Oldest golf courses in London area

[Adam Lawrence]

Anyone have a list? Royal Blackheath, date of foundation uncertain. London Scottish, 1865. What are the others?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Dulwich and Sydenham Hill 1894
Eltham Waren 1890
Hampstead 1893
Royal Epping Forest 1888
Royal Mid Surrey 1892
Royal Wimbledon 1865 (given this date in R and A Golfers Handbook)
South Herts 1899
Wanstead 1893
Wimbledon Park 1898


There may be others further out in these counties.

[BCrosby]

What is the opening date for Tooting Bec?

[Adam Lawrence]

Tooting Bec I have as 1888

[Adrian_Stiff]

These are the English ones I have pre 1899.
ROYAL BLACKHEATH   Kent   1608
ROYAL NORTH DEVON   Devon   1864
ROYAL WIMBLEDON   Surrey   1865
LONDON SCOTTISH   Surrey   1865
ALNMOUTH   Northumberland   1869
ALNMOUTH VILLAGE   Northumberland   1869
ROYAL LIVERPOOL   Merseyside   1869
FURNESS   Cumbria   1872
NEWBURY & CROOKHAM   Berkshire   1873
WEST LANCASHIRE   Merseyside   1873
SEATON CAREW OLD   Durham   1874
SOUTHFIELD   Oxfordshire   1875
HAYDOCK PARK   Merseyside   1877
LONGRIDGE   Lancashire   1877
ROYAL JERSEY   Channel Islands   1878
TYNESIDE   Tyne & Wear   1879
WORCESTERSHIRE   Worcesteshire   1879
FELIXSTOWE FERRY   Suffolk   1880
BATH   Somerset   1880
BRAMSHAW MANOR   Hampshire   1880
KINGSDOWN   Wiltshire   1880
BRAMSHAW FOREST   Hampshire   1880
MANCHESTER   Manchester   1882
GREAT YARMOUTH & CAISTER   Norfolk   1882
MINEHEAD & WEST SOMERSET   Somerset   1882
HAYLING   Hampshire   1883
ARMY   Hampshire   1883
SOUTHWOLD   Suffolk   1884
ALDEBURGH   Suffolk   1884
FORMBY   Merseyside   1884
NEWBIGGIN   Northumberland   1884
HESKETH   Merseyside   1885
CHEADLE   Cheshire   1885
GOSPORT & STOKES BAY   Hampshire   1885
ROYAL LYTHAM & ST ANNES   Lancashire   1886
GUILDFORD   Surrey   1886
WHITTINGTON HEATH   Staffordshire   1886
ASHBOURNE   Derbyshire   1886
DURHAM CITY   Durham   1887
ROYAL EASTBOURNE   East Sussex   1887
SEAFORD   East Sussex   1887
ROYAL ASCOT   Berkshire   1887
BUXTON & HIGH PEAK   Derbyshire   1887
BRIGHTON & HOVE   East Sussex   1887
COVENTRY   Warwickshire   1887
ROYAL ST GEORGES   Kent   1887
NOTTS   Nottinghamshire   1887
CLEVELAND   North Yorkshire   1887
REDHILL & REIGATE   Surrey   1887
ROCHDALE   Lancashire   1888
SALISBURY & SOUTH WILTS   Wiltshire   1888
SENE VALLEY   Kent   1888
ROYAL WINCHESTER   Hampshire   1888
ROYAL ASHDOWN FOREST OLD   East Sussex   1888
ROYAL ASHDOWN FOREST   East Sussex   1888
MARLBROUGH   Wiltshire   1888
NEW FOREST   Hampshire   1888
ROYAL CROMER   Norfolk   1888
LITTLESTONE   Kent   1888
ROYAL EPPING FOREST   Essex   1888
LOBDEN   Lancashire   1888
STINCHCOMBE HILL   Gloucestershire   1889
SUTTON COLDFIELD   Warwickshire   1889
ROYAL BIRKDALE   Merseyside   1889
