Len first started playing golf at the Southampton Municipal golf course
in the late 50's. He used to play nine holes on a Saturday afternoon
and occasionally during the summer would play nine holes after work in the
evenings. A lot of Naval people played at Lee on Solent and a lot of
Vosper Thornycroft employees played at Corhampton in the early 60's.
Vic Pickett, John Heathcote, Bill Shiner (who collapsed and died on
the golf course) and Norman Taylor all worked for Vospers. Vic Pickett,
Len's brother-in-law introduced Len to the club and Nora joined Corhampton
about three weeks after Len. Len joined in 1963. Frank Lindley, the
secretary, spoke to Len, "Well Len, I hear you want to join the club. Well
you know what it's like here. You've been here. It's half way through
the year now. Do you want to join now or wait till the end of next
year?". Len replied "I'd like to join now". Frank said "Well
how about five bob". That was Len's joining fee and his first year's subscription.
However, when Nora joined, a joining fee of £10 was paid. In
those days people worked longer hours so during the summer months it was
difficult getting in nine holes after work during the week. Len usually
played on Saturday morning. There was an unwritten rule that ladies
did not play on Saturday mornings but they could play at any other time.
Nora usually played on Saturday afternoons with Peggy Fletcher, Gladys Pickett
(Len's sister), Iris Heathcote, Mollie Henning and Gay Sjoberg. Gay's
husband, Neil, worked at Fairthorne Manor and he was the person who started
the golf course there. He started by building a few holes for the children.
They couldn't play in the summer because the marquees had to go out.
As the few holes proved to be so popular it was enlarged to a nine-hole golf
course.
Once Nora was playing with Mollie Lindley and Mollie hit her ball into
the bunker on the sixteenth. They both saw the ball go into the bunker
but they could not find it. Where it disappeared to nobody knows.
On Sundays the ladies would take it in turn to make teas. There was
a lady, who lived by the 6th hole in Steynes Farm, who made sponge
cakes which she'd bring to the club house. A cup of tea and a slice of cake
would cost us half a crown. After tea, we'd all a take a number and
go out and play nine more holes in a mixed competition with whoever we had
been drawn with. There was a lovely atmosphere with lots of camaraderie.
At Steynes Farm they kept a parrot and it would occasionally fly over the
golf course. Mike Lutman was a lovely old fellow and he was very accurate
at forecasting the weather. Mike was on the sixteenth green about to
putt out when the parrot flew over squawking.. He was wearing his peaked
hat as usual. He took it off and threw it, with a curse, at the parrot. The
parrot didn't fly away.
In the old club house we used to have a ladies Christmas party and a New
Year's party. After the wooden spoon had been played for at the Captain's
drive-in the ladies would take food up to the club. We'd all sit down
and have a jolly good meal. The ladies often provided the catering in
those days. Nellie Reeves used to run the bar and would only open it if she
thought people wanted to buy a drink. Reg, Nellie's husband, who was
the groundsman/professional, always used to ask people "Have you got a fag?"
Ron Crockford was the pro when we first started and he had a little shed
to the side of the club house. He didn't keep a large stock but would
always be happy to order what ever you wanted. He'd always come out
and tell you if your order was in when he saw you. As soon as your order had
arrived he'd tell you. You didn't need to enquire each time you went
to the club. If you were on the green and Ron was cutting the grass
he'd always tell you what you had done wrong with your shot. He was
giving you free lessons. It was very kind of him.
We used to play friendlies against other clubs like Lee-on-Solent, Royal
Winchester, Hockley, Waterlooville and Rowlands Castle but the favourite
was Alresford because Alresford was a nine-hole course and they said
if you put Alresford and Corhampton together you'd have the best eighteen
holes in Hampshire. We used to be able to play Waterlooville for free
on particular days and they could also play for free at Corhampton but all
that's stopped now.
When Nora was ladies captain she was given £50 by the club but it
didn't go very far. She still had to buy most of the prizes. There aren't
any photos of Nora's captain's day available. They are all on slides
up in their attic.
Nora knitted three woollen toys to be auctioned for ladies captain's charities
- Val Flint's, Ann Corden's and Ivy Phillips'. Just over £700
pounds was raised from the auctioning of Nora's woollen toys.
Len and Nora still play golf at Corhampton but usually only nine holes.
Click here for a selection of Len and Nora's photos.