Open Search -

Like us on Facebook


Course Atlas -

Course Atlas


Please consider supporting our efforts.

Amount: 


Weymouth, Dorchester & County Golf Club, Dorset. (1893 - 1924)

Below a match played on the Upwey Links, Broadwey, in August 1893 against West Dorset Golf Club. 

West Dorset Golf Club   Weymouth and Dorchester Golf Club  
F G Templer 5 H Fraser 0
F A Stephens 3 M Portman 0
J T Stephens 0 Col. Tweedle 0
J A Stephens 4 B Bowden 0
J Gundry 2 R S Eaton 0
A N Stephens 0 Major Kentish 4
  14   4

A curious happening during the above match. "One of the West Dorset players hit a ball from a considerable distance into the pocket of a waterproof hanging over some rials, but was fortunate to hit it out with his niblick at the first attempt without injuring the coat."

Below another match against West Dorset Golf Club played in May 1894.

 

Weymouth and Dorchester Golf Club. Result of a match played at West Dorset in May 1894.

From the Bridport News Friday 4th May 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

In 1895 the Dorchester Golf Club was at Broadway Farm on a course known as the Lorton Links. Play here was short lived and land was acquired from Lord Portalington for a new course on Came Down. Dorchester Golf Club came into existence in 1896 and was originally a nine hole course of 3,620yds with a small pavilion style clubhouse.

Below, Tom Dunn visits the new course at Came Down to lay out the new nine-hole course in January 1896.

 

Dorchester Golf Club, Came Down. Tom Dunn visits Came Down in January 1896.

From the Southern Times and Dorset County Herald Saturday 1st February 1896. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Below the result of a match against Weymouth Golf Club at East Chickerell in October 1896.

 

Dorchester Golf Club, Came Down. Result of a match against Weymouth Golf Club in October 1896.

From the Southern Times and Dorset County Herald Saturday 24th October 1896. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

In 1904 it was decided to extend the course to 18 holes and Weymouth Council invited J H Taylor to design the extended course. A new clubhouse was built and a railway halt was provided by the GWR one mile from the course.

This course was opened as the Wymouth, Dorchester and County Golf Club in May 1906. The professional at this time was E A Pursey who continued until 1910.

Below, J H Taylor lays out the 18-hole course for the "New" club.

 

Dorchester Golf Club. J H Taylor lays out new course for Weymouth, Dorchester and County Golf Club.

From the Torquay Times and South Devon Advertiser Friday 14th April 1905. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The famous Whitcombe family became an important part of the development of the WD&C Golf Club with Ernest becoming the professional in 1910. His mother took on the role of stewardess and was accompanied by her two other sons Charles and Reg.

In 1913 the secretary was J Talbot, Statue House, Weymouth. As well as Ernest Whitcombe there was another professional mentioned at this time by the name of P F Beets. Entry fees were, gents £1/1/0 and ladies 10/6. Subs for gents were £2/2/0 and ladies £1/1/0. Visitors’ fees were 1/6 a round, ladies 1/-.

Towards the end of its days in 1924 the secretary at Weymouth Dorchester and County Golf Club was Walter Little the professional was E Whitcombe (1910 to 1925) and the greenkeeper W J Strange. 18 holes with a membership of 330. Course records were, amateur,  Major Grundy 73, professional, E Whitcombe 68. Visitors’ fees were 3/6 a day, ladies 3/-, 15/- a week and 30/- a month. Sunday play was allowed with caddies. There were special terms for naval officers stationed at Portland and for army officers at Dorchester and Bovington. Stations at Came Halt 1 mile, Dorchester 2 miles and Weymouth 5 miles.

In 1923/4 the Weymouth Dorchester and County Golf Club disappeared and Came Down Golf Club appears.

The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the first Upwey Links course at Broadwey Farm.