Please consider supporting our efforts.
| 
| Hits: 5398
Worcestershire Golf Club, Malvern Common Course. (1880 - 1925)
The club was founded in 1880 and before moving to Malvern Common played for a short time on a course on Poolbrook Common.
The clubhouse on the Common at Great Malvern was designed by Lewis Shephard and built at a cost of £1,000; it opened on the 2nd of June 1883.
The club moved to its current location at Wood Farm in 1925.
Early picture of the Golf House & Links, Malvern Wells. Image from Frank Accleton.
The first annual meeting of the club was held at the Star Hotel on Friday 15th April 1881 with Major Clowes in the chair. Also present; General Hawkins, Rev H Foster, T H Belcher, W E Bolland, J Swinton Isaac, J D Onley, R V Berkeley, T H Ashton, G Abell, Herbert Goldingham, R Taylor, Major Hill, Captain Owen, Captain Bearcroft and Captain Dodeswell.
The chairman congratulated the club on the first year. It had been a difficult start but many of the initial problems had now been overcome. It was stated that “a capital green had been formed” with membership of the club also on the increase.
The club had employed P Paxton of Musselburgh as professional. General Hawkins, the hon. treasurer, presented the balance sheet which showed a balance in hand of about £15. The Hon. R C Moncrieff was re-elected as captain; General Hawkins was re-elected treasurer; T H Ashton was appointed as hon. secretary and Captain Domville financial hon. secretary. The following were elected to serve on the committee; Messrs. Abell, Belcher, R V Berkeley, W E Bolland, Major Clowes, Major Decie, Captain Dowdeswell, J Swinto Isaac, H Foster and G E Martin.
Result of the June Handicap 1881; A C McTavish, 114-40-74; H Goldingham, 122-40-82; E A Upcott, 99-99-16-83; J Swinton Isaac, 102-18-84; Rev. the Hon. R C Moncrieff, 86 scratch; Rev T H Belcher, 104-16-88; G E M Taylor, 123-35-88; Rev W E Bolland, 106-16-90; E J Onley, 123-31-92; E H Clarke, 119-25-94; Major Decie, 104-6-98; Rev W W Vevers, 129-30-99; Captain Domville, 134-30-104; E A Davis, 151-40-111. No returns from Capt. Dowdeswell and Capt. Bearcroft.
The following is an extract from The Golfing Annual 1888/89; "Worcestershire Golf Club, Malvern - Instituted 1880; Entrance fee, £2 and Subs £1/10s, locker 5s extra; Membership of 182; Presidents - Right Hon. Earl Beauchamp and Right Hon, Earl of Coventry; Captain R H Foster, Malvern College; Hon. Secretary - Henry Dyke Acland, Old Bank, Malvern; Green-keeper, Douglas Rolland.
Club Prizes; Club Gold Medal (scratch), played for at the spring meeting, winner to be Captain for the year; Challenge Clock; Malvern Challenge Claret Jug; Silver Challenge Salver; Silver Challenge Inkstand; Whitsun Cup; Senior and Junior medals.
The club green is situated on Malvern Common, the Clubhouse being about 200 yards from the Malvern Wells station. The course consists of 18-holes, the longest being about 440 yards. The chief hazards are ponds, ditches, roads and old gravel pits. The putting greens are carefully looked after, and run very keen. Malvern is one of the best inland greens in England. The new addition to the course makes it probably the best.
In September 1889 that when playing with Major Lewes, Douglas Rolland, the Malvern Professional, had an extraordinary round, as follows; first round - 5,5,4,4,4,3,4,4,4 = 37; second round - 4,5,4,4,4,2,4,3,4 = 34 - total = 71. The previous record for eighteen-holes was 77."
Result of the monthly competition played in February 1890. The course had been considerably lengthened by the tees being set back. It was also rather heavy, which may account for the high scores and many torn up cards. Result; A S Archdale, 109-23-86; Rev H Foster, 90-3-87; E F Chance, 95-3-92; W E Patterson, 106-14-92; J Foord-Kelcey, 107-14-93; F Parker, 116-22-94.
