Arden Golf Club, Solihull, Warwickshire. (1891 - WW1)

Founded in 1891.

A 9-hole flat course laid out on gravel soil. The GWR station adjoined the course.

The club was also known as Henley-in-Arden Golf Club and Solihull Golf Club. Also, but only occasionally, a club called Forest of Arden Golf Club puts in an appearance, the players representing this club also play at Arden Golf Club.

It was mentioned above that a Forest of Arden Golf Club occasionally turns up. Following is the result of a match played at Solihull on Saturday 15 October 1892 against Kenilworth Golf Club, scores as follows; Kenilworth – T Latham, 0; Vincent Jepson, 0; Dr. E Kemp Bourne, 4; H R Hands, 0; J Sidebottom, 0; C G Middleton, 0; Forest of Arden – F A Bainbridge, 6; W Airey, 5; Rev. G W Barnard, 0; A W Brown, 3; A G Tonks, 4; F Wright, 5; result – Kenilworth, 4; Forest of Arden, 23.

  Secretary Professional
1891-1895   James Cunningham
1896/7   G Whiting
1897-1902   J W Whiting
1902-1905   James Adwick
1905/6   G Dukes
1914 S P Leitner  

Below is the result of a match played against Kenilworth Golf Club at Solihull on Saturday 15 October 1892.

Arden Golf Club   Kenilworth Golf Club  
F A Bainbridge 6 T Latham 0
O Airy 5 V Jepson 0
Rev G W Barnard 0 Dr E K Bourne 4
A E W Browne 3 H R Hands 0
A G Tonks 4 J Sidebottom 0
J F Wright 5 C G Middleton 0
  23   4

Competitions and course record in May 1893.

 

Arden Golf Club, Solihull. Competitions played in May 1893.

From "Golf" Friday 26 May 1893.

 

The following is a report from the Birmingham Daily Post in July 1893. The Reverend Canon Evans was concerned about young men spending time on the Arden golf links when they should have been at school or work “The golf club, he believed, was responsible for the non-attendance of many boys. Young gentlemen who were supposed to be in business in Birmingham seemed to be able to play upon the golf ground from early morn to dewy eve. Every gentleman wanted an attendant, and little boys were admitted to the ground, and were paid small sums of money 3d, 6d or 1/-and the consequence was they sometimes had thirty or forty boys away from school. He hoped parents would face up and make sure their boys attend school regularly”

In September 1893 Arden, in this match called Solihull, played a match against Tanworth at Solihull. Result below.

Solihull    Tanworth Golf Club  
F A Bainbridge(captain) 3 Hon. and Rev R C Moncrieffe 0
O Airy 11 Rev G W Barnard (captain) 0
A E Wilson-Browne 4 A J Moncrieffe 0
M C Lord 3 C G Graham 0
H H Wright 2 W J Burman 0
  23   0

Below is the result of a club match played at the Arden Club in October 1893 against Barton under Needwood Golf Club (also now defunct).

Arden Golf Club   Barton-under-Needwood Golf Club  
F A Bainbrisge 4 C Palmer 0
O (G) Airy 3 A H Palmer 0
A E Wilson-Browne 0 P S White 0
A G Tonks 2 A R White 0
  9   0

Course record in December 1893.

 

Arden Golf Club, Solihull. New course record in December 1893.

From "Golf" 22 December 1893.

 

Result of the February 1894 monthly cup.

 

Arden Golf Club Solihull. Result of the February 1894 monthly cup.

"Golf" Friday 9 February 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Competition results from October 1894.

 

Arden Golf Club, Solihull. Competition results from October 1894.

 

Arden Golf Club, Solihull. Competition results from October 1894.

"Golf" Friday 19 October 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Result of a match Played on Stafford Common on Saturday 16 March 1895.

Staffordshire Golf Club   Arden Golf Club  
C S Hayward 1 H W Bainbridge 0
B T Fitzherbert (halved) 0 A E Wilson-Browne (halved) 0
H Gardner 0 O Airy 2
A Finch 4 E P Wright 0
G H Tunnicliffe 0 W P Wilson-Browne 8
  5   10

Competition results from April 1895.

 

Arden Golf Club, Solihull. Competition results from April 1895.

"Golf" Friday 19 April 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Below, result of a match played at Kidderminster on Saturday 15 April 1899. 

Kidderminster Golf Club   Arden Golf Club  
J P Humphries 0 H W Bainbridge 2
W R Nash 0 A G Tonks 1
W H Grazebrook 8 M C Lord 0
G Grindley 0 A E Wilson-Browne 1
C K Harrison 2 H H Wright 0
E C Corbett 1 M Lindner 0
A C Oldham 8 C Wade 0
  19   4

In 1914 the club had a membership of about 100. Entry fees for gents were £3/3/0 and ladies £1/1/0. Subs for gents were £2/2/0 and ladies £1/1/0. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 1/- a day, 2/6 a day at week-end, 5/- a week, 10/- a month. Sunday play was allowed without caddies.

The result below is interesting, it’s a match played between the Hampton Golf Club and Hearsall Golf Club in June 1914. It was reported as being played at Hampton-in-Arden. 

Hampton   Hearsall Golf Club  
G W Harriden 0 A B McLean (4&3) 1
F G Cross 0 W C Hunter (5&4) 1
B Evans 0 J Wormell (4&2) 1
H Sydenham (half) 0 A G Hadden (half) 0
G Senior (2&1) 1 R Wormell 0
H Burrill (3&1) 1 T Hancox 0
F Trusty 0 R H Tilt (5&4) 1
P Mantle (4&3) 1 J Haymes 0
D N Barrs (half) 0 B Hirons (half) 0
E G Bryant 0 J Simpson (4&2) 1
G Chambers 1 W Bednell 0
O Hauser 1 M Barron 0
  5   5

The course shown on the map below was appearing on O.S maps up to WW2.  

There is no evidence so far that the club continued after WW1.

 

Location of the Arden Golf Club course.

Location of the Arden course at Solihull, the course was still appearing on O.S Maps in the 1930s.