Kidderminster Golf Club, Aggborough Farm. (1893 - WW1)

The club first appeared in 1893.

The 18-hole course was located on land at Aggborough Farm.

In the early years the Kidderminster Golf Club was also referred to as Aggborough Golf Club.

Professionals at Kidderminster; T Taylor, 1893/4; D H Hurry, 1899 – 1904; J Gourlay, 1904 – 1906; D Ayton, 1909 – 1914.

From "Golf" Friday 27 April 1894 - "The record of the Kidderminster links was made the other day by D Herd, the professional from St Andrews, going round in a fine score of 74. It had previously been reduced to 78 by Willie Brown, brother of the ex-Champion."

In May 1895 Kidderminster travelled to Ludlow for a match on the Bromfield Racecourse. It turned out to be a one-sided affair with an easy win for Ludlow for whom E R Marston scored 13 (holes won,) A J Bucknall performed best for Kidderminster scoring 4, who only scored 6 against 22.

On Saturday 11 January 1896 the Kidderminster Golf Club Challenge Cup was won by Mr P Brinton.

Below, the club is looking forward to the new season.

 

Kidderminster Golf Club, Aggborough. The club look forward to the new season.

From the Worcestershire Chronicle Saturday 26 September 1896. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Entry from the Golfing Annual 1899/1900; The circuit extends to 4,717 yards. There is a clubhouse and a short course for the ladies.

Below is the result of a match played on Saturday 21 January 1899 at Stourbridge. 

Stourbridge Golf Club   Kidderminster Golf Club  
W R Nash 0 E Blackwell 3
Dr Grindlay 1 J P Humphries 0
J Penn 6 A H Bassano 0
H T F King 5 A C Oldham 0
H W Pearce 0 F Pelham 1
G F Simms 0 F C Jotham 3
W W A Lee 0 A V Moore 4
H E Garratt 5 H G Henderson 0
E C Lowndes 0 S Hemingway 1
F B Punchard 0 E A Mackintosh 0
R Lowndes 9 H M Newcomb 0
  26   12

Result of the monthly medal played on Saturday 4 March 1899; A C Oldham, 87-10-77; Rev A W T Perowne, 102-24-78; J G Welch, 106-28-78; S Hemigway, 98-17-81; R B Worth, 112-30-82; Rev F A Reiss, 106-20-86.

The premier club competition, the 36 hole Challenge Cup, was played on Saturday 25 March 1899, result below. 

Rev A W T Perowne 198 36 162 R B Worth 225 48 177
A C Oldham 180 16 164 H M Newcomb 209 30 179
J P Humphries 170 4 166 J G Welch 228 48 180
E A Mackintosh 196 30 166 A V Glennie 217 36 181
E Bradley 208 38 170 F C Jotham 216 26 190
S Hemingway 199 28 171 T S Lea 219 28 191
Rev F A Reiss 212 36 176        

Result of the monthly medal played on Saturday 7 October 1899. Some low scores were returned, an especially good one was that of Mr E Blackwell who created a new course of 72, as follows; Out - 4,4,4,4,3,4,4,4,3 = 34; Home – 3,4,6,4,4,5,5,4,3 = 38 total 72. This beat the previous record of 74 made by Mr Abell. Result of the medal; E Blackwell, 72 scratch; Rev A W T Perowne, 91-16-75; J F Coney, 96-19-77; S Hemingway, 94-14-80; Rev F A Reiss, 102-19-83; R B Dawson, 102-15-87.

Result of a club match against Worcester City Golf Club played in April 1900 at Kidderminster.

Kidderminster Golf Club   Worcester City Golf Club  
A C Oldham 0 J G Baker 3
F C Jotham 1 H W Spreckley 0
R B Dawson 0 A G Spreckley 7
J F Coney 5 A Graham 0
A Nether 0 W M Binns 6
J G Welch 4 J Walker 0
  10   16

Result of a mixed foursome match played at Kidderminster in April 1900 against the North Warwickshire Golf Club.

Kiddermister Golf Club   North Warwickshire Golf Club  
J P Humphries & Miss Stretton 0 F W Clive & Miss A Steedman 0
G Grindley & Miss M F Humphries 0 S K Thornley & Mrs Fisher 0
A C Oldham & Miss Guest 0 O Crane & Miss E Steedman 1
J W Price Williams & Miss Hawey 4 G Clive & Miss M Thornley 0
S Hemingway & Mrs Bullock 5 R Chinn & Miss Rowles 0
  9   1

Result of a club match played on the Dudley course against Kidderminster in May 1900.

