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Pollards Hill Golf Club, Greater London. (1911 - WW2)

The club was founded in 1911.

Originally named Galpin's Park Golf Club. In April 1913 the course was extended to 18-holes and renamed Pollards Hill Golf Club. 

Below a report on the new golf club.

 

Pollards Hill Golf, Galpins Road, Norbury. Report on the new club in November 1911.

Norwood News Saturday 4 November 1911. © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

Report on the opening of the Galpin's Park Golf Club course on Christmas Day 1911.

 

Galpin's Park Golf Club, Norbury. Opening of the Galpin's Park club and course on Christmas Day 1911.

Croydon Chronicle and East Surrey Advertiser Saturday 13 January 1912. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Below is a report on the course from March 1913. James Braid involved with the bunkering on the course.

The following is from James Braid and his Four Hundred Golf Courses by John F Moreton and Iain Cumming - "One source says Braid bunkered the course which had just changed from nine to twelve-holes. Did he design the three new holes? The second source states that the nine-hole course is being extended to eighteen "by one of the leading professionals" and will be 6,000 yards long. It seems very unlikely that this is not Braid, and the evidence suggests a two-stage move to the eighteen, twelve being ready for play before the last six. Hamer 1913, thoughtfully, gives the yardages of the original nine - 340; 370; 320; 333; 342; 294; 160; 490; 415 = 3,064. There is a similarity of yardage for the first six which no doubt Braid may have altered slightly in accordance with his usual practice, so the new nine may have been inserted between the sixth and seventh."

 

Pollards Hill Golf Club, London. James Braid involved with bunkering on the course.

Westminster Gazette Wednesday 26 March 1913. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

From the Norwood News Saturday 19 April 1913 - "The Pollards Hill Golf Club, Ltd., Pollards Hill South, Norbury, has taken over the Galpin's Park Golf Club, and has decided to make the course 18-holes."

Result of the May 1913 medal; Senior - R J Keates, 108-12-96; Junior - T S Evans, 109-20-89.

Result of the June 1913 monthly medal; Senior - A W Johnson and R J Keates, 100-10-90; Junior - L R Merrifield, 99-24-75.

In 1914 the secretary was T G H Thomas, 7 Galpin's Road, Thornton Heath. The professional was G A Cassidy. An 18-hole course with a membership of 350. There was no entry fee and the subs were £4/4/0. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day, 2/- a day at weekends and Bank Holidays. Sunday play was allowed with caddies. The station was at Norbury (LB&SCR). A tram service ran to within 4 minutes walk of the course.

Below is the result of a match played in September 1914 at Beaulah Hill Golf Club. 

Beulah Hill Golf Club   Pollards Hill Golf Club  
Mr Rogers 0 Mr Egginton 1
Mr Davies 1 Mr Wright 0
Mr French 0 Mr Robson 1
Mr Breuninger 1 Mr Keates 0
Mr Gibberd 1 Mr Elsworthy 0
Mr Dowsett 0 Mr Johnson 1
Mr Aster (halved) 0 Mr Mills (halved) 0
Mr Quiney 1 Mr Thomas 0
  4   3

Result of a match against Beulah Hill played on Saturday 3 July 1915.

Beulah Hill Golf Club   Pollards Hill Golf Club  
F G Breuninger 1 A W Johnson 0
F H E Rogers 0 I Edington 1
R Crawford 1 R W Robson 0
L W Arter 1 J Webber 0
J F Dowsett 1 J E Rogers 0
F Gibberd 1 C Richardson 0
H Ward 0 G Winchester 1
J C Pidgeon (halved) 0 T A Jones (halved) 0
A L Lickley 1 P E Bradley 0
D Brown 1 W B Walker 0
  7   2

Holiday competitions in April 1919; Good Friday stroke competition - E Taylor Platt and H Thurston Harris tied on 80 net; ladies' competition - Miss G Rigby, 102 net; Saturday bogey competition - F M Ellworthy and H Thurston Harris tied on 7 down; stroke competition - C Stone, 80 net; Easter Monday foursomes - A Smith and J Cleaver, 87 net; mixed foursomes - Miss M Kingsbury and H Clark, 93 net.

Captain's prize played in May 1919; T C Campbell, 97-18-79; A F T Campbell, 91-11-80; Jack Livesey, 100-18-82; J Cleaver, 100-18-82.

Result of the November 1919 monthly bogey;  Senior - H C Glaister (10) 1down; Junior - C Stone (15) 2down.

From 1920 to 1926 the secretary was Thomas F Ayling, “Kobe” Pollards Hill, London, telephone Streatham 1563. The professional was P Fox and the green-keeper J Wallis. Membership was 400. Course records were, amateur J Edington with a score of 76 and professional C Johns 65. Visitors’ fee were 2/6 a day, weekend and Bank Holidays 7/6 a day. Sunday play was allowed with caddies.

The 36-hole Pollards Hill Cup competition was played in May 1923 and won by E A Swain.

Result of the July 1923 monthly medal; Senior - A Simpson, 91-14-77; Junior - A H Close, 90-24-66.

1923 August holiday bogey competition; Senior - V D Chapman (14) 2up; Junior - S A Letts (22) 2up. Bogey foursomes - G Hales and D Monkford (19) 5up. Stroke competition; Seniors - V D Chapman, 87-14-73; Junior - S A Letts, 90-22-78. Monthly medal; Senior - G H Dams, 83-12-71; Junior - A Whitley, 88-18-71.