LITTLEHAMPTON   West Sussex   1889
KENILWORTH   Warwickshire   1889
MACCLESFIELD   Cheshire   1889
SIDMOUTH   Devon   1889
BUNGAY & WAVENEY VALLEY   Suffolk   1889
DISLEY   Cheshire   1889
MINCHINHAMPTON OLD   Gloucestershire   1889
WEST CORNWALL   Cornwall   1889
BEVERLEY & EAST RIDING   East Yorkshire   1889
BRIDGNORTH   Shropshire   1889
LUDLOW   Shropshire   1889
WILMSLOW   Cheshire   1889
EPSOM   Surrey   1889
TUNBRIDGE WELLS   Kent   1889
LIMPSFIELD CHART   Surrey   1889ILKLEY   West Yorkshire   1890
LAMBERHURST   Kent   1890
BURY   Lancashire   1890
BERKHAMSTED   Hertfordshire   1890
CHURSTON   Devon   1890
NEWQUAY   Cornwall   1890
ST NEOTS   Cambridgeshire   1890
NORTH WILTS   Wiltshire   1890
BURGHLEY PARK   Lincolnshire   1890
YORK   North Yorkshire   1890
DATCHET   Berkshire   1890
BURNHAM & BERROW   Somerset   1890
ST ENEDOC CHURCH   Cornwall   1890
WILDERNESSE   Kent   1890
CHARNWOOD FOREST   Leicestershire   1890
ELTHAM WARREN   Kent   1890
BUSHEY HALL   Hertfordshire   1890
WILPSHIRE   Lancashire   1890
BANSTEAD DOWNS   Surrey   1890
ROYAL GUERNSEY   Channel Islands   1890
ALRESFORD   Hampshire   1890
WOODFORD   Essex   1890
MEYRICK PARK   Dorset   1890
WEST HERTS   Hertfordshire   1890
BELTON PARK   Lincolnshire   1890
BERWICK ON TWEED   Northumberland   1890
WHITLEY BAY   Tyne & Wear   1890
PENRITH   Cumbria   1890
LEICESTERSHIRE   Leicestershire   1890
CHIPPING NORTON   Oxfordshire   1890
TAVISTOCK   Devon   1890
CHORLEYWOOD   Hertfordshire   1890
BOXMOOR   Hertfordshire   1890
WAKEFIELD   West Yorkshire   1891
DIDSBURY   Manchester   1891
PAINSWICK   Gloucestershire   1891
ROCHESTER & COBDAN PARK   Kent   1891
BOLTON OLD LINKS   Lancashire   1891
GANTON   North Yorkshire   1891
BRAINTEE   Essex   1891
HUNSTANTON   Norfolk   1891
PLEASINGTON   Lancashire   1891
WINDERMERE   Cumbria   1891
CITY OF NEWCASTLE   Tyne & Wear   1891
HENBURY   Gloucestershire   1891
BRADFORD   West Yorkshire   1891
ROTHBURY   Northumberland   1891
LINCOLN   Lincolnshire   1891
CLEVEDON   Somerset   1891
BURNHAM BEECHES   Buckinghamshire   1891
WEST WILTS   Wiltshire   1891
RAMSEY   Isle of Man   1891
NORTHWOOD   Middlesex   1891
CLITHEROE   Lancashire   1891
BRIDPORT & WEST DORSET   Dorset   1891
WEST MIDDLESEX   Middlesex   1891
MALDON   Essex   1891
LEASOWE   Merseyside   1891
WOODHALL SPA HOTCHKIN   Lincolnshire   1891
SHERINGHAM   Norfolk   1891
BUDE & NORTH CORNWALL   Cornwall   1891
HUDDERSFIELD   West Yorkshire   1891
RICHMOND   Surrey   1891
LINDRICK   South Yorkshire   1891
KETTERING   Northamptonshire   1891
WALLASEY   Merseyside   1891
DEWSBURY DISTRICT   West Yorkshire   1891
WARKWORTH   Northumberland   1891
BEDFORDSHIRE   Bedfordshire   1891
BRISTOL & CLIFTON   Gloucestershire   1891
KENDAL   Cumbria   1891
SHREWSBURY   Shropshire   1891
