Welcome to the website of Rochford Hundred Golf Club

Few golf clubs can claim to have their home in a grade 1 listed building which began life around 1480. Since well before the Domesday Book manor houses of grand scale have existed on the site currently occupied by Rochford Hall and today my committee is entrusted with stewardship of one of the world’s oldest clubhouses.

From 1515 – 1539 Rochford Hall was owned by Thomas Boleyn, and was the early home of his daughter Ann Boleyn who later became the second wife of Henry VIII and Queen of England.  As you navigate your way around this website you will read much more about the history of not just Rochford Hundred Golf Club, but also that of our ancient clubhouse, so please enjoy your browse.

The term 'hundred' dates from Saxon times and its meaning is the subject of debate.  One suggestion is that it refers to raising 100 men in case of strife, but this is not the complete definition. In King Edgar's reign in 973, areas of land were divided into 'hundreds' consisting of possibly several villages controlled by 100 men. In Norman Conquest times, the description was regularised. Essex had several 'hundreds' with Rochford listed in the Domesday Book as being the largest.

Rochford Hundred Golf Club was founded in 1893, but didn’t move to its current site until 1896. At that time the course measured only 4,010 yards, however in 1924 James Braid and J.H.Taylor, together with the renowned golf course architect Frederick Hawtree, were invited to redesign the course. It was remodeled and extended to the 6,221 yards that we play today, and although some adjustments have been made since, the course continues to provide a fair challenge for golfers of all abilities.

Visitors are assured of a warm welcome from staff and members alike and I look forward to meeting you in our historic club house during 2011.

Barry Finch

Club Captain 2011