Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club, Worlington

Golf was first played at Worlington in 1890 when the owner of the land, Mr William Gardner, invited two friends – Col E W D Baird, a local landowner, and Alexander Mackenzie Ross, a famous Scottish amateur golfer, to lay out a couple of holes for their amusement. The land which used to be a rabbit warren was of excellent quality, being underlain by chalk and sandy soil with firm turf and short grass.

The famous Scottish professional, Tom Dunn, was approached and asked to mark out a course of 18 holes. The Club was formally founded on 18 May 1893 with twenty members joining on that date, most of whom were from the Newmarket area or who had horseracing interests. Initially nine holes were opened for play and it was soon realised that the other nine, which were located on peaty soil, would never be as good. Worlington has remained a 9-hole course ever since.

In 1895, the Prince of Wales (who became Edward VII in 1901) agreed to be the Club’s President and Her Majesty Queen Victoria acceded to the Club’s request to be called Royal Worlington and Newmarket Golf Club.