I'm certainly no expert and don't claim to be, but Melvyn posted the photo of The Golfer's Guide circa mid 1890's and the clip states
"The course of eighteen holes on Cleeve Common, about three miles from the town, from which a bus runs four times daily in winter, and every half hour in the Summer. The green was laid out by Tom Morris, and offers plenty of variety consisting of quarries, road gorse and cart-****. IT is about 3 1/2 miles *****. Magnificent views over the lowlands of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, to the far-away hills of Wales and Shropshire are to be *******"
*s indicate words i couldn't quite make out! But it does seem to indicate the involvement. Nostalgically, and perhaps full of confirmation bias, I want to believe this to be true as it adds so much romance to the place! Also it's hard to argue with the above article unless one would doubt its authenticity.