390 - Course Diaries: Royal Ashdown Forest w/ Colin Strachan

In this episode we speak with Colin Strachan, club historian and author of "Fair Ways at Ashdown Forest", about the history of Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club and its place in early golf in England. We discuss how golf was played in Brighton as early as 1817, and how that activity links to the later development of the club at Forest Row.We talk about the railway connections that helped shape the club, including the role of people connected to the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. Colin explains how the club drew in members from different backgrounds, and how the conservators of the heathland influenced the course’s natural layout and limited changes to the land.We also cover several of the club’s key figures, including Horace Hutchinson, Abe Mitchell, Freddie Tate, Alf Padgham and Jack Rowe. Colin describes Hutchinson’s influence on golf in Britain and America, his role in shaping the course, and his later decline. We also discuss Mitchell’s self-taught game, his family’s long connection to the club, and Tate’s reputation as a fine amateur and soldier.Another major topic is the role of women at Ashdown Forest. We discuss the early Ladies’ club, its connection to the broader history of women’s golf, and the importance of members such as Mrs Lucas and Joyce Weathered. Colin also explains how the ladies’ course developed into an important short course and how the women’s side of the club became central to its identity.We finish with more recent memories of the club, including the clubhouse interior, the honours boards and photographs, and the stories associated with A.A. Milne and the landscapes of Winnie the Pooh.  Send us a message if you liked the showSupport the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website