Richmond Park Golf Course, a public, daily fee

golf course A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". Th ...

comprising two 18-hole courses, is located in

Richmond Park Richmond Park, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is the largest of Royal Parks of London, London's Royal Parks, and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation. It was created by Charles I of England, C ...

in the

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames () in southwest London forms part of Outer London and is the only London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller council areas amalgamated under the London ...

and is home to Richmond Park Golf Club, Putney Park Golf Club and White Lodge Golf Club.

History

During and following the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

there was a growth of provision of sports facilities within Richmond Park granted by the British monarchy. In order to provide golf facilities to "local artisans", unable to afford membership of private clubs,

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. Born duri ...

commissioned J. H. Taylor, one of the famous "

Great Triumvirate In U.S. politics, the Great Triumvirate (known also as the Immortal Trio) refers to a triumvirate of three statesmen who dominated American politics for much of the first half of the 19th century, namely Henry Clay of Kentucky, Daniel Webste ...

" of Braid, Taylor and Vardon, to lay out an 18-hole

with architect Fred Hawtree on the eastern side of Richmond Park in the early 1920s. The golf course was opened in 1923 by Edward, Prince of Wales (who was to become

King Edward VIII Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire and Emperor of India from 20 January 1 ...

and, after his abdication, Duke of Windsor). This became known as the "Prince's Course". In 1925, following the course's success, a second 18-hole course was added, again designed by Hawtree and inaugurated this time by the Duke of York (later

George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until Death and state funeral of George VI, his death in 1952. ...

), giving the course its title of the "Duke's Course". Following opening, a brass tablet was unveiled stating: Richmond Park Golf Courses 1923-1926. This tablet commemorates the generous and public spirited action of the under-mentioned gentlemen who undertook responsibility for the construction and management of these golf courses up to the date of their transfer to H.M. Office of Works. The Rt. Hon The Lord Riddell, Chairman of the Committee; Sir Sydney M. Skinner KT; Sir James H. Dunn BT; Sir Howard Frank BT G.B.E K.C.B; Sir Joseph Hood BT; Sir Alexander Grant BT; George W. Beldam; Leonard H. Bentall; J.H. Taylor, Technical Adviser. In 1985, Martin Hawtree, grandson of the original architect, was commissioned to undertake a programme of modernisation on the two courses.

Courses

The course lies on the boundary of the park to the east of

Beverley Brook Beverley Brook is a minor English river long in south-west London. It rises in Worcester Park and joins the River Thames to the north of Putney Embankment at Barn Elms. Course Beverley Brook rises at the top of a hill in a shady area at Cuddi ...

, between Roehampton and Robin Hood gates, and is in the

, bordering on the

London Borough of Wandsworth Wandsworth () is a London boroughs, London borough in southwest London; it forms part of Inner London and has an estimated population of 329,677 inhabitants. Its main named areas are Battersea, Balham, Putney, Tooting and Wandsworth, Wandsworth ...

. The

Alton Estate The Alton Estate is a large council estate situated in Roehampton, southwest London. One of the largest council estates (public housing) in the UK, it occupies an extensive area of land west of Roehampton village and runs between the Roehampton ...

Roehampton Roehampton is an area in southwest London, in the Putney SW15 postal district, and takes up a far western strip running north to south of the London Borough of Wandsworth. It contains a number of large council house estates and is home to the U ...

, dominates the western skyline. The course was developed on the former "Great Paddock" of Richmond Park, an area used for feeding deer for the royal hunt. The tree belt in this part of the park was supplemented by additional planting in 1936. Richmond Park, excluding the Golf Course, is a

Site of Special Scientific Interest A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...

and national nature reserve and has a policy of encouraging

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

. One aspect of this is that decaying wood, whether still on the tree or fallen to the ground, is left undisturbed as far as possible to provide natural habitats. One of the local golf course rules is therefore that fallen trees and dead wood must be treated as ''Immovable Obstructions'' during the game.

Prince's course

The Prince's course lies on the higher ground and is 18-hole, , par 68, with the , par 5, 9th hole being the longest. And the hardiest hole being the par 3 108 yard 16th hole

Duke's course

The Duke's course is 18-hole, , par 71 with the 12th, par 5, , being the longest. It is the lower and flatter of the two courses, crossed by a stream on holes 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14.

Other facilities

The course also has a 16-bay

driving range A driving range is a facility or area where golfers can practice their golf swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range att ...

and a

pro shop A pro shop is a sporting-goods shop within a public or private-membership amateur sporting activities facility of some kind, most commonly a golf course, where it will typically be located in the country club building. In the case of golf pro s ...

. A new grass-roof clubhouse opened for business in April 2013. Located near ''Chohole Gate'' at the south of the course, the facility, which was officially opened in August 2013, adds seven new greens, eight new tees, a new driving range, and new,

accessible Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" (i.e ...

golf academy. The new clubhouse has very low light and noise emission and the courses incorporate new ponds and other environmental features.

Richmond Park Golf Club

The Priory Golf Club was formed in 1924 by a group of enthusiastic players based at the newly opened "Prince's course". The club changed its name to the current Richmond Park Golf Club in 1953. The club continues to play regularly at the course.

Putney Park Golf Club

Putney Park Golf Club was formed in 1925 and continues to play regularly at the course.

White Lodge Golf Club

White Lodge Golf Club was formed in 1928 and continues to play regularly at the course.

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Richmond Park Golf Course 1924 establishments in England Golf clubs and courses in London Richmond Park East Sheen Sport in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Sports venues completed in 1924