Founded by Second World War fighter pilot Edward Huxley, in Staines in 1946, the family owned and run business grew steadily, constantly innovating and developing.
In 1969, Huxleys opened a branch in Alresford, beginning their association with this small Hampshire town. Like any business, Huxleys had its up and downs over the years. But nothing could have prepared the company for the dilemma it faced in the late 1990s.
"One of our biggest competitors bought our biggest supplier in America," said managing director and co-owner Paul Huxley. "We immediately realised that we would never return to our previous levels of profitability, so we sold the business, although we retained ownership of our various premises."
Using its long-established contacts and links within the golfing world, Huxleys identified a niche business opportunity: making synthetic, low maintenance, all-weather turf not only for golf courses and other commercial clients, but also for private individuals.
"You could say we were poachers turned gamekeepers, or the other way round," said Paul. "We stopped selling machines to cut grass and began to sell grass that didn't need cutting. "Lots of businesses were producing synthetic turf for running tracks, tennis courts and such like, but not for golf courses or golfers."
Paul openly admits that mistakes were made during the early development phase of the new business, Huxley Golf.
"We tried various things, some of which worked and some didn't. The synthetic turf we initially imported turned out to be unsuitable. So we began talking to specialist manufacturers and got them to make various surfaces specifically to meet the needs of our clients.
"Sometimes the turf gauge, stitch rate or specialist filler material wasn't quite right, so we changed things as we went along, improving the quality and effectiveness of our products all the time."
Today, 12 years later, Alresford-based Huxley Golf is flying high. It produces a dozen or so different types of turf, each for a different application, and is market leader for premier all-weather golf surfaces not only in Britain, but also in Europe.
The company's impressive line-up of commercial customers includes some of the world's most prestigious golf courses, among them being St Andrews Links Trust, Wentworth, Royal Troon, Gleneagles, Royal Portrush, Royal St George's and Celtic Manor. At the last count, no fewer than 17 Hampshire golf courses were using Huxley products.
Huxley Golf has provided practice greens for eight major championship winners and more than 30 golf professionals, including Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam. It has more than 250 private customers, such as former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott, former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward and former British tennis player Tim Henman.
"We have an extensive network of distributors and installers and supply products all over the world, including China, where we have just appointed two companies to represent us and where the business potential is huge," said Paul. "We are learning all the time, constantly pushing ahead and continuing to maintain a healthy gap between us and our competitors."
Huxley Golf is the official supplier to the Professional Golf Association (PGA), The English Golf Union's National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa, the Golf Union of Wales and the Scottish Golf Union.
The British market accounts for about 75 per cent of business, but Paul expects the rapidly developing foreign market to rise from 25 per cent, in terms of market share, to about 50 per cent within the next couple of years.
"In the early years of the new business, we had to overcome a lot of ignorance: many people believed that artificial turf was second best. It's not. Huxley artificial turf complements grass.
"We are not suggesting that the UK's 3,000 courses should lay artificial turf. What we are saying is that if they want to rest their natural turf or provide top class facilities when their natural turf is not at its best, such as during the winter when real grass doesn't grow, then Huxley artificial turf is the perfect answer.
"Golf courses are now slowly beginning to realise that if they want to provide their customers with great playing surfaces all year round, there is an alternative to natural turf."
The company's basic all-weather surface is a hard-wearing turf made for lawns and nonplaying parts of golf courses, such as pathways and areas around clubhouses and car parks. Its most sophisticated all-weather surface is a nylon surface for greens and tees, "which has a considerable memory in that it springs back to shape after it has been walked or played upon."
Huxley Golf produces artificial turf for outdoor use, plus tournament quality indoor and outdoor putting greens used by instructors and professional golf players, but also by amateurs who simply want to improve their game.
Customers include leading golf courses and top golfers, and also hotels, schools and colleges. "For example, we recently supplied a new Huxley all-weather green and practice nets for Winchester College, two practice greens for the University of Oporto in Portugal and a big practice putting green for the R&A's 'Swingzone' at the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham St Annes," said Paul. "The latter enables 30-odd professionals from all over Europe to give free golf lessons to hundreds of visitors.
"Given the weather, natural grass would never have stood up to the wear and tear of the large numbers of people using this facility."
Private customers range from people wanting garden practice facilities, or an entertainment facility for family and friends, to individuals who have the money and space to create their own all-weather, small golf course.
The company also works closely with specialist events firms for large companies, such as HSBC, "installing putting greens and golf surfaces for their hospitality areas at major events in places like Singapore, Kuwait and China."
Huxley Golf is owned jointly by Paul and his brother, Barry. "My father Edward, who founded the original business and is now 89, still takes an active interest. He never looks back and is always emailing our relations abroad and urging them to click onto our website to see what we are doing.
"We've come a long way during the past decade and, although one can never be complacent in business, the future looks bright for us."
For more information about Huxley Golf premier all-weather golf surfaces, visit about us page or call +44(0)1730829608.