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West Hove Golf Club, Shoreham Road Course, Brighton. (1910 - 1990s)
The club was founded in 1910 with an 18-hole course on Old Shoreham Road on the borders of Hove and Portslade. The 6,150 yard course was laid out by James Braid.
It was reported in July 1910 that a match between James Braid and J H Taylor was to be played in September to mark the formal opening of the West Hove Golf Club. Unfortunately Taylor sustained minor facial injuries and a sprained wrist in a car accident in Manchester. Although the injuries were not serious he decided not o play at Portslade.
The course was formally opened on the 22 September 1910, Harry Vardon filling in at short notice for the injured Taylor. Braid won the match with a score 76, beating Vardon by two shots.
From The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News Saturday 1 October 1910. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The Bystander Wednesday 2 November 1910. Image © Illustrated London News Group.
Result of the Founders Cup played in October 1911; Sydney Johnson and W H Wallace tied at 5 down.
In 1913 the secretary was Fred J Pettyfer, Club House, Portslade. Club membership of 280. Entrance fee £3/3/0 subs £3/3/0. 18 holes with a total length of 6,150 yards, good clubhouse with accommodation. Professional was J W Moore. Course records; amateur, Captain J S Armstrong 74, professional Fred J Pettyfer 74. Visitors' fees 1/6 a day, 5/- a week.
Layout of both the main and ladies' golf courses in the early 1920s. Image courtesy of Christoph Meister.
In December 1922 Mr Arthur Bourchier, a new recruit to the club, made a speech at the annual dinner held at the historic Royal Pavilion. He proposed "The Visitors" and "Absent Friends". The latter he coupled with the name of Mr George Dance, a well known member of the club, who has recently presented the Dance Cup for competition. Sir George Dance was a president at the West Hove club. (Arthur Bourchier was an English actor and theatre manager)
Below is the result of a match played at Goodwood Golf Club on Saturday 2nd June 1923.
| Goodwood Golf Club | West Hove Golf Club | ||
| S St B Emmott | 0 | D F S Smith (3&2) | 1 |
| E Wallace Ash | 0 | H Brown (2up) | 1 |
| H Blunt (2&1) | 1 | W Hopkins | 0 |
| F Stride | 0 | W G Cullimore (4&3) | 1 |
| J Walker | 0 | Leslie Carr (5&4) | 1 |
| N F Shaw | 0 | H Hughes (4&3) | 1 |
| H Mann (3&2) | 1 | F Leaver | 0 |
| H N Matthews | 0 | A A Ross (3&2) | 1 |
| S St B Emmott & F Stride | 0 | D F S Smith & W G Cullimore (3&2) | 1 |
| E Wallace Ash & H Blunt (2&1) | 1 | H Brown & H Hughes | 0 |
| J Walker & H Mann | 0 | Leslie Carr & W Hopkins (1up) | 1 |
| N F Shaw & H N Matthews (half) | 0 | F Leaver A A Ross (half) | 0 |
| 3 | 8 |
In 1932/3 the secretary was Fred J Pettyfer, and the professional W R Thomson. It was listed as having 18-holes and 9-holes. Club membership of 500. Course records; amateur, J E Stephenson 68; professional, C Thomson 68. Visitors' fees 4/- a day (2/6 a round), 5/- at weekend.
West Hove Golfers from The Tatler 18 April 1934. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Golfers in the above picture. Top left to right; D F (Douglas) Dundas Smith, Captain 1917/18, Twice Champion of Sussex; Fred J Pettyfer, who has been Secretary since 1910; Thomson, the Professional, who joined in 1917; John Davey, the oldest member.
Middle row; Freddie Wells, Captain 1931; Dr W L Watt, present Captain; The Eleventh Green; Bill Moir, Captain, 1925/26; A J Clark, Hon Treasurer and Captain in 1924.
Bottom row; Marsden, The Steward; Johnnie Walker, Captain 1930; F B Goddard, Captain 1933; J S Stephenson, Triple Oxford Blue, Cricket, Soccer and Golf. Plays of scratch, finest player in the club.
Golf Clubs at Home - West Hove May 1936.
From The Bystander Wednesday 6 May 1936. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The captain in November 1936 was A H Self.
On Saturday 20 August 1938 the blind British golfer, William H J Oxenham, a West Hove member, competed for the "world blind golfers championship" over 18 holes at the Ridgeview golf course Duluth, Minesota, against Clinton Russell, Duluth.
In an interview Oxenham stated that he had never played golf before he went blind. He had been playing for five years. "I play golf like anybody else" he said "My caddy merely puts the club head against the ball, tells me the distance, and I hit it."
In April 1939 George Shepherd, the popular Cruden Bay assistant, was appointed professional at West Hove.
George Shepherd the West Hove professional.
At the time of WW2 the secretary was R L Brown the professional G Shepherd and the greenkeeper H R Nicholls. The 18 hole course had a SSS of 74. Professional course record held by C Thomson 68. There was a station at Portslade 300 yards from the course. Visitors’ fees were 5/- a day (3/6 a round) 10/- ( 7/6) at weekend and Bank Holidays.
Just prior to the clubs move in 1990 the secretary was R Charman and the professional C White. The 18 holes was 6,038 yards with a SSS of 69. Course records were, amateur N O’Byrne 66, professional C Moody 62. Visitors’ fees were £20 (£25).
With the construction of the Brighton by-pass the West Hove club relocated to Badgers Way on the South Downs in 1991.
The Braid course at Portslade was lost forever.
Course scorecard.
Below is the location of the Portslade course in the 1930s.
Location of the former course in the 1930s. Grid reference, TQ26130,07000, co-ordinates 526130,107000.