Jack Aisher (President 1967 to 2008)

" Over the years Deal has laid down a challenge to many of the worlds great from Braid, and Taylor, to Nicklaus and Player. From these masters to the more humble the links has provided the ultimate test and still does so today.
   I am proud to have been associated with a great course and a wonderful club."

The Membership

Although ‘The Times' in 1892 had reported on ‘the enthusiasm of the local people', there was from the outset a significant London membership and, as early as 1893, concern was being expressed that ‘the proposed merger between SE and LCD Railways would create a monopoly leading to increased fares.'

A glance at the Captains Board suggests that many of the names could hardly have been local - no Prime Minister had a ‘High Street, Deal' address - and many of the members were briefed on the concerns and problems of the day by ‘postcard'.

The creation of the ‘Hewitt' in 1925 led to the establishment of ‘Public Schools Membership'. Although there was evidence of Ladies activity as early as 1901, Deal was solely a Gentleman's Club having some playing and social concessions. In 1955 Ladies became associate members of the club - this despite the British Ladies Championship having been held at Deal as early as 1902. Then, in 2003, the Ladies membership was integrated into the main Club with full voting rights.

In 1949 The Downs Club, formed in 1925 by ‘local business men', had suffered from inactivity since 1945 and was integrated. In the same year Mr - later Sir -Winston Churchill declined life membership on the basis that ‘golf was a silly game'.

Today Deal is a truly international Club, where members from the USA, Australia, South Africa, the Continent of Europe and some notable honorary members live in harmony with those from London and further ailed in the UK. The local membership remains the bedrock.

Sir Aynsley Bridgland presided as owner of the Club from 1956 but despaired at the Club's inability to ‘get their affairs into profit'.

In April 1967 came perhaps the most significant movement in the Club's history when Jack Aisher - Our President today - offered to the members the opportunity to purchase the Clubhouse and Course. How those original men of vision, who attended the first meeting at the Union Club in February 1892, would have smiled.