Past memories of Corhampton golf course
While working on the land in the school holidays in 1958 and onwards, we used to like going night shooting (lamping) for rabbits. I was 10 years old then and we went driving around the Corhampton Downs in an old Ford Popular. It had a cut down back, a platform and roll cage with a lamp mounted on it. My job was to use the spot light to highlight the game for the two men with shot guns.
We used to go out around two o’clock in the morning and one night we thought we would venture out and see what we could shoot while running over Corhampton golf course. There were rabbits, foxes and roe deer. The only trouble was we kept driving into bunkers (can see why some golfers have difficulty getting out of them. They use golf clubs whilst we used shovels) but at least we repaired any damage caused and raked the bunkers over, so hopefully no one would know that we had been there. We did make a special effort to avoid the greens.
This all happened when I was young lad and all others involved have long gone, but we made a bit of pocket money with the local butchers. I did learn to play golf a few years later at Corhampton and looked at the course with a different perspective.
Editors note: when chatting with your mates in the local and talking about Corhampton GC, you can pick up a few stories – not necessary about hitting that little white ball (Mike – I will keep your name a secret).
Past memories of Corhampton golf course – Chronicle 41 December 2023