Here is a first revision of the list of courses no longer in existence in England, Scotland and Wales (London is given its own section, too). I have incorporated the comments, additions and corrections made by many of you, for which a great many thanks. I continue to welcome further comments, additions and corrections and can be best reached at email markrowlinson@btopenworld.com. Sources will be credited.
ENGLAND
Addington (Surrey) (New course, Abercromby, failed to survive WW2. Outline visible on Google Earth 1945)
Alcester (Worcs)
Aldershot Command (Surrey. Now Army? Club website suggests today’s Army course dates from 1960s)
Alvediston (Wilts) (A private 18-hole course in the grounds of a rural vicarage) (Alan Jackson)
Amble (Northumberland) (Mentioned in 1934 Kelly’s. MR)
Annfield Plain (Durham)(Durham County Council suggests 1901-1925. Postcard of course in 1914 reproduced on http://ww2.durham.gov.uk/dre/pgDre.aspx?&SEARCH=By+Place&TERM=Annfield+Plain&ID=DRE4661. MR)
Annfield Plain
Ardsley (Barnsley, Yorks)
Ascot St George’s (Berks) Small club for local traders known to have been in existence early 1900s, at Ascot Farm, to which Royal Ascot moved in 2004/5. Royal Ascot GC website.
Athens Course, Eton College (Mentioned by Bernard Darwin in GCs of the British Isles [1910])
Belvoir Castle (Lincs)
Benton Park (Newcastle) (12 or 14 holes of course extant in 1945 [identified in aerial photograph]. Located west of Coach Lane south of Longbenton Post Office. Now site occupied by Northumbria University Accommodation Block. Jonathan Davison, Mark Pearce, Jon Wiggett
Birdlip Hill (Glos) Adrian Stiff
Birkdale Palace Hotel (Lancs) Hotel built in 1866 on a 20-acre site. It seems that there was a modest golf course over which the Birkdale Palace Ladies’ Golf Club played. Members appear to have been wealthy. ‘One of the last references to Birkdale Palace Ladies’ Golf Club appeared in 1897.’ Harry Foster.
Blackpool GC (Lancs)(mentioned in 1927. May be North Shore, Stanley Park or NLE?)
Blackpool Cleveleys Hydro (Lancs) (mentioned 1928. Known under another name or NLE?)
Blakeney and Cley (Norfolk) Club opened 1895, 9-hole course with tennis courts and ladies’ croquet lawn. Also a workmen’s club (artisans). Club closed in 1939 when serious minefield laid on course. Bogey was 36 with two short holes (1st and 7th) and two bogey fives (2nd and 6th). History, extracts from minutes, personal memories, precise location and course layout reproduced in Blakeney Area Historical Society Journal Issue 12. Philip Page and John Peake.)
Bladud (Bath, Somerset)(Bladud, son of King Lear, was banished from court for his leprosy. He was sent to look after pigs which had a skin disease. The pigs wallowed in hot mud and were cured. Bladud did likewise and was also cured. He became the next King and founded Bath. MR)
Bleakdown (Surrey) (Address given as Bleakdown Golf Course, Coldharbour, Peatmoor Wood, Pyrford, Pyrford Common OS Map 1914. Surrey Libraries. ‘West Byfleet Golf Club, one of Woking’s many fine golf clubs was formed in 1922, but the course was originally laid down in 1904. The original course was designed by Cuthbert Butchart, The members took the opportunity to purchase the course in 1922 and changed the name from Bleakdown to West Byfleet Golf Club. Although the odd hole has been lost and others changed, the majority of the golf course remains faithful to the original design. The clubhouse was built in 1860 as Bleakdown farm’. West Byfleet GC website. MR)
Blundell (Lancs)(1911 ‘The Blundell Club establish a golf course on cultivated land just south of Ainsdale’ Mersey Reporter. MR)
Bonchurch (IOW) (1897-1914?)
Bramshot (Hants) (‘Few were quite as clearly defined as the Bramshot Golf Club which numbered 73 gentlemen amongst its 134 founding members in 1912.’ History Today John Lowerson. ‘On the morning of 7 August 1913 Mr. W.H.B. Evans was Cody’s second passenger of the day. The machine rose steadily and after a flight over Bramshot golf course the machine was headed for home when an incident occurred which resulted in the machine crashing into a group of oak trees at the foot of Ball Hill. Cody and Evans, neither of whom was strapped in, fell to their deaths.’ sfcody.org.uk MR. ‘By all accounts Bramshot was a very fine heather and pine course, borne out by the one photo I’ve seen of the par-3 10th hole, which looked really high class. The site was abandoned pre-war to make way for the Pyestock jet engine testing facility adjacent to Farnborough aerodrome, though they preserved the 10th tee, fully maintained, as a relic within the midst of the enormous factory site. The club even used to have its own railway halt on the line between Fleet and Farnborough. There is virtually nothing left of the course now. Much of it was obliterated by the factory, which itself is shut down now and something of a monumental industrial relic. It is still possible to locate where the clubhouse was and a few of the specimen trees around the old building remain to this day. I thought I found an old tee in the middle of the woods when I was scouting around on my mountain bike a couple of summers ago. I believe there are some old documents in our local library which I’m going to take a look at some day.’ Robin Hiseman)
Brintons (Worcs) (Course established for its workers by Brintons the famous Kidderminster carpet manufacturer. 9 holes par 68 Alan Jackson)
Broad Oak (Bromyard, Hereford)(In township of Norton. Kelly’s Directory 1929 Bromyard History Society request for information, photos etc May 2009. MR)
Bruton (Somerset)
Bude Cliff (Cornwall)
Burlescombe (Devon)(Mentioned in 1932 and 1937 in ‘Devon Golf Captains’ ‘Club disbanded’ MR)
Burnopfield (Durham)
Burwash (Sussex)
Camberley Barossa (Surrey)
Castle Bromwich (Staffs)( ‘Living in Brockhurst Rd Castle Bromwich we had P.O.W. camp at the end of the road on the site of Castle Bromwich Golf Club which was also housed an anti – aircraft battery.’ Paul Riley BBC WW2 People’s War. ‘A golf course, and the greater part of Bromford Bridge racecourse, are in the parish.’ A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 4: Hemlingford Hundred ed L.F. Salzman 1947 MR ‘A Colt original, the club moved to Maxstoke’ Paul Turner)
Cannington Park (Somerset. Listed in 1927. New pay and play course opened 1993. Adrian Stiff))
Chale (IOW)(1905-1936 ‘There is a golf club, started in 1905, with a 9-hole course, on the down.’ A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 5 Ed William Page 1912. Course closed as a result of the loss of access road because of subsidence. A new road was built through some of the course. Vestiges can be seen. Through the Green June 2005)
Chalfont St Giles (Bucks) (NLE? Harewood Downs [1907], Little Chalfont [1981], Oakland Park [1994] extant courses in Chalfont. Mark Pearce)
Chester (The first Chester Golf Club began playing in 1892 on an 18-hole course 6 miles from the city in Sealand (Flints.)(frequently referred to as Blacon Point MR); it disbanded in 1940 when the land was taken for agriculture. (Members were given concessionary rights at Delamere Forest. MR) Its namesake at Curzon Park began in 1901 as Bache Golf Club on a 6-hole course north of the county lunatic asylum in Bache, but moved the following year to a 9-hole course on the Bache Hall estate, then occupied by one of the club’s founders, Major John MacGillicuddy. The club had over 200 members and employed a professional by 1906, and had a ladies’ section by 1909. A search for a new site began in 1910 when the owner of the Bache Hall estate proposed to sell the land to the asylum, and the last round was played there in 1912. In 1913 the club bought 108 a. at Brewer’s Hall from Earl Howe, built a 9-hole course, removed its existing clubhouse from Bache Hall, and adopted the name Curzon Park Golf Club. The course was enlarged to 18 holes in 1920 and was modified several times thereafter. The club was called Chester (Curzon Park) Golf Club from 1923 and Chester Golf Club from 1964. A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 part 2: The City of Chester: Culture, Buildings, Institutions A T Thacker and C P Lewis (editors) 2002. MR)
Christ’s Hospital, Horsham (Surrey) (Alan Jackson) (MR contacted school. They know nothing of its existence)
Clairemont (Newcastle, Northumberland) (‘The original clubhouse for City of Newcastle GC, which became Newcastle United GC club house when City moved to Gosforth (and NU have since moved their club house and, I suspect course) was an old windmill (still there) on Claremont Road. I wonder if Clairemont was a reference to Newcastle United, or if there was a separate club that shared that facility?’ Mark Pearce)
Clayesmore School (Enfield) (Instituted 1897, 9 hole course with a lake. MR. Alan Jackson)
Coldham Common (Cambridge) (Opened 1875 as Cambridge GC. About two years later became Cambridge University GC. (Mike Petty) Bernard Darwin writes of playing on ‘the unspeakably muddy’ course in 1884. You could not play in summer as the course ‘was put down to hay’. Claire Brown. ‘Cambridge had only one home during the nineteenth century, Coldham Common, situated off the Newmarket Road, in the general area of the present airport [and on the way to the Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club, the CUGC’s now long-time home club]. Originally a nine hole course, it was later extended to eighteen. Bernard Darwin was later to describe Coldham Common as “the worst course I have ever seen”, a noted characteristic of which was a “particularly pungent smell, which we always believed – I know not how much truth – to proceed from the boiling down of deceased horses into glue”. This may well explain why, at the time the eighteen holes were given names in 1891, the fourth hole was called “the Gas Tank”.’ Probably abandoned ca 1903. Mike Petty. History of the CUGC. Golf Courses of the British Isles (Bernard Darwin, 1910) Situated next to Marshalls Airfield)
Coe Fen (Cambridge) Course started in 1873. Attempt to start a course at Sheeps Green ‘after some time’. Mike Petty.
