Corhampton Veterans Vintage 1967 Formed

Captain Mike Freeman, Centenary Veterans Captain browses through the minutes book

In the early summer of 1967 the club’s Vice Captain, with the blessing of the committee, called a meeting of over-60 members interested in forming a Veterans Section. Thirteen attended under the chairmanship of Sidney Parrett and he was elected Captain with Sqn.Ldr. Roly Higgins as Secretary-Treasurer.

The aim of the section was to arrange matches and promote internal competition – and the legacy passed down to today’s Vets owes a great deal to the founder members. Selection for matches involved as many members as possible with pairings changing throughout the season.

The first match, played against Waterlooville, was followed that year by matches with Alresford, Rowlands Castle and Corhampton Ladies. Competition has grown and the Vets current fixture list features 33 matches against 13 different clubs.

Of the 13 who attended the inaugural meeting only two remain – Mr. Les Mathams and Cdr. Derek Mallinson, who was destined to become Captain twice and also Secretary-Treasurer. There had to be a temporary bending of the rules to allow Derek to take up his first captaincy before reaching the age of 60.

The list of Veterans Captains is prominently displayed in the clubhouse but the names of our Secretary-Treasurers, to whom we owe so much, are concealed in our minute books. Sandwiched between Roly Higgins and Derek Mallinson came “Schoolie” Gimblett followed by Major Beckett. Then came Dick Shillitoe who was succeeded by Ted Leggatt in 1988. Last year Ted was also our Captain. Membership of the Veterans Section is now just under 70 and looks set to increase at a steady rate.

The Veterans Centenary Committee organised two highly successful veterans open competitions and has concentrated on fund raising. The committee’s main aim is to donate sufficient funds to the club to build a shelter on the new extension to the course.

Corhampton Golf Club – Veteran’s Section Founder – Sid Parrett

The Section celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 and marked it with a special ‘Drawn Pairs’ event.

Did you know?

Golf started to be played at Corhampton around 1885 with initially 5 holes then extended to 7 on freehold land owned by the Wyndham-Long family. The golf course was officially recognised by the Royal and Ancient in 1891, from where we take our anniversary. The greenkeepers were sheep and we shared the course with the Corhampton Valley Cricket Club.

The all-important Saturday cricket fixture which meant that golfers had to skirt the boundaries of the ground where the willow was being struck. The cricket pitch was on the second fairway just in front of the green.

The first mention of the club’s institution appeared in the 1906-7 edition: “CORHAMPTON GOLF CLUB. Instituted 1891. Annual subscription ten shillings; number of members 32. Hon. Secretary R.B. Campbell-Wyndham, Corhampton House, Bishops Waltham. The course of nine holes on Corhampton Down is a mile-and-threequarters from Droxford Station (L. and S.W. Ry). Only seven holes are played on Saturdays.”