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Chatsworth Private Golf Course, Derbyshire. (1890s – 1900s)
The first 18-hole course appeared in the late 1890s and was located close to Chatsworth House. It was a course used exclusively by the Devonshire family and their distinguished guests and friends. The main event was the annual Christmas competition.
When the ninth Duke succeeded in 1908 cricket was his favoured sport and a new cricket square and ground was eventually laid to the north, the present location. This meant that six-holes of the original golf course would be lost.
A new nine-hole course for Chatsworth Golf Club was laid out prior to WW1 and this continued until WW2. The course was ploughed up during WW2 to assist with the war effort.
The present club was established in 1964 on the land of the original nine-hole course.
The Ordnance Survey Map below is from the 1890s, unfortunately the original golf course is not marked. It was located to the north of “Queen Mary’s Bower”. There seems to be a cricket square marked in the centre of the map, the golf course would have been in this area.
O.S. Map Revised 1897; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1899}.
Famous names playing on the course in January 1904.
Western Daily Press Thursday 7 January 1904. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Birmingham Daily Post Monday 2 January 1905. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Huddersfield Daily Examiner Thursday 5 January 1905. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Christmas at Chatsworth in 1905.
Evening Despatch Thursday 28 December 1905. Image © Reach plc.
Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 4 January 1906. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From the Birmingham Mail Wednesday 2 January 1907 – “The arrangements for the week of their majesties’ are not yet finally made, and will depend largely upon the prevailing climatic conditions, but it is probable that there will be not only shooting, but motoring and golf. Ben Sayers, J H Taylor and Jack White (professionals), who are well acquainted with the Chatsworth golf course, have been engaged.”
Mid-Lothian Journal Friday 11 January 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Picture of the earlier course in 1907. Note the fenced off greens.
Illustrated London News Saturday 12 January 1907. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From the Derbyshire Times Saturday 1 June 1907 – “Mr Gidlow, of Baslow, who for several years past has, in his capacity as groundsman, been responsible for the excellent state in which the Chatsworth golf links have been kept, has been appointed professional in connection with the Baslow Hydro golf links.”
Below a match played by the Chatsworth Golf Club in 1912. The earlier course had now been abandoned.
Derby Daily Telegraph Tuesday 12 March 1912. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Tom Williamson visits to make alterations and improvements to the course in 1912.
Birmingham Daily Gazette Tuesday 16 July 1912. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the earlier course.