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62-666: The Hong Kong Golf Club is a private golf club . It is home to the Hong Kong Open , a tournament co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. Founded in 1889 as the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club , the club originally played in Happy Valley , a location shared with many other activities. As the club expanded, the need for a more permanent home was addressed with the building of a small 9-hole course at Deep Water Bay , before

124-587: A central sport such as golf, polo or tennis, although some of them did eventually offer other sports. Examples include Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro , Club de Campo Villa de Madrid , Real Club de Polo de Barcelona , Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri, Real Club Pineda etc. Many of them are also located in those cities or towns that hosted the summer vacations of the royal family. Such is the case of Real Sociedad de Tenis de la Magdalena , Real Golf de Pedreña or Real Golf Club de Zarauz for example. The most notable difference between Spanish and American country clubs

186-682: A foothold for it in the Colony. Although Captain Rumsey and Stewart had clubs and balls and had in fact been driving these balls within the race track at Happy Valley before 1889, the opinion of the Meeting was that attempts should be made to acquire land then in possession of the military in Kowloon. Rumsey had been elected captain of the new club and had secured the consent of the Governor – Sir William Des Voeux – to accept

248-511: A great deal of trouble was constantly experienced from worms which fed upon the young fresh roots and didn't give the Green keepers a chance. The course was almost devoid all that there was a great deal of room for improving the original layout. The Committee appointed Mr. L.S. Greenhill to work out with Mr. Kerr (who had been general manager of the club since 1914 and resided in the Orme Bungalow) on

310-546: A lot of water and have been called 'toxic green', meaning a lot of agrochemicals are used for their upkeep." In July 2023, after development chief Bernadette Linn confirmed the government planned to move forward with the plan to build public housing, the Golf Club applied for UNESCO recognition in order to block the government's plan. In addition, the Golf Club also filed a judicial review to the Court of First Instance . In August 2023,

372-526: A new lay out and new bunkering. In 1919, a caddies union was discovered called "Po Tai Ngoi Yue" – Golf Caddies Club – which turned out to be a semi-triad society. The first caddie strike took place in April 1922 and was eventually settled. On 2 November 1931, the New Course which had been designed by L.S. Greenhill some years before, was officially opened by Sir William Peel . It was said that Sir William Peel ,

434-482: A number of the debentures to aid the club. In 1963, an EGM was called and a Fanling Development Scheme was approved. Two resolutions were passed authorising the committee to proceed with a scheme for the extension of the Fanling clubhouse and the issue of debentures to the amount of HK$ 900,000 to cover the costs. A building levy of HK$ 5 per month for all members was also introduced. Actual and estimated capital expenditure on

496-401: A profit was reported in 1984 for the third year running. Since then, the club has remained in the black. In 1986, 10 Nominee Memberships were issued in the price of HK$ 1.1 million to raise fund for the building of the automatic irrigation system, which piping secondary treated effluent from the sewage treatment plant belonging to one of those estates of the new town, Shek Wu Hui . This was

558-509: A reduction of $ 387,000 in eight years. The first Hong Kong Open took place at the club in 1959. Negotiations with the Jockey Club started in 1967 and, in due course, the Stewards of the Jockey Club agreed to recommend to their members that approximately 30 acres of land at Beas River, between the Jockey Club's West Paddock and Hang Tau Village Road, should be leased to the Golf Club. In return,

620-554: A result of a letter addressed to Queen Victoria 's Lord Chamberlain the following reply was addressed to Sir William Robinson G.C.M.G. Governor of Hong Kong: "Sir, With reference to your dispatch of 20th July addressed to the Right Honorable The Lord Chamberlain, The Earl of Lothian , I have the honour to inform you that on your application being laid before The Queen, Her Majesty was graciously pleased, in view of your recommendations, to give Her permission to

682-575: A shared location in Happy Valley . According to "History of the Royal Hongkong Golf Club", which was written by T.F.R. Waters, of these thirteen, with the exception of Robert Murray Rumsey R.N. (then Hong Kong Harbour Master and the Rumsey Street was named after his name.) and Gershom Stewart (afterwards Knighted and a member of parliament for Hoylake) very few had much notion of the game but readily agreed to do what they could to established

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744-489: Is HK$ 2,538,000. On 8 May 1889, a notice was published on the Hong Kong Daily Press : "GENTLEMEN INTERESTED IN THE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GAME OF GOLF ARE REQUESTED TO ATTEND A MEETING TO BE HELD IN THE HONGKONG CLUB ON FRIDAY 10TH MAY, 1889 AT 5 pm. TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF STARTING A GOLF LINKS IN HONGKONG OR KOWLOON." Then, the "Royal Hong Kong Golf Club" was started in 1889 by "thirteen golfing enthusiasts" in

