History

Returning from holiday in Scotland in 1889, Robert Stewart Clouston began to dream of building a golf course at Bushey in Hertfordshire, North London. First introduced to golf at St Andrews where he had attended college, Clouston and friends formed Bushey Hall's first nine hole golf course and opened it in 1890, the year the first Englishman and first amateur John Ball won the British Open.

The course, which was constructed around a plateau with two small valleys and a stream running through, had its first official meeting on 24th March 1890 when the founders elected a captain and committee with A.J Balfour accepting presidency of the club. The club grew in numbers and by 1893, with the help of the professional, a full 18 hole golf course had been laid out. Facilities were also extended and a small club house was built encouraging more members to join to club.

In 1894 the hall was sold and differences between the club and landlord started to appear, culminating when the club split in 1896 and a group of the original members moved to Cassiobury Park to join West Herts Golf Club.

Golf continued at Bushey Hall run by new proprietors. The members now had an enthusiastic new secretary who boosted energy levels in the club and managed to agree with the landlord that member's could play at the club on Sundays, playing over a short course in the morning and the full 18 holes after 1pm. The club thrived again and as most business people worked a six day week Sunday proved financially important to the club's success.

After the turn of the century Bushey Hall Golf Club had achieved such a reputation for fine greens and lush fairways that they were now very anxious to extend its club house facilities. A new double story club house was constructed at a cost of £1,100 and tickets were sold for the opening on Saturday July 13th 1907. The brand new club house featured a dining room and veranda upstairs which overlooked the 18th green, across and up the first fairway to the plateau, the same view that is still enjoyed from the dining room today (although the dining room has now been extended to take up the veranda).

During the First World War the club was requisitioned by the government and used as a training depot for the Guardsman Brigade after which the course and clubhouse required a lot of hard work to restore it to its original splendour. The work started and was carried out by a skeleton staff and a hardcore of members. It was at this time the members were able to arrange satisfactory terms to secure an agreement to form a members club run and controlled by the members.

In December 1920 the club was formed into a limited company and registered. The next 10 years passed with members and visitors alike enjoying the much loved course at Bushey Hall, but the club was once again taken over by landlords and became proprietary run on the expiry of the lease in 1935.

During the Second World War the government again requisitioned the club, although this time the course was maintained in the same fashion and play was allowed. The club house however was taken over and the players had to seek temporary accommodation in what had been the pro-shop.

During the years after the war it took time to reinstate the clubhouse to its original condition due to a lack of funds and the American forces which occupied Bushey Hall until its demolition in 1955. All that was left after the Americans left was a shambles of old service buildings being used mainly for activities for deprived children.

In 1986 the club was approached by the landlord, Mr Greening who wished to sell the freehold of the course. The club's committee at the time did not make a realistic offer and the freehold was sold to London based hotel group Veladail Leisure. The members had the lease up to September 1993 when they had to relinquish the operation of the club to Veladail Leisure who now own and operate the club.

Under new management the club has once again grown in popularity with members and guests alike. More recently over half a million pounds has been spent on new tees, irrigation systems, golf buggies, equipment for maintaining the course and refurbishing the club house.

Today the club house as it stands today, altered and extended still gives that air of establish tradition with its bars hung with oak honour boars. Bushey members can be proud of its reputation of good hospitality it affords its guests and visitors who always look forward to returning.