Conishead Priory (Cumbria) (Details of the Priory on http://jimjarratt.co.uk/follies/page51.html No mention of golf. Now Manjushri Institute MR) (Alan Jackson)
Coton (Cambridge) (Followed Coldham Common as home of Cambridge University GC until move to Mildenhall. Club started 1903, club room following in 1906. Probably killed off by WW1. Darwin reports, ‘…though an enthusiastic captain of Cambridge once told me that the greens were as good as the best seaside ones, I am disposed to think he was romancing.’ Mike Petty, MR)
Cotswold (Stow on the Wold, Glos)
Crotona (Keighley, Yorks)
Culverden (Tunbridge Wells, Kent) (Disbanded 1950 Horsmonden Cricket Club. Described as The Tunbridge Wells Culverden Golf Club 18 holes in Pelton’s Guide to Royal Tunbridge Wells 1912 MR)
Darley Dale (Derbys) (Alan Jackson)
Davenport (Stockport, Cheshire) Club founded as a society, The Niblicks, in 1913. Subsequently established a course on Garners Lane, Stockport. Threatened by road development in 1966, club purchased Worth Hall Farm in Poynton in 1969. Final competition at Garners Lane on 29th Sept 1973. Land sold for development. (Duncan Cheslett, club website)
Derby (‘I have found an article which states that there were “no less than seven golf clubs extant in Derby between 1892 and 1948, of which only three survive”, one of which would likely be Markeaton Golf Club.’ (qv) James Boon)
Derbyshire (‘The Derbyshire Golf Club was established in October 1892 and play was over a nine hole course located at Osmaston Hall. The Hall itself no longer exists and at the time it was in a state of some decay, but still would have given a great sense of grandeur as it was used as the clubhouse.
There were originally 120 members, with Hon W.M. Jervis as President and 21 vice presidents including notable locals such as Alfred Haslam and Herbert Strutt. Cost for membership was one guinea with annual subs of the same amount. By 1898 membership was up to 200 and the course was reputed to be one of the best in the Midlands.
However, only a year later new land at Littleover Common was obtained. The new course was also of nine holes, with holes varying in length from 93 to 370 yards and hazards consisting principally of hedges! The professional and greenkeeper was Mr W. Hutchings, who hailed from Westward Ho! and had been chief greenkeeper at the King’s Norton Golf Club.
By 1900 membership was back up to 200 after originally falling to 150 after its move and by 1901 holes had been adapted to now range from 147 to 381 yards while the putting greens were of good size and always in good condition. By 1906, the course had been extended to 18 holes, with the longest hole recorded as being 470 yards long, with mention of ponds and ditches as well as hedges, as the main hazards. Also a road had to be crossed twice. At this time the entrance fee was still one guinea but annual subs had increased to two guineas.
The boundaries of the course were the borough boundary to the east, roughly the line of the current Manor Road, Uttoxeter Road to the north, Chain Lane to the west and the rear gardens of the houses in Littleover village along Burton Road. In the middle of the common, and hence the course, lay Rosson & Co cartridge filling works of 1892 (later a private house) where this dangerous process was undertaken in isolation from the marketplace gunsmiths. The borough water reservoir of 1907 and the Elms Farm Estate also found themselves partly surrounded by the links. One hazard to be played over was Littleover Brook, which ran down the north edge of the course, a hundred yards or so south of Uttoxeter Road and gradually converged with it. The club pavilion, mainly of timber construction and with a veranda, was situated between the present Bretton Avenue and Queen’s Drive.
So though the course had a good reputation and an established membership, the problem was the club’s current location. The land was owned by the Stantons of Snelston Hall, who inherited it from the Harrisons who had bought much land in Littleover in the early 19th Century, and by the late 1920s they wanted to develop the land for housing. Being to the south west of an industrial city like Derby, meant they were upwind of the smoke from the industry’s chimneys. This meant the land was prime development land for the mid war suburbs that were spreading across the country.
In 1929, eminent architect Barry Parker laid out a large housing estate on Elms Farm, which included much of the golf course, while the Borough Council took the north edge for the City (now Derby Royal) Hospital in the same year.
It is not clear exactly when the club moved from Littleover, but there is reference to the club moving in March 1910 to a new site at Humbleton Farm in Mackworth. However, the southern course boundary was punctuated from the early 1920s by Middleton and Lawn Heads Avenues, and on the former can still be found a semi detached cottage with a small stone plaque in the common gable, entitled Golf Links Cottages (which were designed by L. Fred Smith in 1923 – also the Littleover club chairman at the time) hinting that there was still some evidence of golf being played in Littleover at the time of the cottages’ construction?
The 1910 move from Littleover to Mackworth was to a new course, 6,200 yards in length, laid out by Tom Williamson (of Notts fame) and another “commodious” clubhouse was built. Mr Hutchings continued to act as professional and greenkeeper. There is some reference to the clubhouse being used during the Second World War as an army training base. By this time the course had again been overtaken by the progress of the mid-war housing boom, when the land was acquired by the Borough of Derby for the construction of the Mackworth housing estate. There is some reference to the club moving to Allestree but the club that currently exists there is a local municipal, and so there is now no evidence of The Derbyshire Golf Club.’ James Boon)
East Lincolnshire (Sibsey, Lincs)
Edenbridge GC, Skeynes Course (Kent) ‘Without question, the most boring course I ever played. Endless staight up and down holes between rows of densely packed saplings to identical, upturned saucer greens. It was cheap, and very nasty. Not surprised that it has gone. It was awful!’ Robin Hiseman
Fareham (Hants) (Private course of Admiral Gordon. Alan Jackson)
Farningham (Kent)
Felixstowe (Suffolk)(See also below) (only one club in Felixstowe today, Felixstowe Ferry which has 18-hole Martello and 9-hole Kingsfleet Course. MR)
Felixstowe Eastward Ho (Suffolk) (First mention 1921. 18 hole course. Closed with onset of WW2. Alan Jackson)
Fort Anne (Douglas, IOM) (Details of Fort Anne on: http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/towns/douglas/ftanne.htm No mention of golf course. MR)
Fort Cumberland (Hants) (Military course. ‘….on some spare ground at Fort Cumberland a nine hole golf course was laid out, the greens being described as ‘never very good’. This had disappeared by 1903.’ The Royal Marines and Eastney Capt Derek Oakley MR)
Fulwell (Middx) 2nd course (Taylor) NLE visible on Google Earth 1945 Tony Muldoon.
Fulwood Park (Liverpool, Lancs) (‘It also shows a golf course between Fulwood Park and the river that I have never heard about!’ Someone called Jericho commenting on an undated Bartholomew map on:http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-819.html MR)
Giggleswick School (Yorks) (Alan Jackson)( http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30168/30168-h/30168-h.htm#Page_216 has photo of athletic shop showing golf clubs. MR)
Grand Hotel, Baslow (Derbys) (Alan Jackson)(Mention of Grand Hotel and Hydro in http://www.youandyesterday.com/articles/Baslow but no mention of golf. Hansard records debate about compensation for military occupation: http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1928/apr/11/grand-hotel-baslow-compensation-claim MR)
Grange (Cambridge) (Private course of King’s College. Alan Jackson) (King’s Archive has no record of this. Sir David Willcocks has never heard of it.).
Grassington (Yorks)
Grays Golf Links (Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge) 9 holes opened 1895. Possible residents’ objections (to be followed up). ‘Newnham Institute new building opened 1910 after being housed in old golf shed on Meadows and present site.’ Mike Petty.
