CUGC – timeline to 1918
Michaelmas term 1868
An 8-hole course created on Midsummer Common/ Jesus Green by George Gosset (King’s).
May term 1869
George Gosset and Andrew Graham Murray (Trinity) create 18-hole course on Therfield Heath, Royston. Andrew Graham Murray, a Scot, was a member of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.
Michaelmas term 1869
Cambridge University GC formed with 17 original members paying 2s/6d subscription. Gosset is first Captain (1869-71), Hon Sec, Claude Cathcart Carnegie.
1871-76
All the original members had gone down by 1871. CUGC in abeyance until 1876.
1873-1875
W T Linskill arrives from St Andrews with his parents to live in Cambridge. Linskill creates a 7-hole course on Coe Fen and also some holes on Sheep’s Green.
1876
Linskill creates a 9-hole course on Coldham Common with the first matches played in February 1876. Linskill (Jesus) re-establishes CUGC in October 1876.
1877
In March 1887, the Linskill Challenge Cup for best scratch score is first played for. The Linskill Cup is the oldest extant CUGC trophy.
1878
6 March 1878, the first Varsity golf match (instigated by Linskill) on Wimbledon Common (home of London Scottish GC). Oxford led by Horace Hutchinson win 24 holes up from the four singles matches played.
1884
Match played at Coldham Common on8 March 1884 between the CUGC professional Bob Martin and Willie Fernie, professional of Felixstowe GC. Martin won the Open Championship in 1876 (and 1885) and Fernie was the existing Open Champion at the time of the match having won in 1883.
1887
Coldham Common course extended to 18 holes, measuring about 5,000 yards.
1888
Cambridge (University) Ladies GC formed with 14 members playing on a short 9-hole course on Coldham Common. Short-lived.
1889
H S Colt becomes Captain of CUGC.
1891-92
J L Low, Captain of CUGC for two years. New ‘commodious’ clubhouse opened on Coldham’s Road in April 1892. CUGC reported to have 500 members, making it one of the largest golf clubs in England.
1896
W T Linskill resigns as Hon Sec and moves with his family to St Andrews where he would remain until his death in 1929. Bernard Darwin becomes Captain of CUGC.
1898
The Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society is formed with John Low as the first Captain.
1901-02
Agreement reached for CUGC to play and hold fixtures at Royal Worlington and Newmarket GC. Coldham Common golf course abandoned after 25 years of use. New CUGC 9-hole course (subsequently extended to 18) created at Whitwell Hill, Coton, to west of Cambridge.
1905
Gordon Barry, the Amateur Champion, becomes an undergraduate at the University and a member of CUGC
1910
J F Ireland becomes Captain of CUGC and is also Captain at cricket and hockey.
1914-1918
The First World War. CUGC in abeyance. The course at Whitwell Hill is dug up and converted to agricultural land (and remained so ever since).
Brief biographies
George Gosset (King’s)
Son of Rev Isaac H Gosset, the founder of Royal North Devon GC (1864)
First Captain of CUGC (1869-71)
After Cambridge, pursued a career in medicine
Emigrated to New Zealand in 1883
Amateur champion golfer of New Zealand in 1895 (age 47)
Andrew Graham Murray (Trinity)
A founder member of CUGC in 1869
After Cambridge, pursued a career in law and politics
Captain of the R&A in 1892
Captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in 1894 and 1895
Captain of Sunningdale GC on four occasions in the 1920s
Secretary of State for Scotland in 1903
Raised to the peerage as Lord Dunedin of Stenton in 1905
Donated the Dunedin Cup to CUGC in 1928 to commemorate its formation in 1869
W T Linskill (Jesus)
Moved from St Andrews to Cambridge in 1873 and re-establish CUGC in 1876
Laid out the original golf course at Coldham Common in 1876
His father donated the Linskill Cup to CUGC in 1877
Initiator of the Varsity Golf Match in 1878
Captain of CUGC from 1876-83; Hon Sec of CUGC from 1887-96
Retired to St Andrews in 1896 where he became Dean of Guild
Wrote book, ‘St Andrews Ghost Stories’, remained in print for 60 years.
H S Colt (Clare)
Captain of CUGC 1889-90
After Cambridge became a solicitor in Hastings
First Captain of Rye GC in 1893, Hon Sec from 1895-1898 (?)
Founder member of the R&A Rules of Golf Committee in 1897
First Secretary of Sunningdale GC in 1901
Developed a career as a golf course architect of over 100 courses worldwide
Designs/ re-designs include: Sunningdale New, Swinley Forest, St George’s Hill, the Eden course at St Andrews, Wentworth, Muirfield, Hoylake, Portrush and Pine Valley
J L Low (Clare)
Captain of CUGC in 1891-92 and 1892-93.
After Cambridge, attended the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester
Became influential member of the R&A
First Captain of The Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society
Lost in the final of the Amateur Championship to Harold Hilton in 1901
In his book, ‘Concerning Golf’, (1903) he set out the principles of strategic golf course design
Made influential changes to the course at Woking
Bernard Darwin (Trinity)
Grandson of Charles Darwin
Captain of CUGC 1896-97
After Cambridge, initially pursued a career in law
From 1907 became a golf correspondent for the Evening Standard, The Times (1907-1953) and Country Life (1907-1961)
Played in the first Walker Cup in the USA in 1922 (when one of the players fell ill)
Captain of the R&A in 1934
He was also an authority on Charles Dickens
A G Barry (Pembroke)
Won the Amateur Championship in 1905, age 19 while at St Andrews University
Represented Cambridge in the Varsity match in 1906 and 1907
Represented Oxford in the Varsity match in 1914 (first player to play for both)
J F Ireland (Trinity)
Captain of CUGC 1910-11
Played in three Varsity golf matches
Represented Cambridge against Oxford at hockey (three times) and cricket (four times)
Was elected Captain in all three sports
Michael Morrison 2023
: