Founded in 1885, the club holds a distinguished place among the early pioneers of golf in the South of England. Originally established as the United Services Golf Club, it was created to provide a dedicated golfing facility for Army and Navy officers stationed in Portsmouth. The club flourished under this name for over half a century before adopting its current title in the years leading up to the Second World War, reflecting its transition from an exclusively military association to a broader golfing community.

The original nine-hole layout was established on Haslar Common and the glacis of Fort Monckton. It was here that the term “bogey” first emerged in golfing history. In 1890, Mr H. Rotherham of Coventry Golf Club introduced the concept of playing against a “ground score” the number of strokes a competent golfer would typically require for each hole. This innovative approach was soon adopted by clubs across the country.

In 1892, the Secretary of the Great Yarmouth Golf Club visited Haslar and played at the United Services Golf Club, where the idea of the “Bogey Man” was further developed. Together with the Honorary Secretary, they established a standard ground score for the course. The term itself is believed to have been inspired by a popular song of the era. During a memorable exchange on the tee, it was suggested that this unseen perfect player who never made a poor shot might be given the rank of “Colonel,” giving rise to the enduring term “Colonel Bogey.”

At the turn of the century, the Ladies’ course first established by the ladies of Alverstoke in 1893 was merged with the Services course to form an 18 hole layout. Over time, changes to the landscape, including land drainage, infilling of moats, and the sale of Ministry of Defence land, have reduced the course to its present configuration.

The club celebrated its centenary in 1985 and has continued to develop and thrive since. Improvements including the installation of an irrigation system and ongoing enhancements to drainage and course conditioning have helped maintain a high-quality playing surface. Thanks to the dedication of the greenkeeping team, the course remains both challenging and highly regarded.

In 2020, the club marked its 135th anniversary and continues to warmly welcome golfers from around the world.