michael was chosen to investigate the 1993 ‘Grand National that never was’, when the jockeys continued to race after a second false start! The racing journalists of the time gave Sir Michael a huge ribbing when he gave his judgement. Besides cricket (he was a long-time member of the MCC), golf, horse racing and hunting, Sir Michael maintained a lifelong involvement with Harrow School, where he was chairman of governors in the 1990s and sent his three sons. Sir Michael and Lady Anne had four children: Sean, Jon, Lisa and Simon. After Harrow School and a short spell in the city, Jon joined the family property business focusing on leisure. Sir Michael and his two sisters were involved in the leisure business, having acquired Redbourn Golf Club in Hertfordshire in the mid 1970s. In the early 1990s, the family obtained planning permission to convert a piece of farmland in Harpenden into a golf club. It was here at Aldwickbury Park that Jon earned his spurs in the golf industry, where he oversaw the creation of the 27-hole golf club and clubhouse which opened in 1995. “Three sides of the Connell family – my dad and his two sisters – developed, owned and ran three golf clubs in the 1980s and early 1990s” says Jon Connell. “They were Redbourn and Aldwickbury Park in Hertfordshire, plus a small nine-hole course and driving range in Weymouth. “I was in my 20s and cutting my teeth in the family business, primarily in administrator/club secretary roles. One of my dad’s sisters ran the family businesses on behalf of my grandfather, while my dad followed his career as a High Court judge and his other sister as a magazine editor.” Jon met Di his wife while working at Aldwickbury Park in the early 1990s. They married in 1998 and have two boys,
Oliver and Johnny – who both very much enjoy being a part of the Badgemore Park Golf Club family. In 1997, Jon and his father decided that the time was right for the family to invest in their own portfolio, and they acquired Badgemore Park Golf Club – then in its 25th year. “In 1997 my dad and I decided we’d like to go it alone, to invest in our own courses,” says Jon. “At that time, Badgemore Park came on the market at an asking price of around £2.5 million. The rest, as they say, is history. “The first time my dad and I set eyes on Badgemore Park was around March 1997. The weather was wet and miserable and yet nothing could dim our enthusiasm. We immediately loved the site. We could tell that there would be a lot of work ahead of us, but we felt instinctively that it would be worth it. So, we put in an offer and had it accepted. And then the fun started. “Badgemore Park was 25 years old in 1997 and we took over literally on the day following the anniversary celebrations. We are proud that in 2022 we will have been custodians of the club for more than 50 per cent of its lifespan and are overseeing its golden anniversary.” In 2001, the company went on to acquire The Drift Golf Club in East Horsley and it was always Jon’s desire to try to purchase a third golf club, which to date has not materialised. But, you never know! Jon has now been associated with Badgemore Park for over half of its existence and is very proud of what the two clubs that he’s managing director of have achieved. “In its 50th year, Badgemore Park is so much more than a golf club,” says Jon. “We are evolving into a country club (see The Last Word), but one with an ethos of inclusivity. “The gym has brought in more than 250 new members and has helped to lower the age profile of the membership as well as balance the male-female ratio. We want nothing more than to make this a welcoming, family club.”
“The first time my dad and I set eyes on Badgemore Park was around March 1997. The weather was wet and miserable and yet nothing could dim our enthusiasm”
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5 KITES REST Red kites, which thrive in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that is South Oxfordshire, are regular visitors to Badgemore and can be seen soaring above the course. Dozens of kites feast here at times, attracted by the worms on the ground, The fifth hole is a popular spot for their ‘picnics’
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KITES REST YDS 414 PAR 4 S.I 5 YDS 409 PAR 4 S.I 5 YDS 321 PAR 4 S.I 5
5
FROM THE PRO: “Lengthened considerably in 2020, this excellent par 4 requires a long straight drive and very accurate iron into the green to hit this hole in regulation. Most golfers will aim to be through the trees in two shots to leave a lofty approach to avoid three deep bunkers short of the green. A five is a good score here so, if you have a stroke, use it”
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THE 2022 GOLF PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Since the opening of the club in 1972, Badgemore has been fortunate in securing an excellent succession of professionals at the club.
MARTIN WOODBRIDGE DIRECTOR OF GOLF
In this Golden Anniversary year, the team is led by director of golf, Martin Woodbridge. Martin brings a wealth of experience to Badgemore Park and came to the club as head professional in 2019 from Oxford Golf Club (Oxford City) where he was PGA professional having gained prior experience over six years as head golf professional at Bearwood Lakes Golf Club in Sindlesham, Berkshire. Martin played his junior and amateur golf at Frilford Heath, where he won the Club Championship in 2006 before turning professional in January 2007 with a handicap of +0.2. He completed his National Golf Diploma at Hartpury College between 2003 and 2005. Martin is a regular winner on the PGA South Region and BB&O circuits. To date he has 43 professional tournament victories, he was BB&O professional champion in 2015 and 2021 and reached the second stage of European Tour School in 2016. In 2021, he was appointed as director of golf, taking on responsibility for all golf-related aspects at the club Martin is supported by a very strong and capable team.
JAMIE PALMER SENIOR ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL
Jamie Palmer joined the team as an assistant, playing off a handicap of 18. Under the tutelage of Michael Critcher, Jamie went from a handicap of 18 to professional in 18 months. In addition to coaching club members, Jamie is heading up the creation of a junior academy at Badgemore. This includes weekly junior classes as well as junior camps during the school holidays.