806-404: Is HK$ 70 on weekdays and HK$ 100 on weekends and public holidays. An agreement was formed where rural villagers could also play on some parts of the golf course for free, with one villager saying he had been allowed to do so for decades. Approximately 800 villagers were registered under the program. Country club Country clubs are most commonly located in city outskirts or suburbs, due to

868-624: Is that the former are not normally located in the countryside but either within a city or town itself or in the outskirts at most. Many of the gentlemen's clubs established during the British Raj are still active in major cities, for example the Bangalore Club , Lahore Gymkhana , Karachi Gymkhana , Nizam Club , and Bengal Club . Gymkhanas are sporting or social clubs across the subcontinent. Country clubs exist in multiple forms, including athletic-based clubs and golf clubs. Examples are

930-547: The 11th (1st Preston) Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps on 9 November 1872. Bootle-Wilbraham succeeded his grandfather as second Baron Skelmersdale in 1853 and was entitled to take a seat in the House of Lords on his 21st birthday in 1858. He served under the Earl of Derby and then Benjamin Disraeli as a Lord-in-waiting from 1866 to 1868. In 1870, he became Conservative Chief Whip in

992-908: The Breakfast Point Country Club , Cumberland Grove Country Club and Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club in Sydney , the Castle Hill Country Club, the Gold Coast Polo & Country Club, The Heritage Golf and Country Club , Elanora Country Club, and the Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club . In Japan, almost all golf clubs are called "Country Clubs" by their owners. Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom GCB PC (12 December 1837 – 19 November 1898) known as The Lord Skelmersdale between 1853 and 1880,

1054-456: The 1960s civil rights lawsuits forced clubs to drop exclusionary policies. In a 1990 landmark ruling at Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club , the PGA refused to hold tournaments at private clubs that practiced racial discrimination. This new regulation led to the admittance of black people at private clubs. The incident at Shoal Creek is comparable to the 1966 NCAA basketball tournament , which led to

1116-494: The 1980s, the nationwide interest shifted more towards golf. Country clubs were founded by upper-class elites between 1880 and 1930. The Brookline Country Club was founded in 1882 and is esteemed to be the nation’s first by the Encyclopaedia of American Urban History . By 1907, country clubs were claimed to be “the very essence of American upper-class.” The number of country clubs increased greatly with industrialization,

1178-400: The 6,142-yard par-71 Eden Course was officially opened by Sir David Trench . Sir David Trench , Governor of Hong Kong from 1964 to 1971, was keen on golf. He had insisted on his regular game of golf even during the political turmoils in late 1960s. In October 1968, Sir David Trench was pairing with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to play a round of golf against Mr Gordon Macwhinnie,

1240-469: The Fanling property had badly suffered from general neglect which was understandable in the circumstances. The trees had been cut down for fuel and parts of the course including most of the greens had been used for vegetable cultivation. The New Course had been used for training and a large number of fox holes had been built. The clubhouse was requisitioned by the British Army after the war. The rehabilitation

1302-474: The Golf Club would provide a 'ride' of about four or five miles, which would be laid out around the perimeter of the Golf Club property and would be available at all times for members of the Jockey Club. During the autumn of 1968, John Harris's proposals for the extension of the Eden Course were considered. The members approved expenditure of HK1.3 million on improvements to the Eden Course. On 10 October 1971,

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1364-516: The Golfers through on each round." The proximity of the Golf Course to the football ground on occasions lead to misdirected shots landing in the football arena but no one seems to have been hit. There was however one occasion when the late "Auntie" Maitland misdirected her drive from the 1st tee and caused serious injury to the eye of a Marine. According to the club annals, "protracted negotiations" with

1426-472: The Governor of Hong Kong in early 1930s, was a keen golfer. Little was allowed to interfere with his weekly round of golf or his regular rides with the Fanling Hunt. He rode hard, plunging across the terraced rice fields, bogging down at times in the waterlogged mud. In 1933, George Bernard Shaw visited the club. In 1936, Mr. Stanley H. Dodwell presented a "Captain's Chair" for the bar room to commemorate

1488-464: The Hong Kong Golf Club being called 'The Royal Hong Kong Golf Club'." This announcement was received with great acclaim and duly celebrated by a banquet at which Sir William was an honoured guest. In 1903, the club obtained exclusive use of Happy Valley ground except for Wednesdays and Saturdays, when soccer and cricket were played. From the start, use by ladies was heavily restricted. And when

