Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club has awarded an Honorary Membership to one of its longest registered members – 93-year-old Patricia Smith, who has been a member of the Club in Richmond for the past 50 years.
Patricia, who lives nearby opposite Kew Gardens and visits the Club for lunch each week, was presented with her award by the current Ladies’ Captain Bev Mayes earlier this month. “We were delighted to offer Patricia Honorary Membership of the Club after spending half a century as a member and making such a great contribution to its active social scene over those years,” said Bev.
Patricia’s golf-loving husband joined the Club in 1968 when they lived in Twickenham and she followed him two years later. “It was much cheaper to join back then – just 68 guineas,” she said. “It’s more expensive now, so I’m pleased that I don’t have to pay any more!”
Although not a golfer herself, Patricia ran the Club’s Bridge section and was secretary to three Ladies’ Captains over the years.
“When I joined there were much fewer women members and we were only allowed in the Men’s Bar after 9:00pm on a Thursday! After those early days, the Club became a lot more sociable and when the staff had a party the members used to serve them and even do the washing up,” she added.
Today, Royal Mid-Surrey has a women’s membership of more than 360 – the largest section of its kind in England – and many talented players in its ranks.
Professionals at the Club helped to shape the amateur career of Ladies’ European Tour player Inci Mehmet and recent England Girl’s squad member Rafiah Banday. One of the most experienced PGA Professionals teaching at the Club is Alice Hiluta, who has worked with Junior Academy members since 2018.
Last year, the Club hosted the prestigious English Women’s Open Amateur Match Play Championship on the famous JH Taylor course that runs alongside the Pam Barton course named after the former Club member and British and US Amateur champion. It has also hosted the Mothers’ & Daughters’ 27-hole foursomes tournament – won by Pam Barton and her mother in 1935 – almost every year since 1962.
More details about the Club can be found at www.rmsgc.co.uk