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
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