Royston Golf Club

[BCrosby]

Below is an excerpt from the history of Royston GC as it appears on the club web site:

"[The original course was built by] two gentlemen ... Lord Dunedin and George Gosset, both very keen golfers who came over with a bag of clubs each and set about arranging their golf course by establishing the holes by position and distance according to their striking of golf balls.

A simple but effective basis which was helped by the fact that the heathland was all close cropped grass. This course unfortunately only lasted about two years when in 1871 it was felt that Royston was too far from Cambridge.

However in 1890 the idea of a golf course on the Heath came to the fore again. This time it was with the encouragement of the Conservators and the help of two gentlemen from the now formed Cambridge University Golf Club."

Would any of our British friends know who is being referred to as the "two gentlemen from the now formed Cambridge University Golf Club" in the last line of the above?

Comments on the quality of Royston GC today would also be much appeciated.

Thanks,  Bob

[Melvyn Morrow]

Had my office in Royston Herts for years, know the old course well. I have something on it somewhers in my files and I will try and find it, but my system is a mess as my computer  has just been replaced  - while I have back ups its may take me some time finding either the hars copy of the files. But I will try.

Melvyn

[Jamie Barber]

Melvyn, I passed it many times on the train from London to Cambs.

Am I right in thinking it's built along the side of downland, so very hilly?

Somehow despite living in Cambs for 5 years I never played it.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jamie

Thats the one, on the outskirts of the town but houses now approaching from the town side. You will see the Royston sign but not the course as its about a mile away. I believe they had a good pro there many many years ago but it's not my type of course. Had our office in the town but lived in Suffolk, town is rather poor just good for road network around England.

I do not have a lot on the place but I know I have something, just got to find it.

Melvyn

[Melvyn Morrow]

I have found out a little more, The pro was from Carnoustie  a Scott by the name of James Hepburn born circa 1876. He was the Pro  at Royston and later worked with Jack Morris (of Hoylake and nephew to Old Tom) on designing Church Stretton GC

As for Gossett, I am wondering if he was a member of the Rev Gossett family from Westward Ho – Royal North Devon GC.  This is the family which was related to a Member of Prestwick and use Old Tom clubs and ball on a small course they made out of the dunes. The following year they managed to get Old Tom down for a month from Prestwick to design a proper 18 hole course which became Westward  Ho four years late in 1864. I have not done any further research on Gossett so can’t give you any more info.

Hope this little is of some assistance.

Melvyn

[BCrosby]

Thanks Melvyn.

Do you know by chance who the "gentlemen from Cambridge University Golf Club" who redid the course in 1890 might have been?

Is Royston currently the Cambridge golf team's home course?

I ran across Royston GC in a biography of John Maynard Keynes. JMK played it regularly with other Cambridge dons and faculty members. Given the prominent architects that passed through Cambridge and played on the golf team there, the course piqued my interest.

Bob

[David_Tepper]

BCrosby -

I believe the 9-hole Royal Worlington & Newmarket course is the home course for the Cambridge U. golf team.

DT

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