A PROUD CLUB WITH
A RICH HERITAGE

STUNNING GOLF COMPLEX FOR OVER 100 YEARS

BECOME A MEMBER

EST. 1903

WE’D LOVE TO SHARE SOME FOND MEMORIES OF OUR CLUB HISTORY

The Leatherhead Club celebrated its centenary in 2003 and is still going strong. Our breath-taking golf course has been played by a PGA Hall of Fame inductee, an Open Championship winner, the Ryder Cup Team and even the Prime Minister during our proud history.

Club History

1903

The Surrey Golf Club was formed at Pachesham Manor in 1903 on land owned by Mr F. C. Ramsey and Sir William Vincent.

Press cuttings on June 6 1903, indicate a course was being laid out by Peter Paxton. Peter was an expert ball and club maker, invented the Bramble’ and ‘Sirdar, was a Pro at Tooting Bec and was also the designer of a number of other courses, including East Berkshire and Coventry. Mr Horace Hutchinson was club captain who was a prolific author of golf books and first English captain of the R & A links.

1903

“A high-quality local golf course built and run by local people”

By October 1903, nine holes were available for play to members and a new professional, Sydney Cooper had been hired as Club Maker and links keeper. Sydney’s son, Harry, born in Leatherhead in 1903, was elected to the U.S. PGA Hall of Fame in 1959.

1907

“Even the Prime Minister has graced our fairways”

The Bystander, reports on May 1st 1907, a professional match between James Braid, Harry Vardon, William Mitchell (club professional) and Abe Mitchell. Abe became the model for the golfer on the top of the Ryder Cup. Also playing with the captain was Mr Arthur J Balfour who was Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905.

1908

1908

In 1908 the club name was changed to ‘The Leatherhead Golf Club’, (members still play for a trophy that has the original name engraved on it, ‘The Pachesham Challenge Cup’).

1928

1928

“The perfect golf course for perfect practice”

In 1928 Alf Perry came to Leatherhead from Walton Heath, where he was the assistant to James Braid. He became the professional, as William Mitchell moved to Effingham.

Alf went on to win the Open at Muirfield in the summer of 1935, with rounds of 69.75,67 and 72. (see photo of Alf Perry)

1935

1935

That September saw the British Ryder Cup team play at Leatherhead in readiness for their matches against the U.S. on their soil at Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey, a suburb northwest of New York.

(see Ryder Cup team photo at The Leatherhead Club)

1940

The Second World War saw the club house bombed and a subsequent decline in membership. It didn’t return to its former glory until the 1950’s.

1975

The M25 orbital saw changes to the layout but not so much as to change the main character of the original course.

BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE

The foundations of our club are built on our rich and illustrious heritage and we’re celebrating our past by embracing the future. We’d love you to be a part of that future.

BECOME A MEMBER