Author A.A. Milne inspired by golf on Ashdown Forest

 

Today is officially ‘Winnie the Pooh Day’.  Why the 18th of January, you may ask?  Well, it’s because the creator of this honey-loving character, author A. A. Milne, was born on this day back in 1882.   So you see, it would have been his birthday today, if he were still among us.

 

A prolific writer at the time, A.A. Milne actually wrote his wonderful children’s books about his son, Christopher Robin Milne, in Hartfield, East Sussex.  Indeed, his little boy was the main character in the adventures that took place with his rather unusual bear friend, Winnie the Pooh, in the fictional Hundred Acre Wood.

 

Now this wood just happens to strongly resemble the Five Hundred Acre Wood at Ashdown Forest which was close to their family home in the village of Hartfield in South East England.

 

Milne published his first Pooh book, simply called ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ with illustrations by E.H. Shepard, in 1926.  Christopher Robin’s own cuddly toys were cast as his friends.  Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo – they all came to life in the charming stories.  Yes, Tigger, not Tiger!  And that brings me nicely round to the golf connection.

 

Liliput golf at Holtye

 

A.A. Milne moved to Hartfield with his wife, Dorothy “Daphne” Sélincourt in 1925, five years after the birth of Christopher.  They bought a country home, Cotchford Farm, close to Holtye golf course on Ashdown Forest.  Anyone who loves playing golf in beautiful English countryside will be familiar with this part of the world.  One of today’s leading championship courses in the South East can be found here: Royal Ashdown Forest.  Yet in 1893, there was another golf course that opened its fairways for play just a few miles away: Holtye.  This nine-hole course was not far from Cotchford Farm and the club recalls the Milnes playing golf there.  Indeed, Christopher Milne wrote a foreword in their book, “Holtye, The Centenary of the ‘Liliput’ Golf Club 1893-1993”, a charming read if ever there was one.

 

Christopher Milne reflects fondly on his golf days

 

“My own first visit to Holtye came when I was rather older – around fourteen.  I had been given my first set of clubs; and my first lessons had been at Ashdown Forest where my father was also a member.  But the more modest, friendlier Holtye course seemed a better place for an erratic learner to try out new skills.

 

“I played with my father: “With” rather than “Against”, so that each could delight in the other’s successes.  We played together most mornings during my spring and summer holidays.

 

“After our game we refreshed ourselves with ginger beer at the nearby pub, then drove home for lunch.

 

“Five years later the war came and neither my clubs nor my enthusiasm for golf survived it.  All that remain are happy memories, and I am grateful to David Singleton and Colin Davis for encouraging me to resurrect them”.

 

These are just a few of Christopher Milne’s comments that are published in the centenary book which was compiled by Holtye member Dave Singleton and edited by Colin Davies.

 

We’ll be writing more about playing golf in Pooh Bear country over the next few weeks.  Until then, enjoy ‘Winnie the Pooh Day’!  With heavy storms due in Holland and the UK, there is not much chance of playing golf today.  And playing Pooh sticks in gale force winds and rain doesn’t sound too appealing either.  May we suggest snuggling up by the log fire with a good Winnie the Pooh book and a delicious pot of honey?

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

 

 

MAIN PHOTO:  The enchanting Ashdown Forest where A.A. Milne gathered inspiration for his Winnie the Pooh books.  © Photography by Golfing Inspirations.  Pooh Bear illustrations (below) by E.H. Shepard.