A History of the Club

The Golf Club was established in 1912 and is a classic parkland design amongst the rolling hills of the north Bedfordshire countryside.

The course was originally part of the Clapham Park estate, farmed by Lancelot Clark. For some years prior to 1912, Clark would invite friends and colleagues to hit golf balls onto primitive greens, roughly cut and wired off from grazing sheep.

On Friday 1^st March 1912, the first 9 hole course was opened and named Clapham Park Golf Links. On Saturday 27^th April 1912, the links were officially opened with a 36 hole exhibition match by Charles B. MacFarlane, the celebrated Scottish amateur champion from Prestwick.

Lancelot Clark, together with G.P.MacFarlane laid down a new 18 hole course, which was opened in May 1913 with an exhibition between MacFarlane and George Duncan, who went on to win The Open Championship in 1920. Although very different to the present layout, the course was on the same footprint as at present. At this time, the club was re-named Mid-Bedfordshire Golf Course at Clapham.

During World War 1, the course closed and was used by The Bedfordshire Regiment.

In September 1920, a match took place between George Duncan (current Open Champion) partnering James Braid (5 times Open Champion) representing Scotland against J.H. Taylor (5 times Open Champion) and Abe Mitchell representing England. With the lead changing hands several times, Mitchell put his tee shot 2 feet from the pin on the par 3, 18^th hole to halve the match with a birdie.  

Following on from this match, J.H. Taylor undertook one of his first golf course design commissions together with Fredrick George Hawtree in the re-construction of our course. A new golf pavilion opened in 1921 (see photograph) followed by the newly completed course on the 26^th April 1923. This layout is much the same as it is today and was the first introduction of bunkers to the course.

On the 25^th March 1926, the club changed hands and was re-structured under the present name of Bedford & County Golf Club with £1 shares being issued to members. At this time, a 14 year old Henry Longhurst was learning his golfing skills under the Club Professional George Muggleton. Henry remained a member of the club until going up to Clare College, Cambridge.

The Club progressed on, but through the Second World War a large part of the course (holes 6^th through to 15^th) was requisitioned by the War Agricultural Committee as well as the erection of nissen huts for use by the R.A.F. and W.A.A.F.

After the war, the course was in a pretty poor state and it was only through the laborious work of members under the guidance of Jack Simons, the Head Greenkeeper, that 9 holes were restored and allowed golf to be played although under somewhat primitive conditions.

It was not until June 1952 that the full 18 hole course was fully restored and officially opened by Dai Rees with an exhibition match including Alan Mawson, the Clubs professional and Leslie Day the Club’s leading amateur.

Over the past 50 years, the focus has been on enhancing the course and facilities for our members, with new improved drainage especially to the greens, extending the tees to enable year-round usage, a new clubhouse and raising standards to levels that modern golfing demands.

The current members and Committee are determined to maintain the Club's reputation as both a friendly, welcoming golf club and a challenging test of golf.