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Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland
Clubmakers
A J Howlett
Puttenham/West Surrey
Albert James Howlett, born in Haslemere on 3 March 1876, began his professional golfing career at Puttenham. The first mention I find of him there is entering the 1899 Open at Sandwich but, obviously not having a good day, withdrawing without completing a round. He appears on the 1901 census at The Heath, Puttenham, living with wife Rose, née Reffold, whom he had married in 1897, and two young sons, Cecil and Ernest. He seems to have become particularly active playing in tournaments between 1907 and 1910, particularly in foursome competitions. I think this reflects the popularity of that format in southern England at that time rather than any specialisation on his part although he also entered the 1907 Open at Hoylake, qualifying in this first incarnation of the tournament which required it, but withdrawing after three rounds.

In 1912 he took over from Fred Robson as professional at West Surrey. He was to remain here for 26 years. A frequent competitor in Open Championships he was the best scorer in the second qualifying round in 1913 (at a time when everyone had to qualify over two rounds and Open Champions including Jack White and George Duncan failed to do so and J H Taylor, the eventual winner, just squeaked through). Tied for third place after the first round proper, he faded away finishing 36th.

Aged 41, he successfully appealed against his call-up to the forces in the First World War at a military tribunal in Surrey in 1918.

At West Surrey he was apparently known as “Punchey”. He retired from there in 1938 and ran a pub, the White Horse Inn in Hascombe. The couple were still here in 1948 when Rose died.

(I am obliged to David Knight, a former assistant at West Surrey, for some additional information and for correcting dates in an earlier version of this entry.)

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