1550-735: The House of Lords. He once again held office under Disraeli as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from 1874 to 1880, and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1874. In 1880, he was created Earl of Lathom , in the County Palatine of Lancaster. Lord Lathom later held office under Lord Salisbury as Lord Chamberlain of the Household from 1885 to 1886, from 1886 to 1892, and from 1895 to 1898. In 1892, he

1612-526: The United States' country clubs. Similar to the United States, Spain has had a tradition of country clubs as a pillar of social life. This began during the reign of Alfonso XII and was consolidated during the reign of his son and successor Alfonso XIII , who granted royal status to a handful of country clubs. Most country clubs in Spain are typically associated with the upper classes, and were conceived around

1674-598: The club eventually moved to its current location in Fanling , most of which is leased from the Hong Kong government. According to the club annals, the Deep Water Bay location opened in 1898; and the 18-hole Old Course was completed in 1911. To expand the facility, in 1968, the club negotiated the lease of around 30 acres of land at Beas River with which it expanded the Eden Course into a full 18-hole championship course. The 'Royal'

1736-708: The club gained exclusive use of Happy Valley in 1903, ladies were allowed to play on Sundays only. In connection with this sharing of the ground at Happy Valley there is on record this remark made by the Captain at the Annual General Meeting of 1903 in connection with the playing of the final of the Club Championship at Happy Valley "The thanks of the Players are due to the Cricketers who so kindly stopped their game to let

1798-521: The club in June 2015. Tiffany Chan , a member of Hong Kong Golf Club, was qualified to play 2016 Summer Olympics. She finished for a four over total of 288 (71-75-73-69) and ranked 37 among the 60 players. In 2018, after 5 months of public consultation, the Task Force on Land Supply recommended that land from the Fanling site be used for public housing. A land parcel of 32 hectares to the east of Fan Kam Road of

1860-505: The club's Captain and Mr W.C. Choy at Fanling. In 1996, in advance of the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the club dropped 'Royal' from its name. In 2015, the club celebrated its 125th anniversary by offering Hong Kong residents a special HK$ 125 green fee rate on selected days. The first Hong Kong Ladies Open took place at

1922-528: The club's approval, on payment of a commission to the club. At the AGM in 1980, it was decided to issue 30 Nominee Memberships to meet the expense of a redevelopment scheme to include a swimming pool and squash courts in Deep Water Bay . The new building at Deep Water Bay was completed in early 1983 at a cost of about HK$ 25 million. The financial problems were eventually overcome. Following many years of loss,

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1984-451: The club, around 300 actually were the same species." The club has been led by a president since its founding in 1889. Due to war, financial ruin, and poor management, the list of presidents is not complete; the following list is a partial list. In 1897, the club's membership reached 250. By 1923, the club's membership reached 800. In July 1964, it was decided to close the membership. All applicants, regardless of nationality, were put on

2046-406: The club. During the 1950s, all the greens remodelled and planted with Gezira or Uganda grass. This grass has all come from a shoebox full of seeded soil taken from Uganda to Cairo during the war and one more sod of this grass was flown from Cairo to Hong Kong in 1951. Sir Sidney Gordon , C.B.E., J.P., former President of the club, recalled his stopover at Cairo airport in 1951. "During

2108-423: The country club is often not as exclusive or expensive as in larger cities where there is competition for a limited number of memberships. In addition to the fees, some clubs have additional requirements to join. For example, membership can be limited to those who reside in a particular housing community. Early clubs focused primarily on equestrian-related sports: coaching, racing, jumping, polo, and foxhunting. In

2170-475: The course architects. It was said that E.R. Hallifax , the then Tai Po District Officer, was the man more than any other responsible for the construction of a course at Fanling golf course. The relationship of the District Officer with the village elders everywhere was avuncular or, indeed, almost paternal. In 1916, Sir Henry May arranged for the club to acquire additional land to form a Relief Course for

2232-517: The disappearance of the last of the Pimples on the Old Course. Whenever the Captain is at Fanling and any other member or subscriber sits in the chair by mistake, the penalty will be one round of drinks at that particular table in memory of the departed pimples. It was fortunate that although this chair was looted during WWII, it was spotted being used as a Sedan Chair slung between two poles and recovered for

2294-741: The end of racial discrimination in college basketball. The Philadelphia Cricket Club is the oldest organized country club in the United States devoted to playing games, while The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts is the oldest club devoted to golf. In the United Kingdom, many country clubs are smaller than those in the USA though examples similar in size and scope to the American country club also exist. Gentlemen’s clubs in Britain—many of which admit women while remaining socially exclusive—fill many roles of

