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Tankerton and Whitstable Golf Club, South Street Course. (1907 - 1917)
Preliminary report on the Tankerton and Whistable Golf Club in August 1907
From The Canterbury Journal and Farmers’ Gazette Saturday 31 August 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below is a report on the development of the club in November 1907. Interesting that it’s referred to as Tankerton Golf Club.
From The Canterbury Journal and Farmers’ Gazette 9 November 1907. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The above O.S map shows South Street unfortunately no golf course marked at this time. © Crown Copyright {1907.}
John Keddie lays out the golf course in December 1907.
East of Fife Record Friday 20 December 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The course was formally opened in July 1908 by the Right Hon. A Akers Douglas. In his speech he said that owing to an accident some years ago he had become a non-playing member, despite this he was determined to drive the first ball and declare the course open. He then thanked the Tankerton Estate Company for providing the land for the excellent golf course. Mr Keddie, the professional, was congratulated on the progress made on the course in such a short time. The recent heavy rain had made the course very heavy, the course had suffered because of this. After lunch Mr Akers Douglas hit the opening drive, this was followed by a match against the now defunct Herne Bay Golf Club.
The representatives of the two clubs as follows; Tankerton & Whistable – P Cathie, C Downs Butcher, J MacGibbon, J Beare, E Nelson Hole, M Berkeley, J Hay-Hill, T R Sales (Captain), J Keddie (Professional); Herne Bay – G Tassell, W Hawcombe, R Wells, C Jennings, R Arbon, J Smith, H Wacher, E Bell, C Collard (Captain), R Randell (Professional).
The following is a report on the course shortly after the opening “The course was opened for play last May with a preliminary nine holes; the full eighteen holes were opened in July. We went round the whole course, and, although one must make allowances for newness, it has undoubtedly fine sporting possibilities, and is already in distinctly good order. The club is fortunate in having the services of a good professional in J Keddie who obviously knows his work. During the coming winter a great deal of work is to be done to improve the course. The first nine holes are somewhat monotonous. Only the seventh possesses natural features but still we have known many a links with nothing better. But the second nine are ideal for a man who wants a sporting game. The tenth hole, for instance, 400 yards in length, has a broad brook and hedge in front of the tee, which properly catches the duffer or the topped. Beyond that are two appallingly high bunkers, while the ground is guarded by a convenient ditch to catch the over pitched ball. The eleventh, a short hole, has also delightful possibilities, being one of those which, with a 3 bogey, may easily take three to nine strokes. The fifteenth is also an excellent hole. The course is hardly likely to be favourite with the card and pencil brigade. The bogey is 78. Some of the greens stand in need of further preparation, but, considering the short time they have been down, the condition is marvellous, and reflects every credit on the club professional. A convenient clubhouse has also been erected and altogether the members have every reason to be grateful to the Estate Company for the foresight they have shown”
Charles Newman-Robinson was the owner and mastermind of the Tankerton Bay Estate Company who owned the land the course sat on. He was also a barrister and was called to the Bar in Inner Temple at the same time as Akers-Douglas. So it's overwhelmingly likely they knew each other and were good friends.
One of the trophies which was presented to the Tankerton & Whitstable golf club by Charles Newman-Robinson in 1909 is now competed for at Whitstable & Seasalter Golf Course.
Postcard of the clubhouse and golf links Tankerton-on-Sea. Image courtesy of Frank Accleton.
Below is the result of a match played at Whitstable against Faversham Golf Club in June 1909.
| Tankerton and Whitstable Golf Club | Faversham Golf Club | ||
| C Powers | 0 | V Smith | 1 |
| R J Arton | 0 | E C Philips | 1 |
| J B Sumner | 1 | A Smith | 0 |
| S Anderson | 0 | H Morris | 1 |
| Colonel Grainger | 1 | A Thomas | 0 |
| J W Riddell | 1 | H Cook | 0 |
| J Ogden | 1 | H Kerrison | 0 |
| G W Jones | 1 | E C Neame | 0 |
| C Powers and R J Arton | 0 | V Smith and E C Philips | 1 |
| J B Sumner and J W Riddell | 1 | A Smith and H Cook | 0 |
| Colonel Grainger and S Anderson | 1 | A Thomas and H Morris | 0 |
| J Ogden and G W Jones | 1 | H Kerrison and E C Neame | 0 |
| 8 | 4 |
Below is the result of a match played between Tankerton & Whitstable Golf Club and Herne Bay Golf Club (now defunct) on the 17 July 1909.
