On Friday August 10th, Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club Club is hosting a very special event to commemorate the Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club (RIWGC).
The event will be a unique opportunity to not only celebrate one of the first Royal Golf Clubs, but to bring together UK representatives of the remaining 37 who currently hold Royal accreditation and compete for the RIWGC trophy.
Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club. Image: Isle of Wight Photo Agency.
The Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club (founded in 1882) was one of Britain’s first golf courses, it was located at the St Helen’s Duver, and for many years was the Royal Golf Links. Members ranged from members of Queen Victoria’s family, including Edward VII and several European princes and monarchs, to celebrities such as David Niven in more modern times. Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, who was Governor of the Isle of Wight for many years, was a President of the Club until her death in 1940.
At its height the club boasted 11 Internationals. One of the club’s members, Horace Rawlins who lived in Shanklin, was the first winner of the US Open in 1895
When the club was closed in 1961/62 the Captains board, trophies, and memorabilia were given to the Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club. Captain Dave Woodhouse has invited the Captain or a representative from the other titled Royal golf clubs around Britain to a day’s golf in order to commemorate the Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club and play for the RIWGC trophy. Also this event will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the demise of the historic Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club have given their explicit support to this event and intend to be represented. Invited are representatives from all of the 37 Royal golf clubs in the United Kingdom and the club has received a significant number of positive responses to indicate that many of those clubs will be joining us on the Isle of Wight. The Royal & Ancient, Royal Aberdeen, Royal County Down, Royal Ascot, Royal Winchester, Royal Guernsey, Royal Jersey , Royal Worlington & Newmarket and Royal Eastbourne have confirmed they will be participating in the event .We also expect that the event will attract significant interest from the national golfing press.
On August 10th, we are inviting all our guests to arrive at the Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club in the late morning for an early afternoon tee time which will be followed at approximately 7.30pm by a formal meal in the clubhouse together with prize giving. We will be joined for the dinner by the Queen’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight and Lord Griffiths a past captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.
The Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club closed in 1961/1962 since when it has been managed by the National Trust as an open space.
For more information visit: www.ssgolfclub.com Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club Club website.
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