Looking to the future
Royal Blackheath is more than 400 years old and justifiably proud of its rich history and heritage. Rob Smith returns to the club to find it embracing the modern world and moving with the times
lthough golf was played on the heath even earlier, the formal institution of this famous club is reckoned to be 1608. Sadly, the documentation relating to this no longer exists, but there seems little doubt that Royal Blackheath is by some distance the oldest golf club in England. It is also one that is definitely not resting on its illustrious laurels, with significant changes on and off the course designed to pave the way for a bright and healthy future.
AAfter the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, James VI of Scotland headed south with his court to London. He took up residence in the Royal Palace at Greenwich, where he became James I of England as well as the self-styled King of Great Britain. Golf was already well established north of the border and a number of the Scottish incomers were keen to pursue their hobby, which therefore meant that a course was needed. At that time, the English would not have been familiar with golf.
The original course on the heath consisted of just five holes, played three times. This was extended to seven in 1843, therefore leading to a 21-hole round. The main London
Road ran through the heath, and as traffic and golf both became more popular, a move was needed. This took place in 1923 when the club amalgamated with Eltham Golf Club and relocated to its current home at Eltham Lodge in Kent, a 20-minute train ride from London Bridge.
Not long after, James Braid was brought in to review the bunkering. The hugely impressive Grade I listed clubhouse dates back to the mid-17th century, and it was ‘Georgianised’ a century later with the installation of sash windows, new interiors and the creation of a deer park, now the golf course, which replaced the formal gardens and farmland.
One of the most impressive features of the clubhouse is the beautifully maintained and
expansive golf museum up on the top floor. This is a draw in its own right and even attracts enthusiasts who are not visiting the club to play. Book in advance of your visit and club historian Richard Williams, a former captain, will be happy to entertain you with his encyclopaedia of stories.
As for the wealth of trophies and memorabilia on display, pride of place goes to the Gold Medal of the Knuckle Club, the oldest medal in the world. This was struck in 1789 and is the origin of the golfing term ‘medal competition’. Dating back to 1847, and so 13 years older than The Open Championship, the Boys Open Medal is now recognised as the oldest continuously played open golf competition in the world.
Other highlights include the Bombay and Photographic Society Medals and the Calcutta Cup. Having played such an important role in the development of golf, the club was granted Royal status in 1901.
In order to position itself for the future, the club took the brave and forward-thinking decision five years ago to sell one of its most prized possessions, The Portrait of Henry Callender. Painted by Lemuel Francis Abbott in the last decade of the 18th century, it used to hang in the dining room, watching over the famous ‘Wee Dinners’ where guests traditionally enjoyed haggis, neeps and tatties before hitting balls on to the 18th green from the dining room table.
This sold for a weighty £722,500, while a rare putter thought to feature in the picture went for £62,500. After commission and fees, the club netted a gamechanging £650,000. Bolstered further by fundraising actions such as bonds and life memberships, this allowed them to buy the freehold of the course and clubhouse from the Crown Estate. Vitally, this gave the club real autonomy for the first time.
Perhaps the most significant way in which the club has prepared for the future is in its comprehensive course upgrade. With the support of the Quad Centenary Club – one of whose aims is to renovate and rejuvenate Royal Blackheath – this was overseen by Ken Moodie, along with tree expert John Nicholson. Having first played the course around 25 years ago, I must be honest and say it never matched the expectations you would have of a club of this stature. Happily, this is no longer the case, with the changes adding hugely both to the strategic approach and the visual enjoyment.
Moodie was keen to tackle the problem of ornamental trees and leylandii lining many holes, as well as revise and overhaul all of the bunkering. “The plan was to try and create more of a parkland