Greatstone (Kent) (‘The area between Dunes Road and Littlestone Road ie the northern ‘half’ of the present Greatstone, was mainly taken up as a golf course, the Greatstone Golf Club. In about 1926 their clubhouse was destroyed by fire which led to the demise of the club in 1931.’ http://www.greatstone.net/history/index.htm MR)
Grosvenor (Southport, Lancs) This club was formed in 1906, playing on a course near Birkdale station, in what is now the Dover Road/Dunkirk Road area. The club soon relocated to a site beside the railway, becoming the Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club. The site did not languish for long. In July 1907 a Scottish dentist practicing in Southport, WA Findlay, rented the course in his own name. His new club was called Blundell. It benefited from the 1902 electrification of the railway line from Liverpool to Southport. In 1911 Blundell moved to the south of Ainsdale village. Blundell disappeared in 1935. When Blundell moved out, Hillside moved in. Its earliest activities are a bit vague, but it had 25 members in 1913. Hillside then rented land on the seaward side of the railway line from the Weld-Blundell estate and made an 18-hole course from land on both sides of the railway. In 1925 a new 18-hole course was opened on the seaward side and the holes inland lost to housing development. Hillside has since been significantly altered. MR
Guildford Town (Surrey)(Played over Guilford Golf Club course: ‘In 1919 a second men’s club, Guildford Town Club was formed to meet the golfing aspirations of local residents and tradespeople. Up until both Men’s Clubs amalgamated in 1974 there existed two Clubhouses, with the use of the Course and maintenance costs being shared.’ Guildford Golf Club history. MR)
Handcross (Sussex)
Hapton (Lancs)
Harton Moor (Durham)
Hawes (Yorks) (‘Early in the 20th century, the Wensleydale Golf Club was formed by local business and professional people, and a nine-hole course was set out on land north of the Ure. The club lasted until about 1959.’ Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority MR)
Heath (Wakefield, Yorks)(In existence in 1914. J Smith of Heath Wakefield lost to EA Lassen in final of County Championship. MR)
Helmsley (Yorks) (Formerly the private course of the Earl of Feversham, in the grounds of Rievaulx Abbey, handed over in 1913. Alan Jackson)
Hermitage School (Grimsargh, Lancs) (Alan Jackson)
Hesketh (Southport, Lancs) Founded as Southport Golf Club in 1885, the club’s first course was situated in the Marshside Hills of the Hesketh family estate, north of the affluent Hesketh Park. George Strath was the first professional and apparently kept the course in wonderful condition. The greens were highly praised. It is thought that the proximity of the course to ‘Little Ireland’ (a ‘squalid collection of houses’ occupied by ‘charwomen, cocklers, donkey drivers and rag and bone gatherers’ (Harry Foster) precipitated a move to Moss Lane in the early 1890s. Again Strath was the professional and laid out the course. This (parkland/meadowland) site was not as well served by the railway and somewhat distant from Southport town centre. Members from outside Southport left to found other clubs. However, Mrs Hesketh, owner of ‘Little Ireland’ as well as more prestigious dwellings, decided to evict all but the most respectable inhabitants of ‘Little Ireland.’ After her death the original site, as part of a deal linking a golf course with housing development, suddenly, in 1901/2, re-entered the frame and members of Southport Golf Club agreed to return to their old grounds under the new name of Hesketh. A new 18-hole course was laid out by George Lowe. Problems over ownership of the land led to Southport Corporation buying the course in April 1936, giving the club a 99-year lease. However, holes to the north of the clubhouse were sold for house building and new land acquired on reclaimed marshland. A sea wall had to be built. Today’s course is largely that which existed in 1938. Part of the Moss Lane site was taken over by the YMCA in 1909, and from this grew the Southport Old Links GC which has played the 9-hole course since 1926. MR
Hesketh (Southport, Lancs) A club of this name played over a course on Scarisbrick land (Norwood Avenue). It had no connection the Hesketh above. MR
Higher Bebbington (Cheshire)
Holy Island (Northumberland) (Thought to have closed ca 1955. MR)
Hook Park (Tom Macwood)
Hooton (Cheshire)
Horbury (Yorks) (In existence 1920s/30s. Jon Wiggett. Any connection with Slazenger’s factory? MR)
Hough Green (Lancs/Ches)(Golf course marked on 1890 map adjacent to Ditchfield Hall http://www.aboutlancs.com/ditton/Ditt1890.jpg Google Earth reveals a similarly shaped piece of land which may be original site MR)
Huntingdon Girls Collegiate School (Hunts) (Mentioned 1901- 1910. Alan Jackson.)(Was the school in Huntingdon or St Ives?)
Hurdsfield (Cheshire)(9-hole course, land requisitioned WW2. Now site of industrial estate. MR)
Isle of Wight Ladies’ (1893-1914)
Jesus Green (Cambridge) Putting green opened 1927. ‘Five miniature golf courses are now in operation in Cambridge. There are Messrs Grays in Sidney Street and the octagon course in King Street. The Premier Hall, Old Chesterton, has added midget golf to its other attractions and the Newmarket Road has the course in the club-room at ‘The Bell’. Its holes represent hazards encountered during a trip from ‘Trafalgar Square’ to ‘The Oval’. The latest 18-hole course at the Belle Vue Gardens is all-weather and open-air. It features a howitzer gun and a water jump and has been laid down by Capt Mullett who has constructed others in Vancouver and San Francisco.’ (1930) Mike Petty.
King Arthur’s Castle (Tintagel, Cornwall)
King’s Norton (Worcs) (Club founded 1892. During 1960s concern over surrounding high rise developments prompted move to Weatheroak Hall near Alvechurch, where Fred Hawtree designed three nines of roughly comparable difficulty and a 12-hole par-three course. MR)
King’s Lynn (Norfolk) (Club founded in 1923, but moved to a new site at Castle Rising in 1975. New course designed by David Thomas and Peter Alliss. MR)
Kent National (see Moatlands)
Lambton Collieries (Durham)
Langton Hall (Leicestershire) (‘This course was designed by Hawtree and opened for play in 1994, but it has gone already. Only 9 holes got built and they were pretty nice by all accounts, especially the holes set in the ancient park. I’ll try to add some images, when I can remember how. If you go to Google Earth and find Church Langton, you can clearly see the outline of the brown, abandoned USGA greens in the adjacent park!’ Robin Hiseman)
Lee (Ilfracome, Devon)
Little Warley (Essex)
Liverpool Banking and Insurance GC (Lancs) (1908. ‘The Liverpool Banking and Insurance Golf Club leases land between Freshfield and Ainsdale, inland of the railway. This later becomes Freshfield Golf Course.’ Mersey Reporter. ‘Requisitioned to create RAF Woodvale in 1941 and subsequently used for army training. Purchased from the MoD by the Wildlife Trust in 2004.’ Wildlife Trust. Now a heathland nature reserve. MR)
Lockinge (Berks)
Lowestoft (Suffolk) (‘There is historical evidence that the game of golf was played in Lowestoft before 1891 according to a book chronicling the history of the Lowestoft and Rookery Park Golf Clubs. The Club moved from its original home, The Denes, to Pakefield in 1906 and finally to its present home at Carlton Colville in 1975. The name was changed to Rookery Park Golf Club, the name coming from the farm on which the course was built’. Rookery Park GC website. MR)
Lynton (Devon)
Manchester St Andrews GC (Founded 1882. Played at first at Manley Park. In 1883, when original Manchester Golf Club folded, Manley Park assumed name of Manchester GC. 1893 club moved to Trafford Park. 1912 club moved to Hopwood, where it has remained ever since. MR)
Marbury CC (Cheshire)(The Marbury Estate, between Northwich and Comberbach, was sold in 1932, being turned into a country club, opened the following year by Lord Delamere. It provided comparative prosperity for those engaged to work there and particularly to the boy caddies who were, apparently, paid 2/6 a round of golf, a considerable caddie fee for that time if the figure is to be believed. It was a short-lived country club, the grounds being taken over as a training camp and Italian prisoner-of-war camp during the Second World War. Today no vestiges remain of its one-time golf course. Three directors Edgar Hart, John Roe and Harold Cluff resigned from the directorate soon after the club opened, and as early as 1933 they were already on the hunt for a new building and land that could be converted into a country club. They subsequently founded Mere G and CC. Marbury Hall is now demolished and its grounds are a country park. MR)
Markeaton (Derbys)(Currently, there is an 18-hole pitch and putt course with hole lengths varying from 86 to 135 yards. MR. ‘I have found an article which states that there were “no less than seven golf clubs extant in Derby between 1892 and 1948, of which only three survive”, one of which would likely be Markeaton Golf Club.’ ‘In the 50s there was a golf course where the university is now situated, with the club house opposite the main drive on the eastern edge of Markeaton Park. It was frequented by Derby County players who had a base at what was until recently the Clovelly Hotel on Broadway.’ James Boon)
Meir (Staffs)
Mersea Island (Essex) (East Mersea Golf Club formed as an owner’s club in 1910 with 9-hole James Braid course. Five further holes in 1927 and full 18 by 1929. Course taken over for military use in 1939. Although the land was handed back after the War the club never again functioned and its clubhouse and seven dormy houses were sold for non-golfing use in 1950. 6352 yards par 75. http://www.britgolfcollectors.wyenet.co.uk/TTG%20Scanned%20to%20Dec%202008/79%202006December.pdf
Mersey (Cheshire)
Mirrlees (Cheshire) (Began in 1905 as Davenport Golf Club with a 9-hole course. They moved to an 18-hole course at Torkington in 1909, becoming Stockport GC. After the move, the pavilion was sold to Fulshaw Golf Club for £60. Fulshaw had been founded in 1907 following the relocation of Wilmslow Golf Club from this site in 1903. Subsequently Fulshaw became Alderley Edge Golf Club and the pavilion served the club well until as recently as 1971. As for the old course at Woodsmoor, when vacated by Davenport, it was part of the land leased from Sir JE Barlow by Mirrlees, Bickerton and Day when they built their diesel engine factory in Hazel Grove. The golf course was run and maintained by employees of Mirrlees, mostly Scots transferred from the company’s original Mirrlees, Watson and Yarvan factory in Glasgow. Mirrlees Golf Club survived until 1988 when it was closed by the company, but vestiges of its fairways and green sites are still visible to the observant golfer’s eye on the approach to the railway bridge on Bramhall Moor Lane, and especially so from the cabin of an airliner on its approach to Ringway Airport. Although the course was somewhat changed from Davenport’s original, four holes remained more or less as laid out and the 4th green was said at the time of the closure to have been the only surviving green, with turf some eighty years old. It remains a recreational area to this day despite several attempts to obtain planning permission for house building. MR)
Mirrlees
Moatlands Golf Club (Paddock Wood, Kent) Later known as Kent National. Opened in the 1990s at a massive cost using Japanese money and a Japanese architect. They produced a poor course that lacked members from the start. It was sold for £1.9m in 2003 and closed I believe in 2009 when the course alone without the clubhouse and no opportunity to build a new one was on the market for £750,000. Must be one of the quickest open to closed courses!! Mark Chaplin.
