In 1920, two schoolboys from Alleyn's School started golf at the Aquarius Golf Club. They were L.T. (Leslie) Cotton and his brother T.H. (Henry) Cotton. In 1923 Henry Cotton won the Pilling Cup, the men’s knockout and the Club Championship, the Hutchings Trophy & Leslie won the Bogey Cup. They left in January 1924 to become professionals.  Henry became an assistance professional at Fulwell Golf Club. Within a year he had moved to an assistant's post at Rye. At nineteen, Cotton went to Langley Park, the youngest head professional in the history of British golf.

Henry was to become one of the greatest players of his generation, winning the British Open in 1934, 1937 and 1948. Leslie become well known as a teaching professional and was a legend in Johannesburg for over 40 years. In March 2009,  the Club Secretary, Jim Halliday appeared on the Antiques Roadshow with the club Trophies won by Henry Cotton 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx6o8IdU9Mo

Sir Henry Cottons’s Professional Record

WON

British Open Championship                                  1934, 1937, 1948

Italian Open                                                                1936

German Open                                                             1937, 1938, 1939

French Open                                                               1946, 1947

Mar Del Plata Open                                                   1930

Belgian Open                                                              1930, 1934, 1938

Ryder Cup                                                                    1929, 1937, 1947
(Captain in 1947, non-playing captain in 1953)

PGA Matchplay                                                          1932, 1940, 1946

Captain PGA                                                                1934, 1948

Harry Vardon Trophy                                                1938

World Golf Hall of Fame                                           1980

Knighted                                                                     1987

In June 2008, when the Antiques Road show visited the Dulwich Picture Gallery Jim Halliday, Honorary Secretary took the Competition book, the Hutchings & Pilling trophies to what interest there may be in them. Jim was filmed being interviewed by Jon Baddeley. Jon was very familiar with Henry Cotton memorabilia having auctioned many items following the death of Lady Cotton.  Jon was completely unaware of Henry Cotton’s Aquarius connections & felt that the club’s collection of historical importance.  He placed a total value of £6K to £8K on the collections. The show was broadcast on the 8^th of February 2009.

Scores taken from the Aquarius Golf Club Results of Competitions book, that cover the period from the 4th of June 1913 to 19^th of June 1926 show how the Cotton’s fared Only the top scores in many competitions were recorded so it is possible that the Cotton’s played in more competitions than are shown.

The scores include those of Henry & Leslie’s & their uncle Sidney

6^th of May 1921                     Electic Foursomes for Captain’s Prize

1st E.J Brigg & Leslie Cotton            77 – 8 ½ = 68 ½

2^nd T.D Cotton & Henry Cotton        77 – 7 ½ = 69 ½

21^st May 1921                         Monthly Bogey

3^rd Leslie Cotton                                 1 down

6^th Henry Cotton                                 5 down

30^th of July 1921                     Special Stroke           

1^st Henry Cotton                                 78 – 16 = 62

1^st of August 1921                  Bank Holiday Electic

1^st Lesley Cotton                                 76 – 9 = 67

3^rd Henry Cotton                                 74 – 5 = 69

18^th September 1921               Monthly Bogey

3^rd Leslie Cotton                                 1 down

26^th February 1922                  Bogey Cup

4^th Leslie Cotton                                 3 down

17^th of April 1922                   Easter Monday Special Prize

1^st Henry Cotton                                 75 -5 = 70       

2^nd Sidney Cotton                               78 – 7 ½ = 70 ½

6^th Leslie Cotton                                 76 – 4 = 72

5^th of June 1922                      Electic Stroke Captains’ Prize

2^nd Sidney Cotton                               79 – 6 = 73

7^th Henry Cotton                                 81 – 4 =77

5^th of September 1922            Monthly Stroke

6^th Leslie Cotton                                 81 -8 -73

7^th Henry Cotton                                 82 – 8 – 74

7^th of August 1922                   Handicap Bogey

7^th Henry                                             4 down

11^th Leslie Cotton                                           6 down

2^nd April 1923                         Easter Monday Electic

1^st Henry                                             65 – 4 = 61

4^th Leslie Cotton                                 73 – 6 = 67

22^nd April 1923                       Monthly Bogy

1^st Henry Cotton                                 1 down

21^st May 1923             Whit Monday Electic (special)

1^st Leslie Cotton                                  77 – 4      = 73

3^rd Henry                                             79 – 3 ½ = 75 ½

2^nd of June 1923          Club Championship Scratch Hutchings Trophy

1^st Henry Cotton                                             83

21^st July 1923                                      Bogey Cup

3^rd Leslie Cotton                                 1 down

4th Henry   Cotton                              2 down

1^st of September 1923                         Monthly Medal

2^nd Leslie Cotton                                 81 - 10 = 71

5^th Sidney Cotton                                86 – 14 = 72

6^th Henry Cotton                                 78 -    4 = 76

16^th of September 1923                       Monthly bogey

1^st Sidney Cotton                              2 up

3^rd Leslie Cotton                                 all square

6^th Henry Cotton                                 2 down

1^st of October 1923                             Monthly bogey

5^th Henry Cotton                                 6 down