Beeston Fields Golf Club, Beeston

Fred Mitchell, entrepreneur and Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Nottingham, saw the potential of a beautiful country house and parkland on the outskirts of Nottingham and decided to turn it into a golf club.

The house, which dates back to 1837, was formerly the home of Sir Harold Bowden, founder of the Raleigh Cycle Company. Tom Williamson was commissioned to design the golf course and in 1923 Beeston Fields Golf Club was opened by the then Open Champion, Arthur Havers.

Fred Mitchell played the course and ran the golf club for almost 50 years until his death in 1970. He passed his legacy on to his nephew, John, who learned his golf at Beeston Fields was a prominent figure in Nottinghamshire golf for over half a century until his passing in May 2013. He played for the county in the 1950s and was president of the Notts Union of Golf Clubs in 1978/79. Beeston Fields prospered under his stewardship and his late wife, Peggy.

In January 2008 John Mitchell handed over the running of Beeston Fields to his daughter, Philippa Marshall. She is now one of the few female Managing Directors of a golf club in the UK and a single figure handicap golfer. Her aim is to achieve the highest standards at Beeston Fields whilst retaining its friendly and welcoming approach and balancing tradition with modern attitudes and values.

The course has remained true to Williamson’s original parkland lay out and has been played by many famous open champions such as Henry Cotton, Roberto de Vichenso, Ted Ray and Arthur Havers.

In May 2012 The Walled Garden at Beeston Fields was opened and has now become one of Nottinghamshire's premier weddings and events venues. The Victorian walled garden had been the pride and joy of Fred Mitchell for nearly fifty years, growing peaches, nectarines, grapes and award-winning roses, along with fresh vegetables for the restaurant. The garden had fallen into disrepair during the 1970s, but was lovingly restored during 2011/12 to a design by a local garden designer, Carole Knight (https://www.beestonfields.co.uk/golf/history/).

[Broxtowe Borough Council; Beeston West Ward / Nottinghamshire County Council; Bramcote & Beeston North Division / Broxtowe Borough Council].