GRANGE PARK   Merseyside   1891
BOLTON   Lancashire   1891
RYTON   Tyne & Wear   1891
CORHAMPTON   Hampshire   1891
ROOKERY PARK   Suffolk   1891
RUGBY   Warwickshire   1891
HARTLEY WINTNEY   Hampshire   1891
KNUTSFORD   Cheshire   1891
SIDCUP   Kent   1891
HARROGATE   North Yorkshire   1892
SILLOTH ON SOLWAY   Cumbria   1892
HEADINGLEY   West Yorkshire   1892
RICHMOND   North Yorkshire   1892
KINGS NORTON   Worcesteshire   1892
HALLOWES   South Yorkshire   1892
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS   Kent   1892
ISLE OF PURBECK   Dorset   1892
MOSELEY   Worcesteshire   1892
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE   Staffordshire   1892
HEXHAM   Northumberland   1892
HILLINGDON   Middlesex   1892
PETERSFIELD   Hampshire   1892
ROYAL WEST NORFOLK   Norfolk   1892
ROYAL MID SURREY (I)   Surrey   1892
GOODWOOD   West Sussex   1892
BOGNOR REGIS   West Sussex   1892
THE WARREN   Devon   1892
MID HERTS   Hertfordshire   1892
PRESTON   Lancashire   1892
COPTHORNE   West Sussex   1892
ILFRACOMBE   Devon   1892
WESTON SUPER MARE   Somerset   1892
ROYAL MID SURREY (O)   Surrey   1892
ROYSTON   Hertfordshire   1892
CASTLETOWN   Isle of Man   1892
CLEEVE HILL   Gloucestershire   1892
STOURBRIDGE   Worcesteshire   1892
WEARSIDE   Tyne & Wear   1892
VENTNOR   Isle of Wight   1892
NEWCASTLE UNITED   Tyne & Wear   1892
LEEK   Staffordshire   1892
SOUTH BEDS   Bedfordshire   1892
TAUNTON & PICKERIDGE   Somerset   1892
WITHINGTON   Manchester   1892
FAIRFIELD GOLF & SAILING   Manchester   1892
ALFRETON   Derbyshire   1892
CLACTON ON SEA   Essex   1892
WHITBY   North Yorkshire   1892
HEATON MOOR   Cheshire   1892
MARPLE   Cheshire   1892
OLDHAM   Lancashire   1892
FULNECK   West Yorkshire   1892
THAMES DITTON & ESHER   Surrey   1892
HALLOWES   Derbyshire   1892
NORTHAMPTON   Northamptonshire   1893
CHELMSFORD   Essex   1893
ROBIN HOOD   Warwickshire   1893
HARBORNE   Warwickshire   1893
WELLINGBOROUGH   Northamptonshire   1893
WELLS   Somerset   1893
CANWICK PARK   Lincolnshire   1893
BLACKWELL   Worcesteshire   1893
BELLINGHAM   Northumberland   1893
MUSWELL HILL   Middlesex   1893
LONG ASHTON   Gloucestershire   1893
ROYAL NORWICH   Norfolk   1893
WORKINGTON   Cumbria   1893
ENFIELD   Middlesex   1893
ROCHFORD HUNDRED   Essex   1893
WANSTEAD   Essex   1893
CIRENCESTER   Gloucestershire   1893
EAST BRIGHTON   East Sussex   1893
ACCRINGTON & DISTRICT   Lancashire   1893
ROYAL WORLINGTON & NEWMARKET   Suffolk   1893
WOKING   Surrey   1893
HAMPSTEAD   Middlesex   1893
KING EDWARD BAY   Isle of Man   1893
SEASCALE   Cumbria   1893
BROUGH   East Yorkshire   1893
KIRBY MUXLOE   Leicestershire   1893
WOODBRIDGE   Suffolk   1893
SOUTH SHIELDS   Tyne & Wear   1893
SILKSTONE   South Yorkshire   1893
LYME REGIS   Dorset   1893
OUNDLE   Northamptonshire   1893
