History

Mr Steyning Beard, a local landowner received a letter from a Mr Abbey with a request to renting sufficient land to allow the setting up of a nine hole course for 20-30 players at a rental of £15 per annum. This was agreed to and on 12th May 1893 the Ovingdean Golf Club was formed. The first AGM was held in October 1893. The Club name was changed to Kemp Town Golf Club and permitted membership increased. A new Lease was obtained and Mr Steyning Beard was asked to be a Vice President which he accepted. In 1901 it was proposed to change the name of the Club to Brighton and Kemp Town Golf Club, however Brighton and Hove Golf Club objected anticipating some confusion with this name so in June 1901 the Club became East Brighton Golf Club Limited and remains so today.

In 1905 work commenced on a Club House and it was opened in November 1905. At this time extra ground was obtained by Lease and William Park and James Braid were invited to tender for a contract to improve the course on 130 acres. Braid won and the redesign and the result was completed for opening on 23rd May 1908 and has remained virtually unchanged.

When Mr Steyning Beard died in 1912 the Club was offered the land for £5000 with an indication they could get it for £4000, £1000 down and a £3000 loan at 3%. This was not accepted by the Club and the whole Estate was sold to Brighton Council for £30,000. The Club rented the course from the Council for a peppercorn rent of £200 rising to £4000 by 1992. At this time the Council attempted to increase the rent to £80,000 per annum. This was not accepted, the Club went to arbitration, won and the rental was set at £9000 per annum. At this time negotiations were opened to buy the land and the land was bought in December 1996 for £600,000.

During 1928/1929 the Club House had substantial rebuilding undertaken, again in 1975 and was refurbished in 1990.

In 1986/1987 an irrigation system was installed to all greens and this was extended in 1991 to the teeing areas.

Many illustrious names have appeared on the membership list including David Lloyd George who joined in 1911 and as Prime Minister held War Cabinet Meetings in the Oak Lounge in the period 1916-1918, together with Field Marshall Earl Haig and Sir William Robertson, both of whom were Club Presidents. Others of blue blood include The Marquee of Abergavenny, The Earl of Chichester and His Grace The Duke of Norfolk and the Duke and Duchess of Fife.

 old picture

In the 1930’s the Club was a popular venue for Professional tournaments. In 1933 Walter Hagen and Densmore Shute, famous US Golfers beat Alf Padgham and Charlie Parsons (Club Professional) 6 and 5 in an exhibition match and the News Chronicle Tournament was played for four years from 1935-1938 with Abe Mitchell, Ernie and Reg Whitcombe and Sam King on the leader boards.

Both pre and post 39-45 war this Club was a popular venue for the Theatrical Society with names well known to the public, when at weekends, you may have seen Jack Buchanan, Leslie Henson or Max Miller. The links with the Theatre continued post war when James Carreras (later Sir James) of Hammer Horror Films fame organized Variety Club competitions with his friends Christopher Lee, Sir Stanley Baker, Eric Sykes, Ronnie Corbett, Billy Dainty, Charlie Drake and not forgetting Henry Cooper. To name a few, some of whom still visit the Club when in town.