History of Oxhey Golf Club
These formal minutes of the Oxhey Golf Club have been a useful commentary of the times from the Club’s inception, just two years before the outbreak of the First World War, weathering various difficulties during the ‘twenties and ‘thirties and culminating with the death, on active service, of its principal benefactor during the Second World War. Shortly afterwards came the impact of the London County Council’s compulsory purchase order, bringing about the sad conclusion that the Club should be closed in October 1946.
It was interesting to see in these minutes the class-consciousness of the early days – i.e. markedly using capitals for the club’s membership and officers (D for Directors, S for Secretary etc.) whilst small p for professional, g for green-keeper etc. In contrast with the present day was the agreement by the London North Western Railway to provide a “halt” for the convenience of members travelling on the line from Euston.
Significant, during the First World War, was the proposal that a member with a Germanic-sounding surname should have his membership suspended for the duration. Following this, war-time hardship for the Club started to bite, manifesting itself in staff shortages, lack of worm-killer for the greens, the requirement to suffer sheep grazing on the course etc.
All this pales into insignificance in the light of developments during the Second World War and the two body blows suffered by the Club at that time.
Subsequently an Oxhey Nomads Golfing Society was formed to accommodate former members of Oxhey Golf Club and this continued until the early 1970s.