2356-483: The fairways, but these were for the most part removed in 1920 as the result of a generous grant through Sir Henry May of $ 50,000, which was paid out as compensation to the families owning them. There was a particularly large number of the "jars" at the base of the "saddle" or, as it is known today, "Tommy Tucker" (derived from the Cantonese "Mm ta-ka ( 唔得㗎 )" – don't strike). These jars unfortunately were in direct line from

2418-403: The golf course, the Golf Club said "The approval... represents a great set-back to the city's efforts to enhance its liveability and combat climate change." In response, a member from Liber Research Community refuted the Golf Club's statement and said "If the ecological value or the environmental value of the land was so great, it does not make sense for it to be used as a golf course, as they use

2480-532: The golf course, which is on the short-term tenancy, will be resumed by the government for housing development . In August 2022, shortly after the election of a new Hong Kong Chief Executive , the South China Morning Post reported that Legislative Council of Hong Kong member Regina Ip , also a member of the golf club, had called for the plans be abandoned; it was also reported that the club itself had been lobbying various groups in an attempt to overturn

2542-509: The government and local farmers resulted in sufficient land being obtained in Fanling, its current location, to build its first full 18-hole course that was completed in 1911. The first idea was to use the Sun Wei valley but the Army Authorities opposed this. Messrs. T. S. Forrest, K. M. Cumming, L. S. Greenhill and M. A. Murray were appointed by the club to view this grazing land. Their report

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2604-408: The government offered to halt construction until legal proceedings were over; the Golf Club rejected the offer, with the Golf Club's lawyer saying the offer did not ensure that the public housing plan would be stopped. In May 2024, the government's lawyer stated that the Golf Club had artificially inflated the number of moths found on the site, saying that "among the more than 700 moth species found by

2666-419: The improvement to the clubhouse totalled HK$ 1,214,000. In early 1970s, to raise capital for the new complex, including the swimming pool and the mixed accommodation, a scheme of Nominee Memberships was introduced. On payment of HK$ 5,000 – soon raised to HK$ 10,000 – a firm became entitled, after approval by the club, to nominate an employee to membership. The Nominee Memberships were transferable, again subject to

2728-476: The ladies for extension of their very restricted privileges at Happy Valley as imposed by Commodore Boyes. Negotiations were opened with Government in June 1897 and with the not inconsiderable assistance of the Governor himself, Sir William Robinson , "the best friend the Club ever had", a lease of land for a small nine-hole course at Deep Water Bay was concluded with Hong Kong government in 1898. On 1 September 1897 as

2790-513: The last time that the club issued Nominee Membership. The club welcomes non-member Hongkongers on weekdays at HK$ 1,200 per round and HK$ 500 if they play after 3 pm. The number of rounds is unlimited The club offers practice sessions on the night range in 30-minute intervals from 6 pm until 11 pm seven days a week (including public holidays). These either start on the hour or half-hour allowing players unlimited use of range balls during these time periods. The night range fee for 60 minutes

2852-474: The plans on environmental grounds. In total, 7 of 16 members of the Executive Council have declared themselves members of the golf club, raising concerns of a conflict of interest. Executive Council member Ronny Tong also criticized the plan to build public housing on the course. In September 2022, the president of the Hong Kong Golf Club argued that it would not be cost effective to build public housing on

2914-407: The presidency. Despite this influence at Court the military authorities could not be persuaded to become cooperative, and after some months the proposition had to be dropped. However, on 30 September 1889 permission was eventually obtained from Hong Kong Government to use ground at Happy Valley. Money was raised and work was started making the greens and tees. The architect of the course at Happy Valley

2976-533: The requirement of having substantial grounds for outdoor activities, which distinguishes them from an urban athletic club . Country clubs originated in Scotland and first appeared in the US in the early 1880s. Country clubs had a profound effect on expanding suburbanization and are considered to be the precursor to gated community development. Country clubs can be exclusive organizations. In small towns, membership in

3038-547: The rise in incomes, and suburbanization in the 1920s. During the 1920s, country clubs acted as community social centers. When people lost most of their income and net worth during the Great Depression , the number of country clubs decreased drastically for lack of membership funding. Historically, many country clubs were "restricted" and refused to admit members of specific racial, ethnic or religious groups such as Jews , African Americans and Catholics . Beginning in

3100-534: The site. The Golf Club hosted an event with hundreds of dogs in an effort to rally public support against redevelopment of the land. Ta Kung Pao , a newspaper aligned with Beijing, said that "If the golf course development plan is thwarted, the public impression of 'business colluding with government officials' will only get worse." John Lee has said that he respected the plan to build public housing. In May 2023, after Hong Kong's environmental authority gave conditional approval for building public housing on part of