Moor Allerton (Yorks) (Alister MacKenzie original of 1923 [only 12 holes in play in that year]. Club relocated to countryside (Wike)1971 to 27 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones. MacKenzie’s course then built over. MR)
Naze (Essex)
Nazeing (Essex)(Golf was played on Nazeing Common before 1891, but in that year permission for the golf club to continue to use the common was refused by the trustees. (fn. 29) By 1894, however, there was an 18-hole course there and a club whose membership was limited to a hundred. (fn. 30) By 1906 the limit had been raised to two hundred; the course was then described as one of the best within twenty miles of London. (fn. 31) A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5 W.R. Powell (editor)1966. MR)
Needles (IOW)(1888-1950. See aerials: https://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,46505.0.html Tony Muldoon. Course built by soldiers from Goldenhill Fort)
Newbury and Crookham (Richard Muldoon)
Northampton (1890s first course by Gourley Dunn. Club moved as they were not allowed to mow grass (!) to Old Tom Morris course [9 holes, 1895] on site near Kettering Road. Willie Park jnr expanded the course to 18 holes in 1914. Braid made a plan to alter the course in 1942. Melvyn Hunter Morrow. ‘Northampton Golf Club’s Willie Park jnr’s original layout was in the centre of Northampton on Spinney Hill. The club left to move to a new site in Harlestone in the late 80’s/early 90’s. About 7 or 8 holes were very much like links land according to a friend of mine who used to be a member there. The club now plays at Harlestone on a Donald Steel designed layout.’ Ben Stephens)
Northaw (Herts)
Old Manchester (Lancs) (Club founded 1818, playing at Kersall Moor. Club still exists but has no course)
Otterburn (Northumberland)
Owens College, Manchester (Alan Jackson) (Forerunner of Manchester University, which has no golf course today. MR)
Padgate (Cheshire)
Park Prewett Hospital (Basingstoke) ‘Don’t know anything about the history of this place other than it was attached to the abandoned Park Prewett Hospital, which has, since this picture was taken, been redeveloped as housing. The old golf course is still there lying fallow, for now.’ Robin Hiseman
Pendle Forest (Lancs) (‘Remains are still visible. It was located immediately to the east of Sandy Lane, a path which runs Fence to Noggarth Top Cottage in the parish of Old Laund Booth, just above Nelson. The southern boundary we believe, was that of Sandy Hall Farm to the quarry.’ Pendle Forest History Group.)
Penketh (Cheshire)
Penzance (Cornwall)
Peppard (Oxon) (Greys Green [also known as Dog] golf course opened 1992, but no reference to any earlier golf course. MR)
Peterborough (Cambs) (‘In the late 1920s, the 6th Earl Fitzwilliam built a nine-hole course in the grounds of Milton Hall for his own use and for his family and friends. To prevent urban development in the early 1930s this course was offered for private lease and R Stutt & Company of Paisley, Scotland constructed a new 18-hole course, designed by James Braid, which became Peterborough Milton in June 1938. The original thatched Clubhouse still stands looking up the 13th/14th fairways.’ From Peterborough Milton GC website. MR)
Puxton Park (Somerset) Adrian Stiff
Rodway Hill (Bristol) (closed about 1945, on the site of Rodway Common. ‘The 1st and 18th are still there as is the old clubhouse. It must have been a pretty good course because it staged a county championship. You can still see outlines of tee pads and bunkers. Today’s Rodway Hill in Glos is a course 40-50 miles away.’ Adrian Stiff)
Rolls Royce (Derby) (Information and photo on: http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/oldphotos/dac/index.htm. MR)
Rossall School (Lancs) (Alan Jackson)
Romney Sands (Kent) (Tom Macwood) (Any connection with Greatstone? MR)
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester (Glos) (Alan Jackson)
Royal Ascot (Berks) Club founded in 1887. Initially Royal Ascot GC and Ascot Ladies’ GC each had a 9-hole course. The two clubs amalgamated in 1895 and a bew 18-hole course laid out by JH Taylor. Redevelopment of Ascot racecourse in 2000 led to the club’s moving to a new course at Ascot Farm in 2004/5. Duncan Cheslett/club website.
Royal Birkdale (Lancs) When first established in 1889 the not yet Royal club played at a course in an area called Shaw’s Hill(s). A little of this remains an open space (Bedford Park). Work began on preparing their new course (on the site it has retained ever since) in 1896 even though negotiations with the land owner were not completed until 1897. In the view of many commentators the land was too severe for the construction of a golf course. There have been many alterations to the course since then. MR
Royal Cornwall (Bodmin) (‘Was good enough to host county championship.’ Adrian Stiff. ‘The links of the Royal Cornwall Golf Club are situated on the racecourse, about 2 miles from the town’ UK Genealogy website. But the racecourse appears to have closed in the 19th century. MR)
Royal Engineers, Chatham (Kent) (Course mentioned in Golfing Annual 1896-7. Alan Jackson)
Royal Isle of Wight (1882-1961)
Royal Military College, Camberley (Surrey) (Alan Jackson)
Rudyard Lake (Staffs) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rudyard-Lake-Golf-Club-1906-1926-Jeuda-History-RARE-/360340680355?pt=UK_Sports_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item53e5fa6ea3
Tony Muldoon
Rushmore (Dorset) (Private course of General Pitt-Rivers. Laid out by Tom Dunne in 1896. Alan Jackson)
Rye Camber Castle (‘There was certainly a golf course to the west of Rye on the shingle land surrounding Camber Castle. Some of the green pads and bunker depressions are still visible, much more on the ground than in the attached aerial. You can see a few examples below and to the left of the castle where a path cuts between a bunker and green site.
I believe the course began near the road to Winchelsea Beach, played out towards the castle, circled around it, and came back to the starting point. Walking from that spot out towards the castle, the elevations for greens and tee boxes can still be seen. A member at Rye told me that the course was set up by the Rye GC but I haven’t been able to confirm that or find any other information on it.’ Craig Disher)
http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=419206&sort=2&type=&rational=a&class1=None&period=None&county=None&district=None&parish=None&place=&recordsperpage=10&source=text&rtype=monument&rnumber=419206 MR)
Rye Camber Castle
St Margaret’s Bay (Kent) (1906 OS Map shows course due west of St Margaret at Cliffe http://www.francisfrith.com/st-margarets-bay/maps/ MR)
St Peter’s (Mablethorpe, Lincs) (‘Willie Park-Jr thought St. Peters was going to be one of the great links and one of his best courses. I believe the course was only partially completed before the developers ran into financial difficulties. After WWI others tried to resurrect the project, but I don’t believe the course was ever finished and playable.’ Tom Macwood.)
Seafield College (Hants) (Alan Jackson)
Seaford Links (Sussex. Is this now Seaford Head?, If so, history and good old photographs on http://www.seafordheadgolfcourse.co.uk/history.html MR)
Shalford Park (Surrey) (‘The early 20th century use as a golf course seems not to have been intrusive in the parkland,’ Historic Environment Record 13554. Mention of Shalford Park GC minutes 1909-14 Ref 1664. See: http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/GetRecord/SHHER_13554 MR)
Shap Wells Hotel (Cumberland) (Alan Jackson) http://www.shapwells.com/
Sherborne (Dorset) (Founded in 1894 as Blackmore Vale Golf Club, on Sandford Road, the club moved within a year to Clatcombe Farm. About 1900 they moved to Lenthay Common. They stayed until 1908 when permission to play was withdrawn. They returned to Clatcombe, changing the name to Sherborne GC. They had a 9-hole course until 1936 when James Braid was commissioned to design ten new holes to the south of the clubhouse and to change the old nine holes to eight of an entirely different character. The work was carried out by John R Stutt. With the onset of WW2 some land (and Braid’s design) was lost to agriculture and the course reverted to nine holes, eight originals and one apparently notorious hole, The Gulley, designed by Professional JW Thompson in 1942.
