ISLAND LIFE
A right
Royal
tees-up!
The Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club, one of
was President for some years before her
Golf Club prior to World War I and, as the
Britain's first golf courses, which closed
death in 1940.
popularity of the course increased the hotel's
in 1961, will be remembered at a special
celebration on August 10.
Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club was
Member s also included politicians, actor
roof was raised to cope with the influx of
David Niven, aviation pioneer Lord Brabazon,
golfing guests, many of whom sailed in for a
and Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Beatty who
day’s golf.
given the ‘Royal’s’ trophies, memorabilia
later became First Sea Lord. The Club also
and Captain’s board for safekeeping when it
boasted 11 Internationals, and Shanklin-born
and by then ladies were allowed to play. The
closed.
member Horace Rawlins won the first US
entry fee was three guineas (£385.93 today),
Open Championship in 1895.
with an annual subscription of two guineas
Now David Woodhouse, captain of
S&SGC, has invited the captains, or their
In its time the Royal Isle of Wight came
In 1914 the Club had a membership of 170,
(£190.62). Visitors paid 2/6p a day (£11.35) to
representatives, of all 37 golf clubs around
close to challenging the Royal and
play. But the austerity that followed World War
the UK afforded the title 'Royal', to a day of
Ancient Golf Club (R&A) as the source of
II had a devastating effect on the Club, from
golf in commemoration of the Royal Isle of
the authoritative rules of golf, becoming
which it never really recovered, and it closed
Wight Golf Club and to compete for the Royal
responsible for much of the development of
in 1961.
Isle of Wight Golf Club Trophy.
the game as it is played today. For example,
An early afternoon tee-off will be followed
The remaining members decided to gift the
in 1888 if you lost a ball at St Andrews,
land to the National Trust for preservation
by a formal dinner in the S&SGC clubhouse.
you lost the hole, but on the 'Royal' course
and it is kept to this day as an open space.
The Queen's representative, the Lord
you just dropped another ball and took a
The old clubhouse still stands on the corner
Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight and Lord
two-stroke penalty.
as you drive onto the Duver and, today,
Griffiths, a past captain of the Royal and
The Spithead Hotel at Bembridge,
Ancient Golf Club will join the players for
now sadly demolished, was used as the
dinner.
headquarters of the Royal Isle of Wight
the National Trust rents it out as holiday
accommodation.
One of the most high profile 'lost' golf
courses, the nine-hole course at St. Helens
Duver was founded in 1882 and measured
2,901 yards. It was initially for 'men only' and
hazards comprised sand dunes and gorse
bushes.
The title 'Royal' was bestowed on it a year
later when Queen Victoria's eldest son,
Albert Edward, later to become King Edward
VII, became a member. The first captain
was Major Dudley Hambrough of Steephill,
Ventnor and Club members were drawn
from British royalty and European monarchs.
Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's youngest
daughter and Governor of the Isle of Wight,
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Top: Shanklin and Sandown GC clubhouse Above: The former clubhouse of the Royal IW GC