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Fulwell Golf Course

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Fulwell Golf Course

Fulwell Golf Course, operated by Fulwell Golf Club, is a 241 acres (98 ha) golf course and centre comprising an 18-hole course located in Fulwell in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, west London. It is adjacent to the 9-hole Twickenham Golf Course, currently operated by a David Lloyd Club, which was separated from the original Fulwell Golf Course in the 1950s. Both courses are located on Metropolitan Open Land owned by, and leased from, the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames.

The combined site comprising Fulwell and Twickenham golf courses, the David Lloyd Club, allotments, and Squires Garden Centre is bounded by the A305 Staines Road to the northwest, the B358 Sixth Cross Road to the north, the A312 Uxbridge Road and Burton Road to the southwest, and part of the Shepperton branch railway line and A311 Wellington Road to the east where the main entrance to Fulwell Golf Club is situated. Fulwell railway station is a short walk from Fulwell Golf Club's entrance.

The area was farmed during the 17th and 18th centuries and the present day golf course comprised part of Blackmoor Farm and most of Slade Farm. The farmhouse building for the latter, Slade Lodge, built c. 1830 and Grade II listed in 1990, is now the course manager's residence. The area of the present day course formed part of a larger estate which was purchased in 1871 by property developer, Charles James Freake, and renamed Fulwell Park.

In 1904 a group of local golf enthusiasts established the club at Fulwell. Led by prominent local figure H. O. Stutchbury, they appointed former Captain of Mid-Surrey Golf Club, Harry Tomlinson, as chairman and leased 244 acres (99 ha) from the Trustees of the Freake Estate, using 210 acres (85 ha) for the course. Early club officials included Frederick Dixon-Hartland, Viscount Villiers and Dr.Reginald Langdon Down, son of Dr.John Langdon Down.

The initial course on the site comprised an “outer” 18-hole course for men and an “inner” for ladies and high handicappers. It was designed by John Henry Taylor and was similar to the layout at the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club where Taylor was the professional. The par 80 course was a long course, with holes varying from 122 to 514 yards, and somewhat flat in appearance. The “inner” course was extended to 18 holes in 1906 making it just under 5,000 yards (4,600 m) in length with the longest hole being 487 yards (445 m), formally opening for play on 19 November 1907. In 1921 Alister MacKenzie, the noted golf course architect, was contracted to extend and improve the outer course.

Phil Gaudin was appointed as the first head golf professional at Fulwell in 1906, and he remained there until the start of World War I in 1914. Gaudin played a match there on 1 June 1906 against Taylor. Taylor led by 6 holes after the first round and eventually won 3&2.

George Oke became resident professional at Fulwell in 1921 and, soon after, a young school-leaver, Leslie Cotton, joined as assistant. In 1923 Leslie's elder brother, Henry Cotton, joined as assistant teaching professional. Henry Cotton soon moved on but Oke remained until 1946.

In 1934 a consortium of Teddington Council, London County Council and Middlesex County Council indicated its intention to purchase the land under the green belt scheme on expiry of the lease in 1941.

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