The clubhouse burned down in 1955 destroying all the club’s records. In 1959 an attempt was made to restore the holes lost during the war, but there were insufficient funds to employ a professional architect, so each committee member was allocated a hole and, working with volunteers (members and youth club) they brought the course back into play over some five years. Subsequently the 2nd, 3rd, 16th, 17th and 18th holes were re-designed. In 1985 Donald Steel extended the 14th. MR [extracted from Golf in Hardy Country by LC Jenkins 1993])
Shoeburyness (Essex) (The Royal Artillery Ranges here had a private course for the use of its officers from 1884 [Alan Jackson]. Might this be the same? MR)
Shorncliffe Garrison (Kent)
Slaithwaite and District (Yorks)
Southdown (Sussex) (Campbell, Hutchison & Hotchkin Tom Macwood. Several separate courses discussed in some detail on: http://www.shorehambysea.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2622
Link to magazine article (wrongly titled):
http://issuu.com/magazineproduction/docs/inside_shoreham_sept_2010_ezine/14?mode=a_p
MR )
Spilsby and District (Lincs) (MR contacted local history society, but they have no knowledge of its ever existing.)
Standard Motors (Coventry) (Alan Jackson)
Studley Royal (Yorks)(‘In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Marquess of Ripon created a golf-course which the Harry Vardon played on when he lived on the edge of the estate.’ http://www.great-britain.co.uk/world-heritage/studley-royal.htm MR)
Tadcaster (Yorks)
Tonbridge (Kent)
Tower Hill (Somerset) Closed ca 1990? ‘Very quirky’ Adrian stiff
United Services (Chatham, Kent) (Alan Jackson)
United Services (Gosport, Hants)
United Services (Plymouth, Devon)
Uppingham (‘Uppingham used to have a nine hole course – that was planned to be an 18 hole course and was under construction with view of the EGU taking over but the EGU ended up buying Woodhall Spa which meant the developer folded. The planning documents are still at the council planning department.’ Ben Stephens)
Victoria Proprietory (Buttermere, Cumbria) (Alan Jackson)
Warlingham (Surrey)
Wednesbury (Staffs)(‘Wednesbury had a 9 hole golf club, founded in 1908 in Hydes Road on land leased from the Patent Shaft. In 1938 the company attempted to sell the land to a private property developer, but the attempt failed because of the onset of war. In 1947 the council purchased the land and built the Millfields Housing Estate on the area around Woden Road South and Chestnut Road.’Bev Parker http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/Wednesbury/Growth.htm
MR)
Welbeck Abbey (Notts) (Alan Jackson)
Wellington College (Shropshire) (Alan Jackson) (I am unaware of a Wellington College in Shropshire. MR)
West Cheshire (I believe this was located somewhere about the entrance to the Mersey Tunnel. MR)
West Lancashire First 9-hole course (1873) was inland of the railway line. 1894 some of this land given up for housing development, but new (links) land acquired seaward of the railway. 6 holes constructed on the links and a footbridge erected to give access. Following WW2 a new 18 hole course was laid out on the seaward side, incorporating land from the old course and ladies’ course (qv). MR
West Lancashire Ladies’ It is recorded that ladies were playing golf at Blundellsands as early as 1879. The West Lancashire Ladies’ GC came into being in 1891. Their first course, of nine holes, was on ‘The Warren’ on the seaward side of the railway beside Hall Road West. In 1895 they acquired an 18-hole course. The 16th, 17th and 18th holes were lost to housing in 1909 but the ladies arranged to lease further land and designed and constructed replacement holes themselves. (The course was praised by Harold Hilton.) Course length was 5050 yards, stretched to 5300 by 1930. During WW2 nine holes were lost to a minefield and the clubhouse was burned down during military occupation. After the war it was proposed to construct housing on the inland holes of the men’s course so, with the amalgamation of both clubs, a new 18-hole course was constructed on the seaward side. Unfortunately plans to construct a 9-hole ladies’ course were abandoned because of cost. MR
West Park (Handcroft, Sussex)
Whitchurch (Salop)
Whitworth Park (Spennymoor, Durham)
Witley Court (Worcs) (House damaged by fire in 1937. Gardens etc fell into disrepair. MR)
Winchester College (Hants) (Alan Jackson)
Woolacombe (Devon)
Wooler (Northumberland, listed as 1975 foundation in R&A Handbook)
Wootten Under Edge (Glos) 9-holer next to what is now Canons Court. Adrian Stiff
Wynyard Park (Durham) (MacKenzie. Listed by him in 1923 advertisement as ‘Wynyard Park. Lord Londonderry’s Course.’ 9 holes. Dates not known)
LONDON AREA
Acton (1896-1920. Alan, Jackson, Tom Hedman, Christoph Meister)
All Weather Golf Practice (Holland House)
Balham (founded 1894. Alan Jackson)
Bellingham (In existence 1912. Alan Jackson)
Beulah Hill (founded 1913. Alan Jackson)
Brook’s Hospital (Shooter’s Hill) (Alan Jackson)
Chiswick (founded 1892. Alan Jackson)
Clapham Common GC 9 holes (Founded 1873. Club moved first to Tooting, then Mitcham, then became peripatetic. Clapham Trophy still competed for. Course subjected to trenches, allotments, anti-aircraft batteries, spoil from deep shelter construction and prefabricated housing covered the course in WW2. Tony Muldoon, Alan Jackson, John Hawkins)
Colindale (in existence 1928. Alan Jackson)
Craven Park (founded 1895. Alan Jackson)
Ealing Castlebar (Founded 1898. Alan Jackson)
East Sheen (Founded 1891. Alan Jackson)
Elmstead (Founded 1907, last mentioned 1930. Alan Jackson)
Enfield Municipal (mentioned 1938. Alan Jackson)
Firs (Founded 1924. Alan Jackson)
Foots Cray (Alan Jackson)
Foxgrove (Mentioned 1933. Alan Jackson)
Greenford (Founded 1912. Alan Jackson)
Greystoke GC (Hanwell,18 holes. Founded 1922. Alan Jackson)
Hanger Hill (Founded 1900, last mention 1912. Alan Jackson)
Hanger Hill New (last mention 1938. Alan Jackson) (A pitch and putt course, length 1142 yards, is today laid out in Hanger Hill Park. MR)
Hermitage (Founded 1895. Alan Jackson)
Hill (Founded 1924. Alan Jackson)
Home Park (Surbiton) 18 holes no Sunday play (Nle? Hampton Court Palace GC was known as Home Park, but Kingston is not Surbiton)
Honor Oak and Forest Hill (Mentioned from 1895-1947. Alan Jackson)
Hurlingham (Mentioned in 1938. Alan Jackson)
London Flying Club (Later London Country Club. MacKenzie 9-hole course in existence from 1919 until ca 1927. Neil Crafter)
Merton Park 5939 yards (Mentioned 1927-1933. Alan Jackson)
Mitcham Village (Mentioned 1933. Alan Jackson)
Molesey Hurst 18 holes (disappeared 1930s – but golf recorded here in 1758!)
Monkhams (Waltham Abbey)
Morden Park (Mentioned 1938-47. Alan Jackson)
Mote Mount (Mill Hill) (Mote Mount Open Space is separated from Mill Hill Golf Course by the A1 Barnet Way. Mill Hill GC dates from 1923 – Abercromby. MR)
Neasden GC 18 holes (Markes, founder of Sandy Lodge had been a member, commenting on its dampness. Founded 1893. Last mention 1934. Alan Jackson)
New Eltham (Alan Jackson)
Norbury GC (Streatham) (9 holes founded 1893. Last mention 1930. Alan Jackson)
North Surrey GC 18 holes (adjoining Norbury station) (Founded 1894. Last mention 1933. Alan Jackson)
Northwick Park (Middx) 18 holes (Listed by Alister MacKenzie in 1923 advertisement. Golf club opened in 1907 and its buildings were demolished in 1950s. Traces of the course survive. Christoph Meister, Neil Crafter)
Norwood (Founded 1913. Last mention 1914. Alan Jackson)
Oxhey GC 18 holes (Folded after 2nd World War when Oxhey council estate built)
Park Royal (Founded 1913, last mention 1917. Alan Jackson)
Pollard’s Hill GC 18 holes (Norbury station ½ mile) (Founded 1911, last mention 1938. Alan Jackson)
Prince’s (Founded 1892, club removed to Sandwich 1930. Course now played by Mitcham, founded 1924)
Ranelagh Club, Barnes (18 holes 4,152 yards par 63. Club opened 1890. Golf ceased 1937. Last mentioned 1947. Hosted an annual international ladies’ tournament. In 1921 Cecil Leitch beat Alexa Stirling of the USA into third place in the two-day tournament with a score of 142. Tom Hedman, Christoph Meister, Alan Jackson)
Raynes Park (Founded 1893, last mention 1924. Alan Jackson)
Royal Blackheath Course on Blackheath in use from first decade 17th century until 1923. Tony Muldoon.