The March monthly competition in 1890 was played in a strong NW wind. There was considerable interest in the outcome as the conditions of the competition stated that three wins entitle permanent possession of the trophy. It had already been won twice by several members. For a long time it looked as though Mr Foord-Kelcey, who had won the competition twice, would keep the cup with his score of 85, but the very last card handed in deprived him of the satisfaction. The winner showed a remarkable instance of the proverbial ups and downs of golf, his round on the lower course of 57 and on the upper 44.
| E G Bromley Martin | 101 | 19 | 82 |
| J Foord-Kelcey | 99 | 14 | 85 |
| J N Swann | 101 | 15 | 86 |
| C Toppin | 96 | 9 | 87 |
| Capt W F Hawkins RE | 106 | 19 | 87 |
| Rev H Foster | 91 | 3 | 88 |
| F Parker | 110 | 22 | 88 |
| Major W L Lewes | 98 | 9 | 89 |
| C W Horsburgh | 97 | 7 | 90 |
| A S Archdale | 113 | 23 | 90 |
| Rev C Black | 107 | 16 | 91 |
| J B Bubb | 118 | 25 | 93 |
| W M Binns | 108 | 14 | 94 |
| R E Lyon | 121 | 25 | 96 |
| C E Moilliet | 117 | 19 | 98 |
| A C Cherry | 115 | 16 | 99 |
| H D Acland | 122 | 16 | 106 |
This is the first time I found the reference upper and lower course used and it could explain the courses on the diagram below.
Result of the gent's Whitsuntide Meeting held in May 1890. The Rev H Foster's score of 80 was a course record, and he won Mr A M Chance's prize for the best scratch score. Colonel Prescott Decie's prize for the best half round went to Rev C Black, net 35. Iron Club prize, Mr W Lucy, score 43.
| Rev H Foster | 80 | 3 | 77 | H W Buck | 108 | 21 | 87 | F H Ashton | 101 | 8 | 93 |
| Rev M A Bayfield | 98 | 19 | 79 | S A S Featherstonbaugh | 106 | 19 | 87 | H A S Upton | 109 | 15 | 94 |
| A H Lachmere | 99 | 20 | 79 | Hon & Rev R C Moncrieff | 96 | 8 | 88 | R R Brown | 120 | 25 | 95 |
| Rev C Black | 97 | 16 | 81 | Colonel Prescott Decie | 91 | 3 | 88 | H Goldingham | 115 | 20 | 95 |
| Rev L J Fish | 100 | 18 | 82 | Dr Crowe | 114 | 25 | 89 | W M Binns | 110 | 14 | 96 |
| J N Swann | 94 | 11 | 83 | W Lucy | 107 | 18 | 89 | E Wight | 113 | 17 | 96 |
| H C Fitton | 99 | 16 | 83 | R V Berkeley | 113 | 23 | 90 | A E Lord | 123 | 25 | 98 |
| C W Horsburgh | 90 | 4 | 86 | Rev W E Bolland | 103 | 13 | 90 | Major Lewes | 108 | 9 | 99 |
| F Hookham | 111 | 25 | 86 | W E Paterson | 105 | 14 | 91 | Hon J E Cross | 140 | 25 | 115 |
In August 1890 the monthly competition was for a cup presented by Mr T Hyde. R R Brown won the junior medal and the cup, Mr Binns won the senior medal.
| R R Brown | 102 | 25 | 77 |
| W M Binns | 96 | 14 | 82 |
| Rev C Black | 98 | 15 | 83 |
| W E Paterson | 96 | 13 | 83 |
| Major G G Clowes | 96 | 12 | 84 |
| R V Berkeley | 109 | 23 | 86 |
| J W Jeakes | 115 | 25 | 90 |
| Captain O S Vale | 112 | 22 | 90 |
| Dr J P Bookless | 103 | 10 | 93 |
Below is the result of a match played at Oxford on Saturday 12th November 1892. Included in the Worcestershire team was Harry S Colt who played his early golf at Malvern.
