Friday 10th February 2023 saw 102 past and present women members gather for lunch at Northwood Golf Club, to celebrate their Centenary. Northwood Golf Club was founded in April 1891 and is the second oldest golf club in Middlesex after West Middlesex GC, which was only founded 4 weeks earlier!
After the Great War had ended, there was a lack, of amongst other things, men to continue their sports and pastimes. The men of Northwood Golf Club realised this as the financial state of the Club was not at the same level it was in 1914. Thus, on 10th February 1923, they voted to allow women to become members of the Club.
In celebrating this milestone, there were 10 tables at the lunch representing a decade of women in golf. Radhi Nanalal, the women’s captain, welcomed everyone and two of the club’s ‘legends’, Pam Severn and Jenny Simmons, both being former captains, shared their memories of joining the club and the changes they had been witness to over a number of decades. They reflected on the journey the women’s section had been on and looked ahead to the bright prospects for the next 100 years. The lunch was punctuated by professional dancers taking to the dance floor and demonstrating dances from some decades. A compere shared explanations of each dance and members were also invited to the dance floor to try a few moves.
The lunch has provided a launch pad for a number of events planned for the centenary year.
At the Middlesex County Dinner Awards evening on 4th March, a Silver Salver was presented to the women of Northwood in recognition of their 100 years. This award was warmly received and Middlesex thanked.
In 2022 Northwood were a signatory to the Women’s Golf Charter and is continuing to work hard towards developing opportunities in golf for everyone at Northwood. With 100 plus women members, full, 5-day and social, the club are looking forward with confidence to their next 100 years.
The Northwood Centenary Committee