St Quintons (Founded 1894. Alan Jackson)
Selsdon Park (Alan Jackson gives this as a nle course with only a single mention in 1933. But Selsdon Park Hotel, dating back to 1929 and boasting a JH Taylor course still exists. Comments, please. MR)
Southall Park (last mention 1920. Alan Jackson)
Streatham GC (Tooting Bec) 9 holes no Sunday play ‘Play allowed on Tooting Bec Common under LCC regulations.’ (Founded 1892, last mention 1947. Alan Jackson. ‘….clay common ground. Darwin cited it as just the sort of land that made Heaths so attractive.’ Tony Muldoon)
Sutton (Mentioned 1896. Alan Jackson)
Tooting Bec (1888- 1927. Listed separately by Alan Jackson, but see Streatham above, MR. 18-hole course laid out by Tom Dunn. Christoph Meister)
Waffron (Mentioned 1938-47. Alan Jackson)
Walthamstow (Founded 1903, last mention 1925. Alan Jackson)
Wembley GC Ltd. Founded 1896, ‘closed down 25th March 1927’
Wembley Park (Founded 1912, last mention 1922. Alan Jackson)
West Norwood (Mentioned 1923. Alan Jackson)
Whitton Park (Mentioned 1897. Alan Jackson)
Willesden (Founded 1891, last mention 1897. Alan Jackson)
SCOTLAND
Aberdour (Fife). First 9-hole course laid out by Willie Park (Jr.?) 1896 at Couston (1 mile west of village). Abandoned when club moved to present site 1905. Richard Goodale.
Abington 1891 – c1940. 9 holes. Laid out by Willie Fernie. Sketch. Alfie Ward
Aboyne GC – f. 1883, RP has club dating from 1883. Report in Golfing in 1904 that club moving to new site. NLE 1904 Niall Carlton
Alexandra GC, Riddrie Knowes, (Glasgow) – f.1899, 9 hole course adjacent to Barlinnie Prison ! NLE ? Niall Carlton
Annan – Even Times has report of 9 hole course opening in 1895. RP has Powfoot opening in 1903. Original course NLE (?) Niall Carlton
Arbory Brae (Lanark) See https://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/arbory-brae/ Victim of foot-and-mouth disease.
Archerfield (East Lothian) ‘The original Archerfield course was described by Tom Simpson as one of the four great courses in East Lothian, along with Muirfield, North Berwick and Gullane. I’m not sure the exact land it played on but I presume it was within the current Archerfield Estate.’ Ally Mcintosh)
Ardeer – f. pre 1880, club founded in 1880 however golf played at Ardeer since before Prestwick was founded (1851). Club moved to a new site in 1904. What happened to original course ? NLE 1904 ? Niall Carlton
Ardrossan and Saltcoats – 18 hole course by Ben Sayers from 1911 however RP has current course as being from 1981. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Arrochar and Tarbet (Loch Lomond) – f. 1904, report of initial meeting of club in Golfing in 1905 which mentions that Willie Fernie laid out course the year before. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Auchteraw – f. 1903, 9 hole course on Lord Lovatt’s estate in highlands and north of River Oich (as mentioned in Golfing). NLE ? Niall Carlton
Aviemore (‘I remember an old golf course footprint at Aviemore c1973, from memory it was 9 holes and had been disused for some time. I do clearly remember several cut & fill type greens though and individual holes were evident.’ Adrian Stiff. [See below – same course?])
Aviemore Station Hotel (Alan Jackson)
Ayr, (Newtonhead) – f. 1894, 9 hole course laid out by local cricket club. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Ayr (Racecourse) – report in Golfing 1904 of course being extended by Charlie Hunter. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Ballantrae GC – f. ?, extended by Willie Fernie to 18 holes in 1892. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Ballieston – report in Even Times of possible course to be laid out by David Adams. No mention in RP, was it built. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Ballinluig (Perth) Course opened 1896, 9 holes laid out along the banks of the River Tummel. Not known when course closed or whether it was absorbed into Strathtay GC. Melvyn Hunter Morrow, Niall Carlton.
Balmoral – private course for Royal family referred to in Golfing 1904. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton.
Banff Links – f. ?, course went into disuse shortly after Banff GC amalgamated with Duff House GC in 1926 (?). NLE 1927ish. Niall Carlton.
Bellahouston (Glasgow) – f. ?, report in Golfing of 1905 which refers to municipal course at Bellahouston. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Biggar 1895 – 1900 Langlees. 9 holes. Sketch available.1901-1906 Heavyside. 9 holes Opened by Old Tom. Pics but no sketch of layout. Alfie Ward.
Blackford Club, Perth – report of proposed course in Golfing 1905. Course was proposed to be at Cow Park. Was it ever built ? NLE ? Niall Carlton.
Blantyre – f 1913 ?, report of David Adams having pegged out 9 hole course. Was it built ? No course in existence now. Niall Carlton
Bo’ness/Linlithgow – mention of proposed Willie Park course in 1892. RP has current Linlithgow course as 1913. Original NLE ? Niall Carlton.
Bonhill (Loch Lomond) – f.1906, 9 hole course laid out on Strathleven estate between “Slounger” Hill and Northfield as reported in Golfing. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Bridge of Cally f. 1905, report of possible new course in Golfing 1905. Was it built ? Niall Carlton
Bridge of Earn – report in Even Times of 1894 of proposed course in Clayton Farm on Kilgraston Estate. No mention in RP. Niall Carlton.
Broughton (Peeblesshire). Ca 1900? 9 holes at Cloverhill farm. 1 photo. Little known. Alfie Ward.
Broughty Ferry Ladies Club (Barnhill, Dundee) Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Brunstsfield Links Golf was played on Bruntsfield Links in the 15th century. The Society which still carries the name was formed in 1761. Play migrated to Musselburgh in the 19th century. Musselburgh became so crowded that the Bruntsfield Society departed for Barnton in 1898. Golf is still played over Brunsfield Links -36 short holes. The old course was of five holes. Richard Goodale, MR.
Buddon and Broughty Castle – f.1906, 9 hole course formed for Artillery staff at Broughty Castle as per report in Golfing. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Burghead – f. ?, area of golf course shown on early 1900’s OS plans. NLE ? Niall Carlton.
Burntisland Links (9th oldest club in the world) NLE 1890s (moved to new course at Dodhead). Richard Goodale
Campbeltown – f. 1912, 9 hole muni that is not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton.
Campsie GC, Lennoxtown – f.1898, first course was laid out by Willie Auchterlonie and located next to Station. Existing course is out of town. Original course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Canmore GC (Dunfermline) – newspaper report of club moving to course East Baldridge farm in 1898. RP has club dating back to 1887. Old course NLE. Niall Carlton.
Canniesburn GC (Glasgow) – f. ?, moved to new course designed by Braid in 1922/23 and changed name of club to Windyhill GC. NLE 1923 ? Niall Carlton
Carlops (West Linton). 1893-96. West Mains Farm, laid out by Willie Park Jnr. 9 holes. Sketch. New course at Paties farm 1896 – not known. Sketch. Alfie Ward.
Carluke Two 9-hole courses at different locations prior to existing course at Hallcraig. Alfie Ward
Castlehill (Glasgow) – f.1923, located between Bearsden and Drumchapel. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton.
Cathcart Castle GC – f. 1894 (see Merrylees GC), moved to new course designed by Braid. Old course NLE 1924. Niall Carlton
Collieston (Aberdeenshire) Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Corriecravie (and Sliddery ?) GC – f.1912, brief press report of opening. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Cove (and Kilcreggan) Golf Club, Craigrownie, Cove – f. 1890, report from 1913 of new course replacing old one. Further report of David Adams laying out 9 hole course in 1923 which he later extended to 18 holes. No mention of previous course. Original course NLE 1913, second course NLE prior to 1923, 3rd course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Craighouse Asylum (Edinburgh) (Tommy Armour and his brother learned their golf there, their father being on the maintenance staff. Alan Jackson)
Craigielaw Report in golfing refers to Craigielaw course. Possibly referring to Kilspindie? Niall Carlton
Crawford (Lanark) 1888 – c 1950. 18 holes. Laid out by Old Tom & Rev C.KcKune. Most of the greens and tees are still visible on the hillside. Prior to 1888, McKune had laid out 9 holes on his Kirk glebe. Alfie Ward.
Crieff GC – f. 1893, 9 hole course at NE of Culcrieff Farm close to Hydropathic. RP has modern 18 hole course dating from 2001. Original course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Crook of Devon (and Rumbling Bridge?) Dollar – RP refers to club being founded in 1890 but newspaper account from 1906 refers to new course. Old course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Culzean Castle – private 9 hole course laid out by Charlie Hunter for Marquis of Ailsa in 1898. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Cumnock GC – move to new course designed by Willie Fernie in 1895. RP has New Cumnock Club dating from 1907. Niall Carlton
Cupar f. 1855, report in Golfing of 1905 that refers to original course being at Tailabout and was 6 holes. The club then moved to Annsmuir, then it moved to Ladybank (Ladybank GC listed as f. 1879) and then moved to Nilltarvit where it was in 1905. Niall Carlton
Dalkeith and Newbattle (Midlothian)
Dalmeny – f.1906, report of Willie Park laying out a course for Lord Roseberry. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Dalry (Ayrshire) Founded 1922 NLE Niall Carlton
Dalry (Kirkudbright)
Daviot (Highland) (Jon Wiggett)
Denholm GC (nr Hawick) Opened 1907, did not survive WW1. Details and photograph on http://www.denholmvillage.co.uk/20thcentury.html
Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Denny (Stirlingshire)
Dornoch Ladies’ Course. 12 Holes 1899 (opened by Mrs. Andrew Carnegie). Expanded to 18 1906, and extended 1923 to 5505 yards, Sutherland?). Playground of Joyce Wethered. Taken over by airfield WWII. Two holes remain as 16 and 17 on current Struie Course. Richard Goodale.
