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Redditch Golf Club, Pitcheroak Course. (1913 - 1970s)
Redditch Golf Club was founded in 1913.
The original 9-hole course was designed by W P Lewis, the professional at King’s Norton Golf Club. It was eventually extended to 18-holes.
Report on the new course in January 1913.
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 11 January 1913. Digital image © The Bromsgrove Society.
Report on a meeting held in September 1913.
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 20 September 1913. Digital image © The Bromsgrove Society.
From the Coventry Evening Telegraph Wednesday 29 October 1913. "J H Taylor v George Duncan - J H Taylor (Mid Surrey,) the Open Champion, was in opposition to George Duncan (Hanger Hill,) the French Open Champion, today, to mark the opening of the new Redditch Golf Course. The meeting of Taylor and Duncan attracted a good deal of interest, especially as the latter has been displaying such brilliant form recently. He has met the Open Champion several times in recent weeks and in the majority of the matches he has been successful."
The Redditch clubhouse and eighteenth green in the 1920s. Authors Collection.
The Ordnance Survey Map below shows the clubhouse and course in the 1920/30s.
O.S. Map Revised 1926 © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1930}.
Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 30 September 1925. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Membership of 300; Hon. secretary - J Alfred Hill, 127 Birchfield Road, Redditch; Professional, H Nash; Green-keeper, H Cleveley; 18-holes; Visitors, 2s a round, 3s a day, weekend 5s, 10s a week, £1 a month.
Results of matches against Worcester Golf and Country Club in May 1933.
Evesham Standard & West Midland Observer Saturday 6 May 1933.
British Open champion plays at Redditch in July 1933.
Birmingham Daily Gazette Monday 31 July 1933. With thanks to Reach PLC. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.
Changes to the golf course in 1935.
Birmingham Daily Gazette Wednesday 6 March 1935. With thanks to Reach PLC. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.
Following WW2 the secretary was Charles Hewitt, 55 Bromsgrove Road, Redditch, the professional and green-keeper was H Nash. The 18-hole course had a SSS and par of 74. Membership was a very precise 314. Visitors’ fees were 3/6 a day, 5/- at weekend, 10/- a week and £1 a month.
Result of a match played on the Cleeve Hill Course, Cheltenham, in September 1945.
| Cotswold Hills Golf Club | Redditch Golf Club | ||
| Major and Parker (6 and 5) | 1 | Muton and Nash | 0 |
| Jones and Barnett (3 and 2) | 1 | Sandilands and Young | 0 |
| Hamilton and Davies (2 and 1) | 1 | Court and Webb | 0 |
| Webb and Watson (5 and 4) | 1 | Hodson and Hales | 0 |
| Marshall and Southern (halved) | 0 | Sealey and Thorington (halved) | 0 |
| Brant and Frame (1up) | 1 | Sandilands and Court | 0 |
| Jewell and Sheen (2up) | 1 | Wedgbury and Clarke | 0 |
| Morris and Mason (3 and 2) | 1 | Heath and Pethard | 0 |
| Lister and Pockett (7 and 6) | 1 | Crook and Mills | 0 |
| Stidworthy and Sims (4 and 2) | 1 | Smith and Hemming | 0 |
| Simpson and McKenna (5 and 4) | 1 | Bott and Bennett | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
Unusual match played in October 1951.
Birmingham Mail Saturday 13 October 1951. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In the mid 1950s the secretary was W F Bird, “Sandheys” The Slough, Crabbs Cross, Redditch. The professional was L Fereday and the green-keeper E East. The 18 holes now had a SSS of 68 and par of 67. Membership of 310. Visitors’ fees were 5/- a day, 7/6 at weekend, 15/- a week, and 40/- a month.
During the 1960s the secretary was F J Turton, 95 Broomfield Road, Redditch. The professionals were Don Wilson (1964) F Powell (mid 1960s on) and the green-keeper E East. Par 66 and SSS 67. Membership 350.
In August 1964 two members of the club holed in one; M J Pearson, the captain, holed in one at the 146 yard fourth hole; the same feat was achieved at the same hole the day before by H Webb. both had a handicap of 6.
Above images courtesy of the current Redditch Kingfisher Golf Club.
Just Prior to the clubs move in the early 1970s, the secretary was D G Skinner and the professional F Powell. The course measured 5,091 yards with a SSS of 64. Membership was 450, Viditors’ fees were £1 a day, £3 at weekend.
The former course was situated where the Redditch Municipal Pitcher Oak Park Club is now. It moved to its present site at Callow Hill in 1972 when the building of a new road reduced the former course to 9-holes.
Birmingham Daily Post Saturday 21 July 1973. With thanks to Reach PLC. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.