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Dunstable (Grammar School) Golf Club, Beds. (1890s - 1909)
First mention of a golf club was in November 1893.
Report from the Herts Advertiser Saturday 18 November 1893 - "Golf Club - Arrangements are being made to form a golf club in Dunstable."
During the 1890s and 1900s two clubs are listed in the Golfing Annual and the Golfers Guide; Dunstable School Golf Club with a short course laid out in Dunstable Park; and Dunstable Golf Club with a course on the Downs.
The current Dunstable West Downs Golf Club was founded in 1906 as Dunstable Golf Club. It became Dunstable West Downs in the 1920s.
From the Golfers Guide 1895 – “Dunstable – Of so recent a date as 15 March last, we read that the indefatigable Tom Dunn has just finished laying out a short course on the Downs at Dunstable.
Below is a mention of golf on the Downs in November 1895.
Luton Times and Advertiser 29 November 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a match played by Dunstable Park Golf Club against Bedford Golf Club in December 1895.
Leighton Buzzard Observer and Linslade Gazette Tuesday 31 December 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The Golfing Annual 1897/98 – Dunstable Grammar School Golf Club. Membership as per title.
Result of a match against Grovebury Golf Club played in February 1897.
Golf Friday 5 March 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Golfing Annual 1898/99 – Dunstable Golf Club. No details; Dunstable Grammar School Golf Club, membership as per title.
Dunstable Park can be seen on the Ordnance Survey Map below, golf course not marked.
O.S. Map Revised 1900© Crown Copyright {year of publication 1902}.
Early picture of the Dunstable Grammar School.
The following information appears in The Golfing Annual from 1900 to 1907 – Dunstable Golf Club. The course consists of nine-holes varying in length 130 to 440 yards, par 35; Dunstable Grammar School Golf Club.
In 1902 the amateur record was held by E E Apthorp with a score of 34. Local hotel was the Red Lion.
The article below mentions a number of golfers representing the “Dunstable Golf Club” at the annual dinner of the East Finchley Golf Club (now defunct) in February 1902.
Luton Times and Finchley Advertiser Friday 14 February 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
E E Apthorp joined the school from Cambridge where he was a notable golfer. He together with messrs. Thring and Brown where the leading lights in the foundation of Dunstable Golf Club.
Luton Times and Advertiser Friday 9 September 1904. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED/
There is no mention for Dunstable Golf Club or Dunstable Grammar School Golf Club in the Nisbet’s 1905 Golf Yearbook.
The professional at Dunstable School Golf Club in 1906 was Tom Brown.
Dunstable Gazette reported that the Grammar School Golf Club had ceased in 1909 and the residual funds were given to Dunstable Golf Club for their bunker construction fund.