Born Marguerite Miles in 1868, she first played golf in 1885 at Pau in the south of France and was such an apt pupil that she soon become one of the best women golfers of her day.
In 1896 Marguerite met a widower, Sir Charles Tennant, who was then aged 75 and after a whirlwind courtship they married in the same year. Sir Charles was a very keen golfer throughout his life and was Captain of New Zealand Golf Club in 1896/1897.
Shortly after Sir Charles died Marguerite met Major Geoffrey Lubbock, who was a first class golfer, and they married in 1907.
It is generally believed that Mrs. Lubbock made the decision to have her own golf course built because she was not permitted to play at a local club on a Sunday. Whilst this may be true, her own family recollect that she commissioned the course for her husband to be!