| Oxford University | Worcestershire | ||
| H J Whigham | 0 | E H Blackwell | 1 |
| F H Stewart | 0 | Rev H Foster | 6 |
| R B Pearson | 0 | H S Colt | 6 |
| P Balfour | 2 | E F Chance | 0 |
| L Robertson | 10 | E G M Carmichael | 0 |
| H T Knight | 3 | L S Milward | 0 |
| R H Dunn | 7 | Rev C Black | 0 |
| H Nicholls | 0 | A S Archdale | 1 |
| Viscount Encombe | 0 | W M Binns | 5 |
| R Lodge | 0 | H D Acland | 3 |
| F H Campion | 4 | H K Foster | 0 |
| 26 | 22 |
Famous composer Edward Elgar, a resident of Malvern, took up golf in late 1892 and became a member of the Worcestershire club in March 1893. One of his playing companions was probably Henry Dyke Acland, a cello-player he was also club treasurer and manager of the bank in Malvern. Obviously most of his time was taken up writing his music but Elagar enjoyed getting away from his composing and he became a keen golfer.
Result of the June 1895 monthly medal.
"Golf" Friday 21 June 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below, result of a match between Worcestershire Golf Club and Worcestershire (Malvern) Working Men’s Golf Club played in April 1899.
| Worcestershire Golf Club | Malvern Working Men's Golf Club | ||
| W W Lowe | 0 | G Cawsey | 3 |
| R E Foster | 0 | W Whiting | 1 |
| G H Nevile | 0 | H Cawsey | 0 |
| A S Archdale | 0 | G Whiting | 11 |
| G Ashmore | 0 | T Powell | 5 |
| J Burrows | 0 | T Lewis | 3 |
| Rev P Ward | 0 | G White | 4 |
| Rev C Black | 0 | W H Smith | 1 |
| G Rogers | 0 | H M Mansell | 0 |
| P H L'Estrange | 5 | F Smith | 0 |
| H H House | 11 | W Vernall | 0 |
| R R Brown | 1 | C White | 0 |
| J W Jeakes | 9 | F White | 0 |
| Rev F H Fowler | 1 | W Evans | 0 |
| 27 | 28 |
From The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News October 6th 1900. Above Images © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News January 4th 1908. Images © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1910 there was a membership of 200. The Rt Hon Earl of Coventry and Sir Henry F Lambert both, presidents; William Everden Paterson, hon sec: P W Blaythwayt, captain; Richard Smith, steward; George Causey, professional.
Worcestershire Ladies Golf Club, secretary Miss Ethel Nevile.
In 1912 membership stood at approximately 250. Presidents: the Rt Hon Earl of Coventry, Sir Henry F Grey bart; G G Fraser, captain; John Rogers, hon treasurer; Richard Smith, steward; George Causey, professional.
Worcestershire Ladies, secretary. Miss Carr.
Above is a pre-WW1 postcard showing “Malvern Golf Club House and Hills.”
Layout of the course prior to WW1.
Result of the 1914 August monthly competition; Lord Deerhurst, 87-12-75; J Nelson, 97-14-83; A C Allen, 89-5-84; W A Crosbee, 91-7-84; J E Hollington, 92-6-86; Dr W W Horton, 101-11-90.
Scorecard for the Malvern Common course from the 1920s
Gold Medal for the MWMGC won by J Whiting in 1922. Images courtesy http://www.oldsportsauction.com/
Below is the result of a match played at Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, on Saturday 29th September 1923.
| Cheltenham Golf Club | Worcestershire Golf Club | ||
| Rev W H B Yerburgh (half) | 0 | W W Lowe (half) | 0 |
| J P Winterbotham | 0 | C F A Friddian Green (1up) | 1 |
| W S Whitehouse (half) | 0 | G G Fraser (half) | 0 |
| R B Pettyjohn (1up) | 1 | F W Olive | 0 |
| J G Baker (2up) | 1 | Major A F Jonsson | 0 |
| C J S Clemmons (2&1) | 1 | H Steynor | 0 |
| K F Tarrant (half) | 0 | H S Preston (half) | 0 |
| P Haddock | 0 | W S Grace (4&3) | 1 |
| W M Alford (2&1) | 1 | H W Spreckley | 0 |
| 4 | 2 |
The course on Malvern Common with two clubhouses marked. The current Worcestershire Golf Club course is marked to the south.
Below is a Google Map pinpointing the location of the early West Common course.