Getting down to business

Rochford Hundred Golf Club didn't take too long to knuckle down to its first cross-table dilemma. Recalling the explosion of emotion at the very thought of new lady members having to pay an extra £1 0s 0d entrance fee, the committtee again burst into action on 30 January 1897. With the knowledge that the limit of 40 lady members had already been reached, the committee ducked - suspending and recinding the previous decision. All was harmony again. That year was also significant for the fact that on 7 November the club's President Mr James Tabor provided a further £100 for the laying out of a second nine holes.

By February 1899 the club had resolved that there would be a general entrance fee of £1 1s 0d (one guinea) and an annual subscription of £2 2s 0d (two guineas). Green fees were set at 1s 6d for one day, 2s 6d for two days and 10s 6d for a month. So all was set fair for Rochford Hundred Golf Club - that is apart from the cattle! From early records it appears that animals were allowed to happily graze on parts of the course as the committee had decided to instal wire netting on the 11th and 12th greens. Presumably bad putts could be blamed on either the netting or the cattle. The issue of cattle, or sheep grazing on the course was a continuing theme to the extent that a local rule from 1907 states that: "A ball lying in cow dung may be lifted and dropped behind without penalty, or if there be dung on the green in the line of play, the ball may be placed at the side not nearer the hole"  

For the funeral of Queen Victoria on 2nd February 1901 and as a mark of respect the club very responsibly decided to close the course for the day. Professional Toogood was instructed "not to be present, to close his shop and take his flags out." But...... it very soon came to light after the sad event that one member, a Mr Patterson, had indeed been out on the course for some golfing action. He soon found out that he was in trouble and rushed to express his regret even offering to "place his resignation before the committee." Despite being under the belief that Mr Tabor and the committee would take no further action his hopes were dashed when by nine votes to three they accepted his resignation. Mr Patterson tried to re-open the matter, but the door appeared to be firmly closed on him....or was it? By 30 March 1901 it seems that the club had taken counsel's opinion and with legal commonsense rather than emotion ruling its heart finally decided to accept Mr Patterson's subscription and reinstate him.

Whilst 1901 had not been a particularly smooth year for Mr Patterson the club professional Toogood was obviously performing his duties to the satisfaction of the members. Firstly, following a club meeting in March of that year, his weekly pay shot up by 2s 6d to a princely total of 17s 6d. Then three months later it was announced that he would be allowed commission on all green fees received and he should be granted £11 2s 6d towards his expenses for appearing in a professional tournament. Despite the club's generosity Toogood was beginning to get itchy feet and in March 1903 both he and his assistant tendered their resignations and headed north to similar posts in Ilkley. Into his shoes stepped Jack Champion assistant to James Braid at Romford Golf Club hired under the same terms as Toogood, but Champion's stay was a brief one and when he left the club in 1906 was replaced by F.G.Steel. This was indeed a significant appointment as it heralded what was to become a long, enduring and happy relationship between the Steel family and Rochford golfers. Steel Snr reigned as the club professional for 44 years from 1906 - 1950, before being succeeded by his son Bob who reigned for a further 32 years from 1950 - 1982.

In the club's early years there was ongoing uncertainty surrounding its permanence at Rochford Hall and whilst James Tabor had always shown generosity towards the club, tenure was not secure.  In 1906 when it was again time for the club to renegotiate its lease with the landlord the situation was becoming quite desperate. There were at that time significant reports about a new course being created in Southchurch and such was the club's concerns that at a Rochford  committee meeting on 14 July 1906 it was decided that "any new member after 30 June 1906, shall pay the normal entry fee but have that money placed to his credit in an expense account and such money refunded on expiry of the present lease, unless either: the lease is renewed, or in the event of non-renewal; the members of RHGC have the option of joining the new club at Southchurch without entrance fee."

The lease negotiations continued to cause concerns and at a subsequent meeting held on 6 December 1906 it was decided that a general meeting would be called to consider the winding-up of the club. The Club Secretary Dudley Edwards was then directed to contact the newly formed Thorpe Hall Golf Club regarding Rochford members' option to join without an entrance fee. The result was that Thorpe Hall agreed to the request, but only up to 5 January 1907 and then only provided that Rochford did not continue. By 3 January 1907 42 members from Rochford had resigned representing a sizable part of the club's membership and it is assumed that some if not all had accepted Thorpe Hall's offer. However Rochford did survive and on 8 May 1907 it was agreed that a professional match should be played between F.G.Steel and Bert Batley of Thorpe Hall. As Rochford were able to contributed £2 towards the prize fund it's reasonable to assume that the coffers were not entirely empty.

Regarding domestic issues, precisely what catering facilities existed at the club house is unclear, but one must assume there were some as the honourable members decided that "the four waitresses would be supplied with black dresses and white aprons at the expense of the club." So it apears that the membership, now numbering 161 gentlemen, 46 ladies and 4 boys were at least being well served. Early records don't report much detail about work on the course. That is until 14 January 1905 when the club acquired its first horse! The club "contracted with Hornsby, jobmaster at Rochford to hire a horse from him, conditions being that Hornsby purchased a suitable horse and feed and stable same at his expense, and the club should have use of such horse for one year at a fixed charge of 27s 6d per week."  So the club now had a working horse.....and by the way a steward was also hovering around in March 1905 when the committee "guaranteed him a minimum of 100 luncheons at 2s 6d each for a forthcoming professional match." Evidence if indeed any is needed that outsourcing has been around for years.

The image on the right shows golfers teeing off from the first tee outside the clubhouse probably around 1911.

And who knows...may be this is also a rare sighting of the club's horse!!

By 1908 the club's fortunes were clearly on the up as they unanimously agreed to limit ordinary playing members to 225. It didn't however agree to one particular request from the ladies. The Hon. Sec "was directed to inform the Ladies Committee that the General Committee do not see their way to spending £8 on laying hot water to the Ladies Room!!" Clearly the General Committee were not completely heartless as by 1911 a decision was made - hopefully unanimously - that an oil stove costing £1 9s 0d would be provided for their special room. However there is still no mention of the provision of hot water. The caddies, who it seems were left to fend for themselves in all weathers were not overlooked and in 1912 an old railway van was purchased for their use as accommodation and shelter.

Despite the committee's reluctance to provide the ladies with hot water Health and Safety was not totally overlooked, certainly so far as the Sunday church goers were concerned. Presumably in fear of divine retribution the committee resolved that on the Sabbath members should play the first 15 holes and then revert back to the 4th, 5th and 6th instead of completing the 16th, 17th and 18th, thus allowing the congregation to amble to their pews in relative peace and safety.

However dark clouds were looming on the horizon and as 1914 approached Health and Safety took on a completely different meaning.