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South Staffordshire Golf Club, Penn Common Course. (1892 - 1908)

Originally located on Penn Common and founded in 1892, course ready for play 1893.

It was reported in the Edinburgh Evening News in October 1892 that "Golf is to be introduced into the neighbourhood of Wolverhampton by the formation of the South Staffordshire Golf Club, which will lay out links on Penn Common." Mr Waterhouse was appointed to act as secretary.

Professionals at the club whilst at Penn Common; Samuel Jones (1893); Alexander Gain (1893/94); Jack Burns (1894/95); Ernest Pursey (1895-1903); Sydney Wingate (1903-1908.)

The annual dinner was held at the Victoria Hotel on Saturday 11 March 1894, the captain, Rupert Smith, presided. Mr W W Walker suggested that a clubhouse be built adjacent to the common. The Mayor, Mr C T Mander, supported the proposal and offered £50 towards the fund. Other members subscribed and £300 was raised during the evening.

Result of a match against Hagley Golf Club played in May 1894.

 

South Staffordshire Golf Club, Penn Common Course. Result of a match against Hagley played in May 1894.

"Golf" Friday 18 May 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The following officers were elected at the annual meeting held at the Victoria Hotel in March 1895; president, Lord Dartmouth; vice-presidents; The Duke of Sutherland, The Earl of Dudley, Lord Wrottesley, Sir A Hickman, M.P., W W Walker, C T Mander, Rev.C H Cole Webb; secretary T P Waterhouse.  

Result of a one-sided match played on Stafford Common on Saturday 30 March 1895.

Staffordshire Golf Club   South Staffordshire Golf Club  
C S Hayward 7 M Wilkie 0
C Morgan 12 R T Smith 0
H Gardner 4 A R Irvine 0
A Finch 7 T S Lewis 0
C A W Gilbert 8 Wilson Lovatt 0
E W Burnett 4 Victor Hickman 0
A Weekes 5 R W Lewis 0
  47   0

Result of the Dartmouth Challenge Cup played on the Stafford Common course in July 1895.

 

South Staffordshire Golf Club, Penn Common. Result of the Dartmouth Challenge Cup played in July 1895.

Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 3 August 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Result of a match against the newly formed Artisans Club in November 1898.

 

South Staffordshire Golf Club, Penn Common Course. Result of a match against the Artisans Club in November 1898.

Wolverhampton Express and Star Monday 28 November 1898.Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The seventh annual meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel in January 1900. E Hickman, who presided, congratulated the members on the year’s progress. The increased membership was attributed to the improvement of the course, and the fact that there was now a greater variety of golf. The balance-sheet showed a surplus of £66, which was considered satisfactory. The Earl of Dartmouth was re-elected president, and the Duke of Sutherland, Lord Wrottesley, Sir Alfred Hickman, M.P., Rev. C H Cole-Webb, C T Mander and W W Walker, vice-presidents. Neville H Mander was elected captain, and E Hickman, secretary. T F Waterhouse, who had resigned as secretary after seven-years, was presented with a beautiful silver bowl, a gift of the club.

A strike of caddies was reported in November 1900. They refused to work unless the members promised a rise of 3d per round. This was refused, and the members had to carry the bags themselves, the caddies caused considerable annoyance by removing the flags and stopping up the holes.

 

South Staffordshire Golf Club, Penn Common. The Golf House Penn Common on an early 1900s postcard.

The Golf House Penn Common on an early 1900s postcard.

 

Ordnance Survey Map from the early 1900s showing the golf course.

 

South Staffordshire Golf Club, Penn Common Course. O.S. Map from the early 1900s showing the golf course.

O.S. Map Revised 1900 © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1903}.

 

At the summer meeting in June 1904 a medal competition was played for a prize presented by the captain, T F Waterhouse, leading scores; F R Armitage, 87-11-76; T B Adams, 85-8-77; T F Waterhouse, 88-10-78; A E Cresswell, 84-6-78; H L Atkinson, 88-10-78; Sam Wells Page, 99-20-79; J D Graham, 90-10-80; R Struthers, 90-10-80; James Hill, 103- 23-80; W Buchanan, 91-10-81; J Pritchard, 92-10-82; 

There was a separate ladies’ course, which was abandoned in 1904 because of poor drainage. The ladies subsequently played on the men’s course, except for Saturday afternoons.

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1893; membership of 230; secretary - C Elwell, Sedgley; captain, T F Waterhouse; entrance fee, £5/5s and subs £2/2s; 18-holes; professional, S Wingate; course records - professional; S Wingate, 71; amateur; F Armitage, 77; terms for visitors - 5 shillings a week and 10 shillings a month (on introduction). The course is on Penn Common. The turf is good and short, and in spring, summer and autumn this course is good, but is wet during the greater part of winter.

Result of a match played at Penn against Dudley Golf Club in May 1908.

South Staffordshire Golf Club   Dudley Golf Club  
A E Cresswell 0 F G Smith (2 and 1) 1
W V Vale (6 and 5) 1 E J Thompson 0
W Buchanan (2 and 1) 1 W Pearson 0
R Struthers (5 and 3) 1 J W Nayler 0
J D Graham (1up) 1 E Vaughan 0
E V Jones 0 Clifford Nicholls (2 and 1) 1
J Pritchard 0 F Stevenson (4 and 3) 1
S R Parkes  1 J Smellie 0
A Whitlock (4 and 3) 1 C G Thompson 0
  6   3

Result of a match played on Penn Common against Stourbridge Golf Club in August 1908.

South Staffordshire Golf Club   Stourbridge Golf Club  
W V Vale (2&1) 1 F J Boulton 0
M Wilkie (3&2) 1 A R Gilmore 0
R Struthers (5&4) 1 S G Dudley 0
T M Hickman (1up) 1 H T F King 0
A W Sims 0 R Lowndes (1up) 1
J McMillan (3&2) 1 F D Taylor 0
S W Page (1up) 1 W J Amphlett 0
  6   1

Below is the announcement of the new course in October 1908.

 

South Staffordshire Golf Club, Penn Common. Announcement of the new course in October 1908.

From the Lichfield Mercury Friday 9 October 1908. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The club split in 1908, with some members moving to the new course at Danespark, Tettenhall, and the remainder staying on the Common and forming Penn Golf Club.

The Google Map below shows the location of the former South Staffordshire Golf Club course, now Penn Golf Club.