STANMORE   Middlesex   1893
FLIXTON   Manchester   1893
DUDLEY   Worcesteshire   1893
SKIPTON   North Yorkshire   1893
OLTON   Warwickshire   1893
HOLYTE   East Sussex   1893
MALDEN   Surrey   1893
DARWEN   Lancashire   1893
ALTRINCHAM MUNICIPAL   Cheshire   1893
WESTGATE & BIRCHINGTON   Kent   1893
NEW NORTH MANCHESTER   Manchester   1894
DONCASTER   South Yorkshire   1894
BRAMALL PARK   Cheshire   1894
RYE   East Sussex   1894
BURTON ON TRENT   Derbyshire   1894
LANSDOWN   Somerset   1894
BROCTON HALL   Staffordshire   1894
CLEETHORPES   Lincolnshire   1894
HARPENDEN   Hertfordshire   1894
STRATFORD ON AVON   Warwickshire   1894
PURLEY DOWNS   Surrey   1894
ROMFORD   Essex   1894
SHERBOURNE   Dorset   1894
PYECOMBE   West Sussex   1894
SALTBURN   North Yorkshire   1894
AXE CLIFF   Devon   1894
BISHOP AUCKLAND   Durham   1894
GAINSBOUROGH   Lincolnshire   1894
FRESHWATER BAY   Isle of Wight   1894
WORSLEY   Manchester   1894
TRENTHAM   Staffordshire   1894
CHEVIN   Derbyshire   1894
WORTLEY   South Yorkshire   1894
FALMOUTH   Cornwall   1894
HINCKLEY   Leicestershire   1894
GLOSSOP & DISTRICT   Derbyshire   1894
EVESHAM   Worcesteshire   1894
BLACKBURN   Lancashire   1894
COVENTRY HEARSALL   Warwickshire   1894
ATHERSTONE   Warwickshire   1894
BEDALE   North Yorkshire   1894
WIRRAL LADIES   Merseyside   1894
NORTH WARWICKSHIRE   Warwickshire   1894
MELLOR & TOWNSCLIFFE   Cheshire   1894
CHISLEHURST   Kent   1894
PUTTENHAM   Surrey   1894
TODMORDEN   West Yorkshire   1894
DULWICH & SYDENHAM   Surrey   1894
SHORTLANDS   Kent   1894
ULVERSTON   Cumbria   1895
HALIFAX   West Yorkshire   1895
CROWBOROUGH BEACON   East Sussex   1895
COSBY   Leicestershire   1895
WRANGATON   Devon   1895
SANDWELL PARK   Staffordshire   1895
BUSH HILL PARK   Middlesex   1895
ABBEYDALE   South Yorkshire   1895
FLEMPTON   Suffolk   1895
PEEL   Isle of Man   1895
IPSWICH   Suffolk   1895
SHERWOOD FOREST   Nottinghamshire   1895
PEACEHAVEN   East Sussex   1895
FAIRHAVEN   Lancashire   1895
EXETER   Devon   1895
RYDE   Isle of Wight   1895
NEW ZEALAND   Surrey   1895
GORING & STREATLEY   Berkshire   1895
SETTLE   North Yorkshire   1895
MULLION   Cornwall   1895
SEACROFT   Lincolnshire   1895
FRINTON   Essex   1895
HAMPTON COURT PALACE   Surrey   1895
ROWANY   Isle of Man   1895
BROADWAY   Gloucestershire   1895
HANDSWORTH   Staffordshire   1895
DONCASTER TOWN MOOR   South Yorkshire   1895
MARSHAM   North Yorkshire   1895
BEARSTED   Kent   1895
TORRINGTON   Devon   1895
HORWICH   Lancashire   1895
HERNE BAY   Kent   1895
REIGATE HEATH   Surrey   1895
SANDBACH   Cheshire   1895
SURBITON   Surrey   1895
THE HOME PARK   Surrey   1895
SEDBURGH   Cumbria   1896
HEREFORDSHIRE   Herefordshire   1896
SHIPLEY   West Yorkshire   1896
NEWPORT   Isle of Wight   1896
EDGBASTON   Warwickshire   1896