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LEFT TO RIGHT: LEO, JOHN, MARTIN AND JAMIE
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THE PHILLIPS BROTHERS The club continues to have strong links with Asa and Lyle Phillips (right) both of whom are heavily involved in today’s professional game. ASA PHILIPS PGA EURO PRO TOUR PROFESSIONAL Asa has had a long association with the club. He was a junior member before taking on a golf operations role for several years after returning from four years at the University of South East Nebraska in America on a golf scholarship. In the last few years, Asa has played events on the Euro Pro Tour, the Clutch Pro Tour and the Jamega Pro Golf Tour. He can be seen regularly around
JOHN ROUTLEDGE GOLF OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
LEO ALLEN GOLF OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Leo joined the team after coming up through the junior academy at Henley Golf Club and plays off a handicap of 1.2. Leo is currently considering whether a potential career as a professional golfer is the right option for him.
the club honing his skills. He has been coached by Jeff Hatton, Tyrrell’s father.
European Tour players. These include Connor Syme, Ashton Turner, David Coupland and Shubhankar Sharma. While on the bag of Connor, they played in the US Open at Winged Foot, New York.
LYLE PHILIPS HEAD OF
John built his career in digital marketing and
INTERNATIONAL SALES AND EUROPEAN TOUR CADDIE Lyle, who has been a member for many years, now splits his time between his international role for Badgemore and caddie on the European Tour. A 3 handicapper, Lyle has worked with a number of
project management. An accomplished golfer, after winning the Badgemore Club Championship off a handicap of +1 in June 2021 John decided to make golf his career. An integral part of the golf operations team, John is working through his PGA certification. Since turning pro, his handicap has improved to +2.3.
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THE BADGEMORE PARK HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL ROSTER FROM 1972
1977 – 1980 KIM THOMAS
1972 – 1976 RICHARD MCDOUGALL
1976 – 1977 DUDLEY MILLENSTED
Kim came to Badgemore in 1977 after playing on the European Tour in 1975 and 1976. Born in Swansea in 1952, Kim was a member of Maesteg Golf Club from 1964 – 1968, winning four trophies in '68. He was the Southern Portuguese professional champion in 1977 and won numerous times on the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Pro, Alliance and Open circuit. In addition to being head professional at Badgemore Park, Kim also held that position at Stoke Park and Forest of Arden. He went on to be the director of golf at the Mount Juliet Resort in Ireland and co-founder and first chairman of Foremost Golf. Since 1997, Kim has commentated on the European, Senior and Challenge Tours for European Tour Productions, BBC and ESPN.
Richard was the first professional at Badgemore Park and stayed until moving to Sonning Golf Club in 1976. After qualifying as a PGA professional while assistant professional at Henley Golf Club, Richard had a short spell trying his hand at tournament golf, before deciding that the tour wasn’t for him and that his passion was very much in teaching golf. In the late 1960s, Richard had great help with his golf and how to teach from the great Sir Henry Cotton and later from John Jacobs. This helped him conclude that he wanted to be a club professional and teach others the great game. Richard was at Sonning for 35 years until 2011, when he was followed by Jonathan Dunn – who, coincidentally, also joined from Badgemore Park. Richard is now associated with The Oratory School Golf Club (which is open for public use), where he continues to teach those who are new to the game or anyone more experienced looking to improve.
Dudley had a very illustrious amateur career. In 1965, he was joint winner of The Brabazon Trophy held at The Formby Golf Club, where there was a three-way tie for the title between Michael Burgess, Clive Clark and himself on a score of 289. Dudley played in the 1967 Walker Cup and won a point for the GB&I team in the foursomes on day two when he partnered Rodney Foster to a two and one win over the American pairing of Don Allen and Marty Fleckman. The 21st Walker Cup match was played on 19 and 20 May 1967, at Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent. The event was won by the United States 13/7, with four matches halved.
ABOVE: RICHARD MCDOUGALL. BELOW: KIM THOMAS
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1980 – 1983 TONY BRENT
1989 – 1992 MARK WRIGHT
1983 – 1989 MARK HOWELL
Tony was head professional at Badgemore Park for three years from 1980 – 1983. Tony’s focus was on the pro shop, developing the retail side of things. He enabled Mark Howell to be attached to the club as a Touring Professional from 1981 – 1983, with Mark coaching during the winter when he wasn’t at tour events.
Mark was head professional at Badgemore Park for three years from 1989 – 1992. Mark started playing golf aged 13 at Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight and was soon totally hooked on the game. Within two years he had reduced his handicap to 5. Mark started his PGA training at Ryde Golf Club at the age of 18. In 1989, he was approached to take over as the professional at Badgemore. With a young family – and a very supportive wife – he moved to Abingdon and started at Badgemore working out of a Portakabin until the new shop was built. From Badgemore, Mark acquired and moved to Westridge Golf Centre on the Isle of Wight. He acquired the derelict golf range and golf course site in early 1992, with the driving range opening in May of that year. The golf course opened in May 1993 and Mark continues to run and develop the club to this day.
Mark played on the European Tour for four years during the 1980s. In 1984, he won the South of England Foursomes championship with Barry Lane as his partner. In 1985, at the Italian Open, he won more money for a hole in one (£26,000) than Manuel Pinero picked up as the winner (£19,000)! Mark has finished in the top 10 in many opens, and holds the record for the lowest tournament round in England with a score of 61. He became a club professional in 1983 and has been the Berks, Bucks and Oxon champion four times. At Badgemore, Mark was the instigator of the Mark Howell Foursomes, known today as the Bob Tanner Four Ball Better Ball competition. From Badgemore Park, Mark moved to Henley Golf Club where his experience and enthusiasm ensures his place as a top coach. His pupils include young children, beginner adults as well as touring professionals. Some children taught by Mark are now professional golfers themselves.
ABOVE: MARK HOWELL WITH SEVE BALLESTEROS BELOW: MARK WRIGHT
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