3162-437: The tee and got broken one by one by duffed tee-shots. The penalty for picking out was one stroke but the picking was usually left to the caddie. Trees were conspicuous by their absence, but then so was the grass on the fairways which were more rolled mud than anything else. This made the fairways very dusty especially on a windy day. The Greens were turfed with local grass, much of it 'cabbage', which made putting difficult whilst

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3224-498: The use of the Ladies. At the time the Old Course was laid out, there were no trees at all on the course except down by the 3rd green and one or two near the clubhouse site. Much forestry work was undertaken during the period 1915–1919 but there was still very little to show yet except beautiful clumps of lilies and cannas on the hillsides. Grave mounds, or "pimples", as they were known, plus innumerable jars of human bones, existed on many of

3286-437: The usual one-hour stopover and, as relations between the United Kingdom and Egypt were rather strained, the customs officer was somewhat suspicious of this damp, sackcloth-wrapped, parcel and insisted on it being opened. The contents made him even more suspicious but the intervention of the air crew enabled us to get it on board just before take-off." By the end of 1956, the indebtedness of the club had been reduced to $ 40,000 –

3348-472: The waiting list. The policy was to put the emphasis on giving membership to established golfers as opposed to beginners. The club currently has 2,510 members, including 365 corporate nominee memberships. Prior to 1921, there had been several matches of Scotland versus the Rest with usually very unsatisfactory results for the members of Scottish origin. In 1921, the first St. George 's versus St. Andrew 's Match

3410-559: Was Captain (afterwards Colonel) H. N. Dumbleton R.E. The work progressed rapidly, and it is recorded that in May 1890 a match of six a side was played between the club and the 91st Regiment of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, which the Club won easily. In 1896, Captain Rumsey and Captain Dumbleton examined the possibilities of Deep Water Bay as a possible solution to the ever-increasing pressure from

3472-469: Was Jessy, daughter of Sir Richard Brooke, 6th Baronet of Norton. His father died when Edward was only 7 years old and he was brought up by his grandparents at nearby Lathom House . He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford . Whilst a student at Oxford he was initiated into the Apollo University Lodge No 357, and became an active Freemason . He was appointed Honorary Colonel of

3534-526: Was a British Conservative politician. He was a member of every Conservative administration between 1866 and 1898, and notably served three times as Lord Chamberlain of the Household under Lord Salisbury . Having succeeded his grandfather as Baron Skelmersdale in 1853, he was created Earl of Lathom in 1880. Bootle-Wilbraham was born at Blythe Hall, Lathom , Lancashire, the son of Hon. Richard Bootle-Wilbraham , MP, eldest son of Edward Bootle-Wilbraham . His mother

3596-570: Was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath . On 16 August 1860, Lord Lathom married Lady Alice Villiers, daughter of George Villiers and the former Lady Katharine Barham (widow of John Joseph Barham, and eldest daughter of James Grimston ). Together, they were the parents of: The Countess of Lathom died in a carriage accident in November 1897, aged 56. Lady Alice's Drive, opposite Blythe Hall ,

3658-471: Was as expensive as had been forecast. The Club not only spent all its account balances but had to arrange for an overdraft which at one time was over $ 400,000. (The price of daily newspaper in Hong Kong was 20 cents in 1947–48.) To reduce this liability a debenture issue was authorised on the basis of HK$ 500 per member. A few of the long established firms such as the Hong Kong Bank and Jardines also took up

3720-483: Was dropped from the name of the club in 1996, in advance of the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. The club paid a one-off premium to lease the land, and is wrongly labelled to pay only a peppercorn rent annually. In 2012, the club paid HK$ 1.9 million for rent and HK$ 3.2 million for rates. In Year 2013–2014, the Government Rent Payable

3782-416: Was enthusiastic and favourable. Negotiations with Government were opened (1908) for a lease of sufficient land for a full-size 18-hole course to be constructed. These negotiations with Government were protracted despite the club receiving a great deal of assistance from the Governor, Sir Henry May , in dealing with the local farmers in the matter of acquiring certain extra pieces of land considered essential by

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3844-593: Was played in the month of January with, until 1926, a return match in December. After 1926, the December game was dropped probably due to the many other competition taking place in that month. Those playing for the Societies must be members of the club as well as members of one of the Societies. Entries are not limited except in so far as it is possible to pair off. The losing team in the morning Singles matches pays for lunch. The record of these matches are as follows: After WWII,

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