CAME DOWN   Dorset   1896
HANKLEY COMMON   Surrey   1896
COCKERMOUTH   Cumbria   1896
BAILDON   West Yorkshire   1896
WEST DERBY   Merseyside   1896
FORMBY LADIES   Merseyside   1896
MAIDENHEAD   Berkshire   1896
CHIPPENHAM   Wiltshire   1896
FARNHAM   Surrey   1896
HONITON   Devon   1896
THE ASHLEY WOOD   Dorset   1896
LEEDS   West Yorkshire   1896
LEWES   East Sussex   1896
STONE   Staffordshire   1896
BROOKDALE   Lancashire   1896
GREAT HARWOOD   Lancashire   1896
RAWDON   West Yorkshire   1896
HALLAMSHIRE   South Yorkshire   1897
THURLESTONE   Devon   1897
CHORLEY   Lancashire   1897
FILEY   North Yorkshire   1897
DARTFORD   Kent   1897
DORKING   Surrey   1897
DROITWICH   Worcesteshire   1897
DRAYTON PARK   Staffordshire   1897
THEYDON BOIS   Essex   1897
BARTON ON SEA   Hampshire   1897
SAUNTON EAST   Devon   1897
CHESTERFIED   Derbyshire   1897
ROMILEY   Cheshire   1897
ASHTON-ON-MERSEY   Cheshire   1897
HESSLE   East Yorkshire   1898
WORCESTER   Worcesteshire   1898
EALING   Middlesex   1898
CHURCH STRETTON   Shropshire   1898
WILLINGDON   East Sussex   1898
HORNSEA   East Yorkshire   1898
NORTHUMBERLAND   Tyne & Wear   1898
BROADSTONE   Dorset   1898
ASHFORD MANOR   Middlesex   1898
MAXSTOKE PARK   Warwickshire   1898
WIMBLEDON PARK   Surrey   1898
MARKET HARBOROUGH   Leicestershire   1898
SICKLEHOLME   Derbyshire   1898
BARNARD CASTLE   Durham   1898
WEST BOWLING   West Yorkshire   1898
TOLLADINE   Worcesteshire   1898
WIGAN   Lancashire   1898
CONGLETON   Cheshire   1898
PORTERS PARK   Hertfordshire   1899
NORTH DOWNS   Surrey   1899
SOUTH HERTS   Hertfordshire   1899
ORSETT   Essex   1899
ORMSKIRK   Lancashire   1899
BAKEWELL   Derbyshire   1899
BECCLES   Suffolk   1899
EAST HERTS   Hertfordshire   1899

[Tony_Muldoon]

Interesting how fast London caught up once the Heathlands were discovered.   I met someone from the LLoyds of London GS yesterday. Started 1893/4 so it was clearly catching on.
 
Would be lovely to see a time line of the railways developing and the courses following soon after. Thames Ditton and Esher 1892.  9 propr heathlnad holes bisected by the railway track. Theres one tee where the commuters still barge right in front of you in their desperation to get home.

[Niall C]

Adrian


Surely some of those dates are for the club and not the course ?


Niall

[Sam Krume]

Mitcham in South London was 1891. On their website it also states that the course was laid out by Tom Morris and Tooting Bec Pro Tom Dunn.
http://www.mitchamgolfclub.co.uk/club_history.php

[Richard Fisher]

Niall's point is a very important one (not least for Royal Blackheath!). Many of the dates given are for the foundations of clubs, and many have moved location since foundation (including, of course, Blackheath), in some cases more than once.