CLUB HISTORY
Malden Golf Club was founded in 1893 as the Raynes Park Golf Club. The original course was required for development so the club moved to its present site in 1926. It was opened by the President of the day Colonel Sir Augustus Fitzgeorge and followed by an exhibition match between Abe Mitchell, Harry Vardon (famous for the Vardon grip), Alex Herd and Ted Ray, four of the great professionals of the time. Alex Herd had advised on the layout of the course.
The land, which now forms the main areas of the course, was originally part of the Coombe Manor Estate which had been acquired from Queen Elizabeth I in 1579. In 1753 the land was bought by John Spencer who became the 1st Earl Spencer (the same Spencer family as Princess Diana). In 1837, the 3rd Earl Spencer sold the land to Prince Adolphus Frederick, 1st Duke of Cambridge and the seventh son of George III. When he died in 1850, his son George inherited the estate. George subsequently married an actress, who as a commoner was not able to become a Duchess and her sons could not inherit the Duke's title. It was their younger son, Colonel Sir Augustus Fitzgeorge KCVO CB, who inherited the land in 1922 before turning it into a golf course and becoming President of the Club until his death in 1933.
One of the distinguished members in the early 1900's was Wing Commander Frank Brock OBE RNAS. He was a member of the Brocks Fireworks family which had developed pyrotechnics for use in military raids. One such "raid" was at Zeebrugge in 1918. Wing Commander Brock went as an observer on HMS Vindictive to Zeebrugge, but was killed assisting seamen in an attempt to silence German guns. To this day the club plays for the Brock Cup each Armistice Sunday in commemoration.
Some of the club's more famous sporting names include Jack Hobbs, the cricketer, Joe Davis, the snooker player, Mickey Stewart of Surrey & England cricket, Terry Mancini ex- Arsenal FC all of whom were keen members. Dai Rees, the nine times Ryder Cup player was an assistant for a short while as was Peter Coleman the long-time caddy to Bernhard Langer. George Howard served as professional from 1953 until his retirement in 1990. During his career George Howard had numerous golfing achievements including a top 20 finish in the Open. He went on to captain Surrey PGA and became its President in 1991. His successor Robert Hunter was Head Professional for 26 years retiring in 2016. Robert, highly respected amongst his peers had been an ambassador for Callaway, Captain of the Surrey PGA and was awarded PGA ‘Professional of the Year’ in 2016. His assistant Ben Tebbs is now our Head Professional.
Malden Golf Club was founded in 1893 as the Raynes Park Golf Club. The original course was required for development so the club moved to its present site in 1926. It was opened by the President of the day Colonel Sir Augustus Fitzgeorge and followed by an exhibition match between Abe Mitchell, Harry Vardon (famous for the Vardon grip), Alex Herd and Ted Ray, four of the great professionals of the time. Alex Herd had advised on the layout of the course.
The land, which now forms the main areas of the course, was originally part of the Coombe Manor Estate which had been acquired from Queen Elizabeth I in 1579. In 1753 the land was bought by John Spencer who became the 1st Earl Spencer (the same Spencer family as Princess Diana). In 1837, the 3rd Earl Spencer sold the land to Prince Adolphus Frederick, 1st Duke of Cambridge and the seventh son of George III. When he died in 1850, his son George inherited the estate. George subsequently married an actress, who as a commoner was not able to become a Duchess and her sons could not inherit the Duke's title. It was their younger son, Colonel Sir Augustus Fitzgeorge KCVO CB, who inherited the land in 1922 before turning it into a golf course and becoming President of the Club until his death in 1933.
One of the distinguished members in the early 1900's was Wing Commander Frank Brock OBE RNAS. He was a member of the Brocks Fireworks family which had developed pyrotechnics for use in military raids. One such "raid" was at Zeebrugge in 1918. Wing Commander Brock went as an observer on HMS Vindictive to Zeebrugge, but was killed assisting seamen in an attempt to silence German guns. To this day the club plays for the Brock Cup each Armistice Sunday in commemoration.
Some of the club's more famous sporting names include Jack Hobbs, the cricketer, Joe Davis, the snooker player, Mickey Stewart of Surrey & England cricket, Terry Mancini ex- Arsenal FC all of whom were keen members. Dai Rees, the nine times Ryder Cup player was an assistant for a short while as was Peter Coleman the long-time caddy to Bernhard Langer. George Howard served as professional from 1953 until his retirement in 1990. During his career George Howard had numerous golfing achievements including a top 20 finish in the Open. He went on to captain Surrey PGA and became its President in 1991. His successor Robert Hunter was Head Professional for 26 years retiring in 2016. Robert, highly respected amongst his peers had been an ambassador for Callaway, Captain of the Surrey PGA and was awarded PGA ‘Professional of the Year’ in 2016. His assistant Ben Tebbs is now our Head Professional.