| Tankerton & Whitstable Golf Club | Herne Bay Golf Club | ||
| R J Arton | 1 | R Wells | 0 |
| Carol Powers | 1 | C Hawkins | 0 |
| J B Sumner (half) | 0 | J Wacher (half) | 0 |
| S Anderson | 1 | A Smith | 0 |
| C Downs Butcher | 1 | Captain Nicolay | 0 |
| J W Riddell | 0 | C Danson | 1 |
| W G Small | 1 | E W Gill | 0 |
| J Ogden | 0 | A Wacher | 1 |
| G W Jones | 0 | Courtenay Foster | 1 |
| G D Keddie | 1 | R Randall | 0 |
| Arton and Keddie | 1 | Wells and Randall | 0 |
| Powers and Sumner | 1 | J Wacher and Hawkins | 0 |
| Anderson and Butcher | 1 | Nicolay and Smith | 0 |
| Riddell and Small | 0 | Gill and Danson | 1 |
| Ogden and Jones | 0 | Foster and A Wacher | 1 |
| 9 | 5 |
The following report from July 1913 gives some indication as to the location of the course. “The Tankerton & Whitstable Golf Club’s links, which are situated about ten minutes’ walk from South Street Halt on the Canterbury & Whitstable railway, are proving most popular this year, the fine 18-hole course being in fine condition. The captain of the club (Mr H E Tester) is presenting two cups for competition, one for a mixed foursome and one for gentlemen.”
The following entered for the mixed foursome competition; Miss Bauerkeller & E Cox, Mr & Mrs Howard, Miss Richardson & G W Jones, Mrs Matthews & F H Featherstone, Mrs Sumner & J B Sumner, Miss L Bigglestone & H C Page, Mrs Leeming & W T Leeming, Miss Hunt & H Tester, Miss M Bigglestone & B J Fisk-Moore, Mrs Sworn & E V Dean, Mrs Hill & C D Caruthers, Miss Ginder & W Wood, Miss M Kirkby & J W Riddell.
Below is the result of a match played on the Tankerton course against Faversham Golf Club on Saturday 26 July 1913. (Again the club is referred to as Tankerton.)
| Tankerton Golf Club | Faversham Golf Club | ||
| J B Sumner | 1 | Colonel A Hooper | 0 |
| S Anderson | 1 | Colonel B Dyne | 0 |
| J W Riddell | 0 | W E Neame | 1 |
| Mr Leeming | 0 | C Morris | 1 |
| G W Jones | 0 | J F Jackman | 1 |
| Mr De Lay | 0 | J Cremer | 0 |
| Mr Tester | 0 | E Packham | 1 |
| Mr Kemp | 0 | E Smith | 1 |
| Sumner and Anderson | 1 | Hooper and Dyne | 0 |
| Riddell and Leeming | 0 | Neame and Morris | 1 |
| Jone and De Lay | 0 | Jackman and Cremer | 1 |
| Tester and Dean | 1 | Packham and Smith | 0 |
| 4 | 7 |
In 1913/4 the secretary was A A Kemp, 3 Tower Parade, Whitstable, telephone Whitstable 37. An 18-hole course of over 6,000 yards with natural hazards and a membership of 120. Entry fees were £1/1/0 and subs £2/2/0. Visitors, fees were; 2/6 a day, 10/- a week and £1/1/0 a month. Sunday play allowed with caddies. The stations at Whitstable Town and Harbour were 1 ¼ miles away.
Advert showing The Famous "Island" Hole in August 1914.
Faversham Times and Mercury and North-East Kent Journal Saturday 22 August 1914. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The club and course to close in April 1917.
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald Saturday 17 March 1917. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The Google Map below shows the area around the former South Street Halt which was a ten minute walk from the former golf course.