Dudley Golf Club   Kidderminster Golf Club  
A H Bassano 4 W R Nash 0
C W Bassano 7 G Grindley 0
J W Nayler 0 C K Harrison 4
S G Hooper 3 M Oldham 0
J S Morris 0 S Hemmingway 2
W H Thompson 2 J P Coney 0
G B Gibbons 4 R B Dawson 0
H E Garratt 0 L Donisthorpe 1
A W Dando 9 J G Welch 0
  29   7


 

Kidderminster Golf Club, Aggborough. The club look forward to the new season.

Aggborough Farm is shown in the centre of the above map, no golf course marked. © Crown Copyright {1902}

 

Result of the 1903 January medal for the Kidderminster Golf Club; J P Humphries 80+4-84; C P Barton, 98-14-84. The captain’s prize, which was put up again by the previous winner for the best bogey score, resulted as follows; J P Humphries (scratch) 1down; H A Rhodes (12) 1down; A V Moore (12) 1down; E Blackwell (+4) 3down; J G Welch (15) 3down; E N Broome (10) 4down; F C Jotham (14) 5down.

Result of a one sided club match played in April 1903 against Evesham on the Craycombe links. The course was in first class order and the greens were fast and true. It was reported that the home team was superior throughout and doubtless their knowledge of the course had a good deal to do with the heavy score they ran up.

Evesham Golf Club   Kidderminster Golf Club  
J G Baker 12 F C Jotham 0
S H Healing 13 H M Newcombe 0
A G M Graham 2 R Q Watson 0
H B Kingsford 4 E Jotham 0
C G Chambers 13 E A Mackintosh 0
A E Baker 1 J F Coney 0
H J Smith 1 G F Jotham 0
J H Francis 3 J G Welch 0
W B Hulme 4 J Hipkins 0
  53   0

From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Kidderminster Golf Club; Number of members 77, 24 ladies; Hon. secretary – R Brinton, Beechfield, Kidderminster; Captain, C K Harrison; Entrance fee £1/1s, ladies 10s/6d, Subs, £2/2s; Terms for visitors – Not being resident within 3 miles of Kidderminster, on introduction; 1s a day, (ladies 6d,) 2s/6d a week, 7s/6d a month; 18- hole course measuring 4,500 yards.

Below is the result of a match played at Kidderminster against Worcester Golf Club in March 1909.

Kidderminster Golf Club   Worcester Golf Club  
Rev W H Yerburgh (6&4) 1 J Custance 0
A C Oldham (2&1) 1 H W Spreckley 0
E B Worth 0 G W Hancock (3&2) 1
H Saunders (7&5) 1 D B Cross 0
R B Worth (2up) 1 H Byrne 0
Rev. R S Chesshire (2&1) 1 H Pratt 0
R J Boning (2&1) 1 F G Jones 0
J Chessshire (5&3) 1 C H Humphreys 0
Rev. L Sladen 0 W E D Bell (8&7) 1
Rev. J F Kershaw 1 T J Southall (w.o) 1
  8   3

A 36-hole exhibition match was arranged to be played on Wednesday 31st March 1909 between C H Mayo, professional at Burhill and Edward Blackwell, local member. Play was to start at 11.30 am and 2.30 pm, admission 2 shillings. 

The secretary of the club issued the following particulars of the course; Total yardage = 4,685; Bogey, 75. 
 
Hole Name Yards Bogey Hole Name Yards Bogey
1 Valley 250 4 10 Marsh 200 4
2 Hill 174 4 11 Sandwich 475 6
3 Aggborough 250 4 12 Punch Bowl 352 5
4 Orchard 270 4 13 Roadside 430 5
5 Plateau Minor 95 3 14 Plateau Major 185 4
6 Mound  365 5 15 Pavilion 140 3
7 Stour 160 3 16 Valley 250 4
8 Viaduct 435 5 17 Hill 174 4
9 Railway 230 4 18 Aggborough 250 4

It was unusual to stage a professional against amateur match bit it seemed to be popular, attracting an audience of about 200. The scores were; Mayo, 74 (38 and 36); E Blackwell, 75 (37 and 38.)

Result of the monthly medal for January 1910; H R Moore, 84-6-78; G F Jotham, 89-9-80; S H Stretton, 89-6-83; W H S Smith, 100-12-88.

Following WW1 the land was required for development and the course closed.

The Google Map below shows the location of the former Aggborough Farm, location of the earlier golf course.