ORIGINS

Farnham Golf Club was founded in 1896 following a meeting of 17 Victorian gentlemen united by their shared love of the game. After successful discussions with Mr A.H. Stevens, owner of Binton Farm, the Club was established, and it was here that our story truly began.

The course, originally a nine-hole layout known as ‘Binton Links’, was extended to 18 holes in 1904, with Open Champion Jack White assisting in its design. To mark the official opening of the new course in 1905, White joined James Braid, Harry Vardon and Tom Vardon in a celebrated exhibition match.

Vardon and Braid were two members of the “Great Triumvirate” who, together with J. H. Taylor, secured 16 Open Championship titles between 1894 and 1914.

A COURSE FAVOURED AMONGST GOLFING LEGENDS

The Second World War brought further disruption, with part of the course once again surrendered under wartime agricultural policy. It reopened in 1953, marked by another distinguished exhibition match featuring, among others, British Ryder Cup player Peter Alliss and Bobby Locke, the legendary South African who returned to Farnham on many occasions. Locke’s compatriot, Gary Player, also became a familiar and welcome visitor to the Club.

In 1952, Farnham’s own Elizabeth Price played a pivotal role in helping Great Britain and Ireland capture the Curtis Cup from the USA for the first time. Elizabeth remains arguably one of the two finest golfers produced by the Club, alongside Roger Revell. Among Roger’s many achievements were victory in the Brabazon Trophy in 1973, reaching the final of the English Amateur Championship in 1972, and in that same year qualifying for The Open Championship at Muirfield.

Perhaps the most defining moment in the Club’s history came in 1968, when the landowner agreed to sell the course to the members for £34,000, securing Farnham’s future for generations to come. The great storm of October 1987 caused widespread damage across the course, yet the Club recovered, as it had after two World Wars. Our centenary was celebrated in 1996 and now, well into its second century, Farnham Golf Club continues to go from strength to strength.

Official Recognition as a Ladies’ Golf Club in 1906

At Farnham, ladies had been playing since the earliest days of the Club, yet it was not until 1906 that they received formal recognition, with Miss Eveline Faithfull elected as their first Captain.

The Great War had a profound impact on the Club, as it did on so many others. Several holes were surrendered to food production in support of the war effort, with severe financial consequences. In the difficult years that followed, the Club was wound up and its assets dispersed at auction.

Yet a determined group of members refused to let the game at Farnham fade away, and by 1922 a nine-hole course was once again in regular play. Farnham Golf Club was re-formed the following year and, less than 12 months later, a full 18 holes were restored.

Though remaining in the same geographical setting, it is widely accepted that the new course provided a far more engaging test than its predecessor – suggesting that those early hardships may, in time, have proved a hidden blessing.