Oxhey Golf Club - Part 3

 

Childrens' Golf Competition 1933. Collyn Warren Driving

Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies

PART 3 – 1919 UNTIL THE START OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR        

SEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 24th May 1919  

Improved financial position.   The need to increase the pay of caddies was noted.   Efforts continued to get a Sunday service on the railway, but it was acknowledged that the railway having to pay the Sunday rate of “pay and a half” was an obstacle.   Serious water-logging  at the 7th, 8th, 17th, and 18th holes would be requiring works during the ensuing year, in the context of the increasing cost of labour while “the purchasing value of the sovereign has decreased”.   Proposal as to ladies (of 10 handicap and under) being allowed “further privileges, as to starting on Saturdays, Sundays etc.    

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING – 13th March 1920 (to consider the question of the “right of lady members to vote”).    

EIGHTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 24th May 1920  

The membership was stated to be around 450.   Legalisation of the result of the Extraordinary General Meeting to be placed before counsel. Start of the Oxhey Golf Course Improvement Fund.    

“Killing of the worms” on the course had become a necessity.   The course was reported as being in a “shocking condition” as a result of 5 year’s neglect of the greens and damage through the necessity to have sheep grazing the fairways.   The Club’s green-keeper was reported to have come “back from the War very badly damaged”.  

“Grousers” were recommended to leave the Club.    

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING – 20TH November 1920  

Proposal to alter the date of the Annual General Meeting from May to December, as the Company’s accounts are made up until 30th September.   Formation of an Artisan Club was proposed as it “would prevent a great deal of trespassing”.   Now that the annual subscription was raised from £6 guineas to £10 guineas no further requests would be made for donations to the Course Improvement Fund.    

NINTH  ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 18th December 1920  

In view of past service, H. Fisher-Smith nominated as Club President,   Reported that worm-killing, and general improvements to the greens and course had been completed.    

TENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 17th December 1921  

Two professional tournaments had taken place – McVitie & Price and News of the World.   3 pages of notes in respect of hopes for the membership to have some sort of  formal security of tenure by way of lease  i.e. via separate trustees for 50 acres of the estate and 100 acres through the Company (Directors) to the Committee. Matter still unresolved.    

ELEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 16th December 1922  

Due to overcrowding on Saturdays, membership of full paying members limited to 350.   Alteration of the Rules – 20 ladies added and the number of men reduced by 30.    

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING  – 13th December 1924  

(First ?) Dinner and dance voted a great success.    

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 12 December 1925  

Severe drought during the year which had affected many courses nearby. Greens at Oxhey saved by prudent watering at night.    

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 18th December 1926  

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 17th December 1927  

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 15th December 1928   A committee member – F.J.Wakeman – had died suddenly on the course.  

Successful year for the Club – Captain was Champion of Hertfordshire, Professional was Professional Champion of Hertfordshire, Professional and Captain together won the County Flag, and the Club Team won the Inter Club Team Championship.  

Entries in the suggestions book were brought to the meeting and most contained complaints regarding mid-day catering, some suggesting that 3/6d was expensive.   Proposals to consider reviving the Dinner and Dance, which had lapsed due to poor support.    

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING – 29th June 1929  

Called by a member who objected to an increase of 5/- in the locker rents, said to be required to help pay for the establishing of an additional 9 hole course. This was defended on the basis that a falling membership required enhancement of the facilities.   Discussions ranged over 7 pages regarding the merits of improving existing or developing facilities.    

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 21st December 1929  

Reported that Sir Alexander Grant had presented a cup to the Club.      

NINETEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 13th December 1930  

Proposed that 2/6d per day be charged for play on the “short course”. Children of members, aged 8 to 18 years, should be allowed to play on the “short course” on weekdays for an annual subscription of one guinea.   Due to overspending during the year, on refurbishment of the course, extensive re-decoration of the club house, and the News of the World Tournament – a deficit of £1200 had occurred. This had resulted in the Directors having to forgo their debenture interest. The Directors did not like it and had asked the Committee not to let this happen again.    

TWENTIETH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 12th December 1931    

TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 10th December 1932  

Membership reported to be 541 – having lost 42 members during the year. A Director informed the meeting that payment of the Directors’ debenture interest was now several years in arrears.    

TWENTY–SECOND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 9th December 1933  

Mr. P.L.Smith – Club Captain – felt that something should be done by the members to increase membership. He went on to say that he had attended Directors’ meetings during the year and learned that the Directors had given up their debenture interest and rent. He warned that the Directors could not be expected to put their hands in their pockets “to pay for the Members’ golf”.   Proposed to move the AGM date to April in the hope of more members attending it.  

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 14th April 1934  

Chairman brought to the attention of the members an appeal in “Golf Illustrated” for old clothes, shoes etc. for assisting the unemployed.  

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 27th April 1935  

Reported to the meeting that, as a result of the efforts of members, the membership had increased during the year by 58, to 529.    

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 25th April 1936   Discussions took place regarding the nuisance of trespassers and their dogs slowing play on the course.    

TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 24th April 1937    

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 30th April 1938