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Club History 1890 – 2007

Founded as a 9 hole course in 1895 and eventually, following acquisition of additional land in 1928, extended to the present 18 holes measuring 6,355 yards, Goring & Streatley Golf Club has established itself in the hearts of members & visitors alike, as a mirror of the traditional and evolutionary trends in the game. The course has magnificent views of the Ridgeway & the River Thames winding like a silver ribbon on its way from Oxford to Reading and is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, which almost consoles the ravages of a bad round of golf!

From it’s foundation in 1895 with 52 members the club has grown steadily and now has 745 playing members. The highlights of our development are illustrated below:

Club History 1890 to 2007

1890’s	Army officers and friends led by Robert and Hugh Fife play “bumble puppy” golf in the meadows at Gatehampton, Goring.
1894	Field Barn Farm at Streatley, owned by Ernest Gardner, later Sir Ernest Gardner MP, viewed as potential for golf course.
1895	January – Tom Dunn, a golf professional and course architect from Bournemouth, invited by F T Shoolbred, of Thames Bank House, Goring to lay out nine hole golf course at Streatley. March – inaugural meeting of the golf club. First ‘clubhouse’ in parlour of cottage at Field Barn Farm (behind the present second teeing area). 16th April – first medal competition played.
1896	24th October – first AGM of golf club takes place. Held at Saunders Boat Yard, Goring, with Colonel Alfred Harcourt in the chair.
1897	First lady, a Mrs Todd, elected to the committee. Appointment of J Forrest as professional.
1898	First club match against Peppard. Goring & Streatley won 19 to 2.
1907	Move to new clubhouse in 1 Golf Cottages, Rectory Road.
1910	Streatley Bowl competition founded with cup presented by club members living in Streatley.
1912	First ladies competition inaugurated, known as the Ladies Bowl.
1913	Goring Cup competition founded with cup presented by members living in Goring.
1922	Changes to the original course begin under the advice of revered designer Harry Colt (Sunningdale, Wentworth etc.). These become the steps which will enable the Club to become a full 18 holes.
1925	14th October – The first purpose built clubhouse (the third in the clubs history) opened and was celebrated on 17th October with an Open competition. This clubhouse is the house at the west end of the car park known as the Old Golf House.
1927	Land south of the B4009 leased from Major J A Morrison, of Basildon House, to extend the course. A further seven holes were constructed under the supervision of J H Turner, of Frilford Heath Golf Club.
1928	J H Turner revamps some of the original holes and builds two new holes on the north side of the B4009, thereby extending the course to 18 holes. These were opened for play on the 3rd of October.
1930	25th March – Reginald Powys-Lybbe, the owner of the golf course, Rectory Farm and Thurle Grange estate dies. His son Antony inherits. November – Rectory Farm and Thurle Grange Estate up for sale, including the golf course and clubhouse.
1931	14th October – date of conveyance of original nine hole course purchased from Antony Powys-Lybbe. The purchase also included the clubhouse and land on which the present 1st, 5th, 6th and 18th holes are situated.
1933	Leased land south of B4009 purchased from Lord Iliffe.
1935	Greenwell Cup inaugurated. Move into new clubhouse (the fourth) on site of present building. 25th October – club holds its first AGM in its new clubhouse.
1936	Land exchanged between golf club and Lord Iliffe to extend 7th and 13th holes and construct new 11th and 12th holes.
1940	Land to the right side of the 15th fairway bought from Ernest Blacker Vignoles, of Little Orchard, Streatley for turf nursery.
1955	Roy Mason joins as club’s professional.
1956	Roy Mason sets club record of 63.
1966	Clubhouse enlarged during second half of year.
1969	John Cook wins English Amateur Championship at Royal St Georges.
1970	Len Hawting retires as head greenkeeper after 45 years.
1972	Automatic sprinkler system installed on greens and tees.
1973	Carl Mason wins British Youths Championship.
1975	Title of Honorary Secretary abolished and John Bohanna becomes first Secretary of the club to receive a remuneration.
1977	Jess Riley became first salaried Secretary and Manager on John Bohanna’s retirement. 5th June – first pro am tournament resulted in a three-way tie between Michael King, Ken Bousfield of Coombe Hill and Basil Proudfoot of Berkhamstead, all with a score of 70.
1978	30th June, Tony Jacklin, with a 67, won challenge match against Carl Mason (70).
1980	David Lane wins English Golf Union Champion of Champions Tournament at Ashridge Golf Club.
1995	Captains David Lane & Chris Carter, and Club President Frank Williams cut the centenary cake
1983	Clubhouse demolished and in September the new clubhouse (the fifth) opened by Sir Michael Bonallack, who was then Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
1988	Simon Pardoe wins British Boys Championship at Formby.
1991	Simon Pardoe wins Welsh Amateur Championship at Ashburnham, Llanelli.
1993	Car park enlarged and practise ground constructed near 17th green.
1995	The year started with the Club Captains teeing off on New Years Day in period costume, and the highlight of the year was the Centenary Ball in the summer. A big effort went into the production of a centenary year book which covered the first hundred years of the Club’s history.
1998	David Lane wins British Seniors Amateur Championship at Glasgow Gailes and Western Gailes.
2000	David Lane wins the Club Championship for the 14th time spanning five decades.
2000	Club’s first website launched.
2002	Refurbishment of all bunkers commenced.
2003	New Greenkeepers Complex opened.
2003	Drainage project completed, including a pond on the 8th hole.
2004	Refurbishment of all bunkers completed.
2006	Course pathways re-constructed using rubberised products.
2007	Course: 1st Tee and 12th Green re-constructed.
2007	Clubhouse: Restaurant refurbished, kitchen re-equipped and disabled access facilities upgraded to include a bridge at the back of the Clubhouse, so disabled people can access the upper floor at a cost of £200,000.