Dornock (Crieff) Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Douglas (Marked on 1925 map. ‘Had a 9 hole course at Westtoun in 1888. Later, another 9 holes at Braidley. They then had a 9 hole course on The Policies of Douglas Castle grounds (home of the Earl of Hume family). The Earl also had his own layout on the Policies ground which we don’t know much about. But I remember Dr David Hamilton from St Andrews sending me down a poem he had discovered and a possible link to golf being played at Douglas ? I’m fairly sure that the poem did relate to Douglas Lanarkshire and not Isle of Man. If so, ye olde game was being played in Douglas as early as 1791!’ Alfie Ward. [Douglas Water was marked as a separate course – known as Rigside and still exists. John Chilver-Stainer, Alfie Ward]
Doune (Perthshire)
Downfield (Dundee) (‘Original 18 holes by Braid – only about 4/5 holes remain thanks to the 1945 images on Google Earth.’ Ben Stephens)
Drumchapel (Glasgow) – f.1906. Laid out by David Adams. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Duff House GC – f.1907, 9 hole course laid out by Archie Simpson given over to agriculture during WWI. Course resurrected after war and extended to Committee in early 1920’s. Mackenzie largely redesigned course retaining a few holes only but redesigning completely all the greens. Original course NLE 1914, second course NLE 1923. Niall Carlton
Dumbreck (Glasgow) – f. 1911, 9 hole course by David Adams. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Dundonald (Ayrshire)(‘ The original Dundonald course was situated where the present Dundonald course is now sited. Like Barrasie it was/is to the east or land side of the railway. On the other side of the track you have Western Gailes. If I recall rightly there was a private 9 holer laid out on the course for some old retired general or such like. That was before either of the Gailes courses were built. The first was Glasgow Gailes in 1892 (?) which lies immediately to the north of the Dundonald site, then I think Western was next followed by Dundonald. Dundonald was laid out by Willie Fernie and John Tulloch who was the Glasgow Gailes pro/greenkeeper. Tulloch eventually went to Dundonald as pro/greenkeeper, and indeed did so while laying out the revised Gailes course which he partly designed with Willie Park.
By all accounts an interesting guy who originally came from Elie (I think) and who reputedly gave James Braid his first golf lesson. Anyway the Dundonald course was one of the longest around when built and was a relatively flat links although highly rated. I know it struggled with the great depression but not sure when it fell into disuse.’ Niall Carlton)
Dunfermline Golf Club. Started out at Halbeath, moved to Ferryhills (Mackenzie), then to the Kincardine Road (Stutt?), and finally Pittferrane. All but the last are NLE. Richard Goodale.
Dunkeld & Birnam – RP has club dating back to 1892 however report in Golfing 1904 suggests Ben Sayers laying out new course and that no other course existed at that time, therefore original course defunct. Further report of new 9 hole course opening in 1922 suggesting no existing course. Original course NLE prior to 1904, second course NLE prior to 1922. Niall Carlton
Dunoon (Auchamore) – report in Golfing 1904 that Willie Fernie reported on site and declared it suitable for good 9 hole course. Was it built ? Niall Carlton
Falkland – f. 1902, Even. Times report of 9 hole course. RP refers to club/course as being from 1976. Original course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Ferguslie House, Paisley – f. 1898, private 9 hole course laid out by Willie Fernie. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Fintry (Stirling)
Fochabers (Moray) f. 1892, located within Gordon Castle policies. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Ford Valley (Midlothian)
Forres – f. 1894 (?), original course beside Findhorn Bay, Kinloss and abandoned when club relocated to Cluny Hill Hydro course in 1903. Niall Carlton
Fort Augustus – f. 1904, report in Golfing has Chief Constable Alex Machardy laying out 9 hole course in 1904. RP has club/course dating from 1930. Original course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Fort William – f. 1890 as 9 hole course. RP has course established 1975. Niall Carlton
Galashiels – f. 1884, report from 1913 of John Tulloch laying out temp course while new 18 hole course being built which suggests original 1884 course not in existence at that time. NLE prior to 1913. Niall Carlton
Geisgeir (Islay) (Alan Jackson)
Giffnock GC – f. 1890/1891, original Eastwood GC course that was abandoned by them. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Girvan GC – f. ?, course closed in 1901 when club moved to Turnberry. Course reopened when additional ground was acquired and course expanded in 1903. RP has club from 1900. Niall Carlton
Glasgow (1st Lanark Volunteers) 6-hole course situated where the Kelvin Hall now stands. Niall Carlton, Alan Jackson
Glasgow Gailes Lease of land at Irvine in 1892. Several revisions to layout prior to definitive routing in 1912. Niall Carlton
Glasgow Green Permits allowing play on Glasgow Green were first issued by the Town Council in 1780. Glasgow Golf Club was founded in 1787, playing on Glasgow Green. It went into abeyance in about 1835. Subsequently the club moved to Queen’s Park (1870), Alexandra Park (1873) and Blackhill (1896) before settling permanently at Killermont in 1903/4. Blackhill altered at least once before move to Killermont. Golf still played at Alexandra Park. Glasgow Green NLE ca 1835, Queens Park NLE 1875, Blackhill NLE 1904. Niall Carlton, Richard Goodale, MR.
Glasgow Post Office (Alan Jackson)
Glenmuick Archie Simpson design. Richard Goodale
Gorebridge GC – f. 1897, Presumed NLE ? Niall Carlton
Ingliston (Midlothian) (Club name unknown. Jonathan Davison)
Invercauld Archie Simpson design. Richard Goodale.
Inverkip f 1905 Private course laid out by Willie Fernie for Sir Hugh Shaw-Stewart. NLE? Niall Carlton
Invernaith Lodge Sanatorium (near St Andrews) (Alan Jackson)
Inverurie GC – f. ?, club moved to new course laid out by John McAndrew in 1926. NLE 1926 Niall Carlton
John O’Groats (1893-1898 and 1901-1906. ‘ Sunday play if the player has moral courage enough,’ [Golfing Annual 1904-5] Alan Jackson) ‘f. 1902, 9 hole course. Not in RP. NLE ?’ Niall Carlton
Keith GC – f.1890’s ?, original 9 hole course abandoned and new club formed in 1963 (according to RP) and new 18 hole course laid out some time after. Original course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Kelso – report from Golfing 1905 of Duke of Roxburghe allowing Kelso GC to play his private 9 hole course at Floors Castle grounds when grass too long on Kelso GC ground. Evening Times report from 1906 gives credit of laying out course to Ben Sayers. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Kelvinside (Glasgow) f. 1894, 9 hole course designed by Old Tom Morris and Willie Fernie. 1922 press report referring to defunct Kelvinside course. NLE prior to 1922. Niall Carlton, Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Kilchearan House (A 9-hole private course owned by Tommy Sopwith on Lismore Island in Loch Linnhie) (Alan Jackson)
Killearn GC f. 1896, 9 hole course by Old Tom Morris. NLE ? Niall Carlton, Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Killian – f. 1902, 9 hole course laid out by Duncan Stirling. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Kilwinning – f.1924, press report of club being formed. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Kippford GC – f.1905, 9 hole course. RP has 9 hole course from 1996, new course ? NLE ? Niall Carlton
Kirkintilloch – f.1894, original 9 hole course laid out on banks of the Clyde. Club moved to site at Todhill in 1901. Original course NLE 1901. Niall Carlton
Kirkmichael – f.1906. Newspaper report of 9 hole course. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Kirn GC – 9 hole course mentioned in Even Times 1894, no mention in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Knowenoble GC (Cleland) – 9 hole course laid out by David Adams. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Lagg, Arran – f. 1913, 9 hole course located near Kilmorie and laid out by John Tulloch. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Lairg, near Loch Shin – f.1912, 9 hole course laid out by owner of local hotel. A number of Dornoch golfers were present at opening incl. John Sutherland who had the best score. NLE ? Niall Carotn
Laurencekirk Brian Ewen
Leadhills 1891 -c1935. 9 holes located on Broadlaw hill. Evidence of tees and greens still visible. Newer 9 hole course featured in: https://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/mark-rowlinson-leadhills-and-the-joy-of-gutta-percha/ Alfie Ward
Leith Links Golf at Leith Links was first mentioned in a reported dispute in 1552 between ‘the cordiners (cobblers) of the Cannongate and the cordiners and gouff ball makers of North Leith.’ Much history has been made on these links, not least the first home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Full details on http://www.scottishgolfhistory.net/leith_links_first_golf_competition.htm
Richard Goodale, MR.
