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We know that James Braid charged a fee of ten guineas with ten shillings and six pence expenses for his 1922 design work at Tyrrells Wood (a total of £11.02½p in today’s money!).
Braid identified and marked out tees and greens (start and finish points) together with the sequence of play, then Alan Gow was entrusted with the actual “laying out”.
No drawings, score cards etc. of that layout exist, thus the diagram given here is derived from detailed observations of a series of photographs taken at the time and various assumptions necessary to complete a reasonable picture.
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In 1971 the playing sequence of the course was altered to that currently in use and new teeing grounds made possible the Standard Scratch Score of 70 with Par 71 for a 6219 yard course. Improvements have continued over the years and the course length increased to the current 6310 yards. |
Today, the course remains essentially as Braid and Colt designed it and the Club retains the services of a leading course designer to ensure it continues to provide a never ending challenge and enjoyment to both members and visitors alike.
In about 1880, to provide accommodation for an increasing family, Roger Cunliffe , then living at nearby Headley Court, commissioned construction of a large house on his land at Tyrrells Wood, selecting a location, no doubt, to take advantage of the magnificent views over surrounding countryside.
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James Braid, 1870-1950 (pictured left)
One of the Great Triumvirate (Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor were the others) whose members dominated golf at the turn of the century. Open Champion on five occasions between 1901 and 1912, won the Match-play Championship five times and reached the final at the age of 57! He was Club Professional at Walton Heath for forty-five years and became a prolific designer of golf courses.
Major Henry Keswick M.P. 1890-1928 (above right)
M.P. for the Epsom Division of Surrey from 1912-18. He was a Director of Jardine Matheson as was his father before him and his descendants are today. In 1911, as their taipan in Hong Kong, he returned to the U.K. to represent the colony at the Coronation of King George V. He remained in London to take over management of Jardines, was elected to parliament in 1912 and mobilised with the 3rd Bn. The Kings Own Scottish Borderers in 1914. He was a JP and served on the Dumfries local authority and as a member of the Hong Kong legislature.
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About the Club
The Club opened in 1923 for regular play. By 1924 Major Henry Keswick, the proprietor, had persuaded the very high profiled Sir Rowland Blades to become the first Captain, a position he held for three years.
By late 1928 the Club was a flourishing concern with some 400 Members and, with the Major in ill-health, it was offered for purchase to those Members. Captain at the time was Mr. Ronald C.G. Dale, Secretary of the Bank of England, and he led a team of Directors which registered Tyrrells Wood Club Ltd. as a Company in January 1930. Its purpose was to take over the freehold land and buildings and lease the property to an unincorporated Society called the Tyrrells Wood Golf Club. The basis of the Company’s finances included a loan of £3000 from Lloyds Bank and the issue of shares, the sale of which was limited to members of the Golf Club but with restricted rights of re-sale controlled by the Directors. Clearly, the primary motivation was to continue as a Golf Club, but certain provisions in the transfer of title threatened this objective and, following an initial 5 year lease, a new 99 year lease was entered into in 1938.
This lease sustained and protected the Golf Course until a new threat emerged in 1967 when an offer to shareholders was made by an outsider. The offer was rejected but may have led to the ultimate acquisition of the freehold by the Golf Club. Today the golf course and facilities are owned by the Club Members. In March 1982 a new company was incorporated. Limited by guarantee, it has no shareholders. The articles of association of this new company differ from those of the old company but the object remains the same – the retention of these grounds for golfers of the future.
Special Thanks must go to Ken Ruffell and his team for all their hard work in researching the history of the club for its 75th Anniversary. |
