Royal Ascot Golf Club

Ogólne informacje

Ascot Golf Club was founded by local Barrister F.J. Patton in 1887, and given Royal status by Queen Victoria later that year. Many of her children learned to play golf at Royal Ascot and The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was patron of the club in 1901. At first, Royal Ascot GC and Ascot Ladies’ GC each had a nine-hole course on Ascot Heath in the middle of the racecourse. In 1895 the two clubs amalgamated and a new 18-hole course was designed by J.H. Taylor, then holder of the Open Championship which he won five times. Joseph Longhurst was appointed the first club professional in 1916. In 1921 RAGC hosted the inaugural British Boys Championship on the Heath, and presented the R&A with a cup for an annual tournament which is still played for today. The Championship was held on the Heath again in 1922. That first year both Henry Cotton and his brother played, but Henry was defeated in the first round. Some golfers found the Heath course rather difficult, and in 1900 several Royal Ascot members helped found Sunningdale Golf Club. As other top class courses like East Berkshire, Swinley Forest, Wentworth and The Berkshire emerged, Royal Ascot went into decline later in the 1920s. The course eventually came under the control of the Ascot Authority, and during World War II was requisitioned by the War Office. The club was re-formed in post-war years, and improved the course and clubhouse. The Centenary was celebrated in 1987 with a week of events opened by Henry Cotton....