CLUB HISTORY
IN THE BEGINNING
In 1889, a small group of local golf enthusiasts decided to approach the squire of the Titsey Estate asking for the opportunity to create a course on a parcel of the land somewhere around the village of Oxted. At one time, the expansive Titsey Estate stretched from Wandsworth in the north to Hever in the south, and with great fervour the request was duly granted.
As a result, a portion of Limpsfield common, which lies just east of Oxted, was allocated for the purpose and the initial course was mapped out amongst the heather and gorse bushes giving birth to only the fourth golf club to be established in Surrey.
Shortly thereafter, in 1896, construction of a modest clubhouse was completed which firmly cemented the tradition of golf on Limpsfield Chart and popularity began to grow, particularly with the London Gentry who would travel down to Oxted by train to be met at the station by a horse-drawn cab.
The January 1902 edition of “Golf Illustrated” makes mention of the challenge at Limpsfield and describes the “tricky layout and handsome greens”. Over its 120 plus years, both the course and the clubhouse have been developed and grown to keep pace with the ever changing facets of the game. Not only has the clubhouse grown, but the course has been re-laid and lengthened, and along with Mother Nature, the once tree-less and open heath land now boasts some spectacularly challenging fairways that are narrowed by the encroachment of mature trees to accompany the heather and gorse that still presents as it did in the beginning.
GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION
As one of the oldest courses in southern England, The Limpsfield Chart Golf Club has featured strongly in the development of golf throughout the British Isles and was enviously fortunate to employ the services of J. E. Douglas Rolland as both the greens keeper and club professional in 1890, just one year after the first holes were laid out.
Born in Elie, Fife, Rolland was cousin to the legendary James Braid and it was this family connection that allowed Braid to play in his first professional match on the unforgiving Limpsfield Chart. Also, in 1894, John Henry “J. H.” Taylor, played on “The Chart” to a win, beating the clubs own Douglas Rolland into a 2nd place finish, an achievement “J. H.” then repeated to win his first Open Championship at The Royal St. Georges Golf Club shortly thereafter that same year.
Perhaps it’s just coincidence, but after experiencing the course first-hand, one can freely speculate if the golf at Limpsfield may have been good preparation and a great lesson when considering that Braid and Taylor both went on to win five Open Championships each, a feat that has only been paralleled by two others and beaten merely once!
In 1966, George Huggett was appointed as the Club Professional and his son, Brian Huggett MBE went on to become a very successful Tour Professional, playing in six Ryder Cup events as well as performing the duties of Captain of the 1977 Great Britain & Ireland Ryder Cup Team.
J. E. Douglas Rolland James Braid John Henry “J. H.” Taylor
Brian Huggett M.B.E.
THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ARTISANS
The club’s founder, Granville Leveson-Gower, was descended from the Gresham family, the name of which in turn derives from the old East Anglian name of “Greshop”, hence, “Grasshopper”! In fact, Sir Thomas Gresham founded the London Stock Exchange under the reign of Elizabeth I and the building in which the Exchange was originally housed was topped off with a huge brass weathervane in the form of a grasshopper. Unfortunately, the original building, along with the weathervane succumbed to the devastation of The Great Fire in 1666.
The Limpsfield Chart Golf Club continues to be honoured to have the Grasshopper bestowed upon it as its formal club logo, and in 1909 the historical association with the Titsey Estate was further reinforced with the formation of The Gresham Artisan’s Golf Club. Inspired by Mr. G. C. E. Leveson-Gower, the artisans club was established to allow villagers from Limpsfield, Oxted and the surrounding area, most of whom were also workers on the Titsey Estate, to enjoy the game and in 1947, the old caddy shed was turned into a clubhouse for the Gresham members.
The Gresham administers its own club and membership and continues the tradition of subsidised golf in exchange for a small amount of annual and project work on the course.
Limpsfield Chart pictured as it once was...
...and the 1st Tee, and 9th green as it is today!
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