Button # 98
Image submitted by John Sagi
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Button # 98a
'Rimell & Allsop'
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Description
Studley Royal Golf Club - The club was founded in December1891, initially with nine holes,
later expanding to eighteen and situated in the Studley Royal Park Estate, Ripon, North
Yorkshire, the seat of the first Marquess of Ripon. The flat gilt uniform and/or award
pattern, bears the simple title around the rim in raised lettering Studley Royal Golf Club, the
central reserve possibly available for the winner’s details. The reverse shows a retailer’s
details Rimell & Allsop 54 New Bond St W.
Beautifully located and sadly now defunct, this club’s first professional/greenkeeper
and furthermore that person’s first ever appointment, was none other than Harry Vardon.
His brother Tom had crossed to mainland UK to become the assistant to George Lowe
at St Anne’s, Lancashire and had already enjoyed some success in the competitive game.
Lowe was additionally much in demand as a golf course architect and had recently been
commissioned by Lord Ripon to construct a nine-hole course at Studley Royal. Harry now
crossed the water and joined them on this latest project, a word from Lowe to the land
agent securing the post for Harry. However as he noted in his 1933 autobiography My
Golfing Life business was slow at Ripon and the following season saw Harry playing more
cricket for the estate team than golf; he soon moved to the Bury Golf Club, whence his
great career commenced. However, despite the great man’s fame he did not forget Studley
Royal. On Saturday the 5th of April 1913 the members celebrated the Club’s coming of
age by arranging a match between Harry and Ted Ray. In a fourball match in the morning
Ray’s score was approximately 70 to Vardon’s 74, followed by a marquee luncheon and a
singles duel in the afternoon. The match went to the last green the approximate scores of
both players being 73. The match attracted a large gallery of around 300 people. Play over
the course was suspended during WWI and play did not restart until 1921. The course
was reduced back to nine holes but an ongoing problem with the condition of the course
led to a drop in membership and eventual closure in 1926. The estate is now owned and
administered by the National Trust.
I have to thank Joanne Hudson of the National Trust for her kind assistance and Judy
Buckton for allowing me to quote from her excellent book, The History of Golf in Ripon 1891-
1995.
Information is from an article in
"The British Golf Collectors Society" written by Dixon Pickup.
Button Information
1/8/1933 - Notice regarding the voluntary liquidation of Rimell & Allsop Ltd (for family reasons) and that the company
be sold to a company being formed called Rimell & Allsop Ltd
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Studley Royal Golf Club - 1
Button # 98
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