In the final of the Victory Cup played in July 1925 E R Welsh beat H MacKenzie by 4 and 3.

The annual prize presentation took place in October 1925. Mr J Lovell-Browne, captain, was in the chair, and Mrs Lovell Browne presented the prizes; Club Championship, J B Henry; Victory Cup, E R Welsh; Old Sports Cup, Gordon Hales; Pollards Hill Cup, Gordon Hales; Captain's Prize, Gordon Hales; Vice-Captain's Prize; A Campbell and J Pearson; Charity Cup - April, Gordon Hales - October, W Clapham; Mixed Foursomes, Miss Montford and S Letts; Ladies' Section - Club Championship, Miss B Ayling; Carey Cup, Mrs McAllister; Williams Cup, Letts' Cup, Mrs A W Johnson. At the termination of the prize giving Mr W G Pike, secretary, gave the results of the club matches.

Result of a match played at Bearstead Golf Club in September 1926.

Bearstead Golf Club   Pollards Hill Golf Club  
E J Coltman and W Stirling 0 D E Montford and D E F Alexander 1
J Tomlin and C Bradley 1 G Hales and H Clegg 0
W Hubble and P A Smith 0 S A Letts and W J Lethby 1
H G Batchelor and L Oldfield 1 W G Pike and A H Close 0
S R Holness and H G Hoad 1 C H Maxwell and H C Plummer 0
A Watkinson and J Stuffins 1 G Bennett and E H Parris 0
L P Hadden and R H Peters 1 A Toms and P D Kirk 0
J Meades and E A Foord 1 C E Montford and J T Hepburn 0
  6   2

 

Pollards Hill Golf Club, Norbury. Pollards Hill Golf Club scorecard dated September 1927.

 

Pollards Hill Golf Club, Norbury. Pollards Hill Golf Club scorecard dated September 1927.

Pollards Hill Golf Club scorecard dated 1 September 1927.

 

From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Membership of 350; secretary, J Agerup; professional, F Fox; green-keeper, J Mortimer; course records; amateur - B D Smith, 68; professional, F Cox, 66; visitors, 2s/6d a day; weekend and bank holiday, 5s.

Result of a mixed greensome medal played in August 1934; Miss B Ayling and W C Lunn, 74-10-64; Mrs Henderson and E H Parris, 80-13-67; Mr and Mrs Jervis, 82-14-68; Mr and Mrs Bartlett, 79-11-68; Mrs L Brown and M R Smith, 91-23-68; Mrs Rogers and F Minchin, 89-20-69.

Result of the November 1934 monthly medal; Senior - A G Berwick, 79-14-65; Junior - P Cowderoy, 92-24-68. Monthly bogey; Senior - D G Wright (8) all square; Junior - tied between A W Rice (24) and C H Flay (24) 3 down.

Result of the May 1935 medal; Division 1 - A Bray, 66; Division 2 - W R Smith, 73.

 

Pollards Hill Golf Club, London. From The Bystander January 1936.

 

Pollards Hill Golf Club, London. From Caption from the The Bystander January 1936.

Above images from the Bystander 22 January 1936. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

In August 1938 the monthly four-ball bogey was won by N G Josling (6) and Dr. Miller. The winner of the Cathcart Harris Cup was Dr. Miller. The preliminary round of the Old Sports Cup Competition was also played; W R Smith, 76-13-63; H G Harding, 81-16-65; A G Barwick, 75-9-66; Major D Vyle, 79-12-67; D G Wright, 71-3-68; F S Pratt, 86-18-68; N Wright, 81-12-69; N G Josling, 75-6-69.

Below is the result of a match played against Beckenham Golf Club in April 1939.

 

Pollards Hill Golf Club, Norbury, London. Match result from April 1939.

From the Norwood News Friday 28 April 1939. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

It was reported in March 1940 that an exhibition match was to be played in April between T H Cotton and S L King against A H Padgham and W J Cox. The public to be admitted to the course for 2s/6d with the proceeds going to the Sportsman's Red Cross Fund.

Advert from May 1940.

 

Pollards Hill Golf Club, London. Advert from May 1940.

From the Norwood News Friday 17tApril 1940. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

The club disappeared at the time of WW2 when the secretary was G J Belcher, 37 Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath, telephone 3052. The professional was F Cox and the green-keeper J Mortimer. The 18-hole course had a SSS and Par of 70 and a membership of 350. Course records were, amateur B D Smith 68 and professional F Cox 66. Visitors’ fees were now 2/6 a day, weekends and Bank Holiday 5/- a day.

The death was announced in November 1940 of George Belcher. He had been secretary of the Pollardsh Hill Golf Club for seven years, he was a great friend of Henry Cotton.

On Sunday 15 August 1942 an 18-hole four-ball match was played in aid of the "Daily Sketch" War Relief Fund. Sam King and Wanda Morgan played Abe Mitchell and Maureen Ruttle. The spectators witnessed a very close match, and the course, despite the demands of war time, was in good condition.  The match was won by Sam King and Wanda Morgan with a birdie four on the final hole.

 

Pollards Hill Golf Club, London. Location of the former  golf course.

Location of the Pollards Hill course in 1938.