Lenamhor, Southend, Arran – f.1906. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Lesmahagow 1896 – 1970. 9 holes on Muirsland Hill. Painted sketch of layout. Alfie Ward
Lethamhill (Glasgow) – David Adams laid out original course in 1906/1907 for Alexandra Club, while RP has club dating from 1933. Same course ? Niall Carlton
Leuchars – Old Tom Morris reported on site in 1896, no mention of whether course got built. Niall Carlton
Lochearnhead – f. 1893, attached to Lochearnhead Hotel. Old Tom Morris at opening of course. Niall Carlton
Lochgelly – f. 1895, original course located on Spittal farm. Club went into abeyance after 3 or 4 years and was resurrected at new site at Earl of Minto’s estate in 1904. NLE 1898/1899. Niall Carlton
Lochmaddy, North Uist – f. 1894. No mention in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Lonmay GC Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Markinch Founded 1905, report in Golfing of 9-hole layout at Newton Farm NLE? Niall Carlton
Maybole GC – f. 1904,9 hole course laid out by Willie Fernie and located at Kilhenzie. RP has Maybole Club dating from 1970. Original course disused ? NLE Niall Carlton?
Merrylee GC – f. 1894, located on Merrylees farm to south of Glasgow, club moved to near Cathcart Castle in 1898 and changed name to Cathcart Castle GC. Subsequent move thereafter. Original course NLE 1898 Niall Carlton
Millport, Isle of Cumbrae – 1913 report of James Braid laying out new 18 hole course to east and south of existing course. Old course NLE 1913 Niall Carlton
Muchalls GC Aberdeen – f.1908 ?, report in Aberdeen Journal that Archie Simpson advising on laying out course. Niall Carlton. Believed to have closed with start of WW2. Brian Ewen
North Western GC – f. 1900, located in Ruchill, north Glasgow. Course was rerouted and redesigned over the years and after NWGC amalgamated with Bankhead club and moved to Lethamhill (?). Course fell into disuse at some point until resurrected as municipal in last couple of years. Niall Carlton
Oban (Ganavan Sands) – f. ?, Willie Fernie altered course in 1904 and MacKenzie planned extension to make course 18 holes in 1923 which was not carried through. Course also part used for shinty games. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Pittenweem (Fife) (See Scotsman article reproduced on https://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,46505.35.html
May possibly be Anstruther? Melvyn Hunter Morrow. Confirmed that this is Anstruther – Richard Goodale)
Port Erroll GC Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Portland, Troon – f. ?, course laid out originally by Willie Fernie and totally re-arranged at least once by Fernie. Course totally redesigned again by MacKenzie in 1920’s. Fernie course NLE early 1920’s. Niall Carlton
Prestwick St Cuthbert – f.1899, course relocated to make way for Prestwick airport in 1950’s. NLE c.1950 Niall Carlton
Rhubodach, Bute – f. ?, mention of 6 hole course in 1926. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Rhu Mhor, Corpach – f. 1904, 9 hole course laid out by Willie Fernie. Course situated adjacent to Lochiel and Mallaig railway line. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Roberton (Lethgill). 1892, laid out by Willie Fernie. Sketch. Re-located to new site c1905 to Meadowhead. Alfie Ward, Niall Carlton
Rothesay GC – f.1892, according to RP. Newspaper report from 1896 of club moving from Westlands course to a new 9 hole course behind Glenburn laid out by Old Tom Morris. Niall Carlton
Royal Craggan (Mar Lodge) Archie Simson design. Richard Goodale
Ruthwell GC – f. 1898, located at Brow on Solway Firth. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
St Andrews Old Course – significant changes 1840s to 1880s. RS Livingston III
St Leonard’s School for Girls (St Andrews) Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Saughton Course opened 1905 (Golfing) Niall Carlton
Scotstounhill GC – f. 1894, relocated to Balmore in 1906. New course laid out by Harry Vardon and club changed name to Balmore GC. Old course NLE 1906 ? Niall Carlton
Shandon f. 1923. Braid course laid out for Shandon Hydro. Press reports referred to the intention of providing undulating greens. NLE ? Niall Carlton, Alan Jackson
Skibo – f. 1904, private 9 hole course laid out by Hugh Hamilton for Andrew Carnegie. In recent years Donald Steel/Tom MacKenzie designed an 18 hole course on estate. Original course NLE ? Niall Carlton
South Links (Montrose) (‘South Links at Montrose went out of use after World War II. It is very important historically, making up of Montrose’s very first (and gigantic) golfing ground, and later used for one of the first Ladies’ golf courses. Also a favourite among the men in its different configurations, and at least part of it would have been used for a couple of the very first “open” golf tournaments.’ Richard Phinney)
Stewarton GC – f.1911, 9 hole course laid out by Hugh MacMillan, Western Gailes greenkeeper. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Stonehouse – f.1911, course laid out by Willie Fernie and located at/on Avon (Hamilton/Blantyre ?). Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Stornoway GC – f. ?, earliest mention 1901, 9 hole course located at Broad Bay between Steinish and Melbost. RP has present club/course as being from 1947. Old course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Strachur – f.1906, report in Golfing Dec. 1906. Not in RP. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Strathaven GC – f. 1897, original 9 hole course near Glassford Station on farm of Brounmuir. Reference in Golfing in 1904 that Strathaven doesn’t have a course and RP dates club to1908. Original course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Strichen – f.192?, course designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie for Col. Adamson for nearby hotel. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Symington (near Biggar) 1905 – c1940. 9 holes at first then reduced to 6, probably due to technology in that era ? Alfie Ward.
Tarbert GC – f.1898, located on Stonefield Estate on shores of Loch Fyne. RP has club dating from 1910. Even Times report from 1926 on opening of 9 hole course by David Adams states that there was no course in existence before. Original course NLE prior to 1926, second course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Tarbrax (Lawhead Farm). c1911 – 1925 9 holes. Little known. Alfie Ward.
Tarlair – original course lost to farming before new course built on same site in 1924. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Taynuilt GC – RP has club as being founded in 1989 whereas newspaper accounts (Even. Times) has Willie Fernie laying out course in 1906. Old course NLE ? Niall Carlton
Thankerton 1905 – c 1940. 9 holes. Pictures of opening in 1905. Sketch. Alfie Ward.
Tighnabruich (Kyles of Bute) – f. 1894, RP has present course opening 1907. Move from original course ? Niall Carlton
Tomintoul GC – f. 1906. Course laid out by Charles Neaves and was highest course in UK. NLE ? Niall Carlton
Torrie House (‘Torrie House, to the west of Dunfermline, was a James Braid designed 18-hole course, stretching to above 6,500 yards, par 72. There was talk about 10 years ago of resurrecting this course, which was just left to grow over sometime in the 50’s I think. I was invited to take a look at the site and several of the old green sites were easily identifiable, complete with grown in bunkers. A fascinating place.’ Robin Hiseman)
Toryglen GC – f. 1893, NLE ? Niall Carlton
Uisguintuie GC (Islay) f. 1896, Old Tom Morris design. NLE ? Niall Carlton, Melvyn Hunter Morrow
Valleyfield House (‘9-Holer in the grounds of Valleyfield House, the gardens of which were Humphrey Repton’s only Scottish commission.
The house was also the early workplace of the young David Douglas of ‘Douglas Fir’ fame.’ Marty Bonnar)
Westtoun Golf Club (Coalburn). 1912 – 15. Little known but did exist.
Winchburgh (Glendevon) 9 holes, opened 1907, laid out by D. Anderson of the Braids, Edinburgh. No details of course closure. Melvyn Hunter Morrow.
Yorkhill f. 1891 as 6 hole course for 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. Also doubled as parade ground. Extra couple of holes added later. Course disappeared when Kelvin Hall built on site. Niall Carlton
WALES
Fishguard and Goodwick (Pembroke)
Great Orme (Conwy) (Closed 1939. A little information on http://www.greatorme.org.uk/summit.html MR)
Hay (Brecon)
Llanberis (Course sandwiched between Royal Victoria Hotel and railway station. Now a car park).
Llandrindod Wells ‘Two 18 hole courses’ (Powys. Only one today?)
Llandrindod Wells Rock Park Golf Links (Powys) 18 holes
Llangamarch Wells (Alan Jackson)
Llanrwst
Llanwrtyd Wells (Alan Jackson)
Maelog Lake Hotel (Anglesey) (Alan Jackson)
Oakwood Park Hotel (Conwy)
Pump House (Llandrindod Wells) (Alan Jackson) (See above)
Red Wharf Bay and Benllech (Anglesey)
Rhayader (Radnor)
Shirenewton (Monmouthshire) Closed about 2003? Adrian Stiff
Tonrefail and Gilfach Goch GC (Glamorganshire) 9 holes
Towyn (Merioneth) 18 holes
Tredegar Park (Newport) Old course was closed about ten years ago, for a planned housing development (which has not yet taken place). Club moved to Rogerstone. Ben Stephens, Adrian Stiff
Trefriw (Clubhouse now a cattle shed. MR)
The End
