Hadley Wood's

History

A timeline for the course:

1140 - the land on which Hadley Wood Golf Club now stands was once part of the great Forest of Middlesex, which extended as far south as the River Thames.

1421 - during the reign of Henry V, this land becomes part of the royal hunting ground of Enfield Chase, stocked with deer and wild boar.

1777 - the Duchy of Lancaster awards 152 acres of this land to Francis Russell, the Crown surveyor, for his work in surveying Enfield Chase and its eventual break-up into agricultural landholds.

In 1777, Francis Russell, the Crown surveyor, acquired the freehold to 152 acres of land that now forms Hadley Wood Golf Club

1781 - construction is completed on Russell Mansion (later renamed Beech Hill Park Mansion), Russell's grand Georgian residence until his death in 1795, which now serves as Hadley Wood's clubhouse.

The original Russell Mansion, built in 1781, is a Grade II listed building that has served as the clubhouse at Hadley Wood Golf Club since 1922

1854 - after several changes in ownership, Charles Jack, a local farmer and property developer, acquires Beech Hill Park Mansion and the rest of the estate. A single storey conservatory and billiard room are added on either side of the residence.

Beech Hill Park Mansion c. 1905. In 1922, it was converted into the clubhouse at Hadley Wood Golf Club

1914 - during the First World War, Beech Hill Park Mansion is co-opted as a training centre and living quarters for soldiers of the Royal Fusiliers.

1921 - a consortium of Hadley Wood residents, led by Walter Warwick and his brother-in-law Sir Frederick Lewis (later ennobled as Lord Essendon), purchase Beech Hill Park Mansion and 250 acres of adjoining land from the trustees of Charles Jack Estates. Most of the property is then leased to the newly formed Hadley Wood Golf Club.

A portrait of Sir Frederick Lewis (Lord Essendon) shortly before he led a grouping of local residents to purchase the land and develop Hadley Wood Golf Club in 1922.

1922 - Hadley Wood Golf Club is opened following the commissioning of Dr Alister Mackenzie to design an 18-hole golf course. A four-ball of eminent golfers, including six-time Open winner Harry Vardon, inaugurate the club on opening day. Beech Hill Park Mansion is converted into the clubhouse based on proposals drawn up by architect Cyril Wontner-Smith.

The Times' account of the opening of Hadley Wood Golf Club on 27 May 1922:

"A NEW COURSE, A new golf course was opened on Saturday at Hadley Wood, a station on the Great Northern Railway main line from King's Cross and Finsbury Park, and also easily accessible from all parts of London. The course, which has been laid out by Dr. A. MacKenzie, of Messrs Colt, MacKenzie and Alison, is about 6,500 yards in length, and provides a fine test of golf. Beautiful weather attracted a large number of spectators to the exhibition matches on Saturday. In the morning, a four-ball match was played by H. Vardon and E. Ray against G. Duncan and V.B. Smith, the local professional. Duncan and Smith did the first nine in 31 and came home in 33. They were five up at the turn and won by 7 and 5. In the afternoon, play was by strokes to establish a professional record for the course. Vardon, who was partnered by Duncan, returned the best card of 71." - The Times, 29 May 1922. 

1976 - members of Hadley Wood Golf Club purchase the freehold of the course, securing the club's future. 

2000-2005 - Hadley Wood Golf Club acts as a host course for Open Championship Regional Qualifying.

2023-2025 - Hadley Wood Golf Club undertakes vast upgrading of its golfing facilities including new bunkering, tee boxes, irrigation, drainage and tree clearing to extend the performance of the course during changing seasons and to advance its premier status.