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Lincoln Golf Club, West Common Course. (1891 - 1903)
Golf was being played in Lincoln before the club was formally set up on a few holes off Nettleham Road.
Lincoln Golf Club at West Common was founded in February 1891.
The club leased land adjoining Carholme Race Course for £100 per year. The 9-hole course, laid out by Willie Park was opened on Thursday 5 March 1891. There were 40 members, paying an entrance fee of one guinea, and annual subs of the same amount. The club-room was situated in the racecourse grandstand. The Club adopted a uniform of red jackets with London green collars and brass buttons engraved “Lincoln GC 1891”. Past presidents still wear red jackets at the Club’s annual dinner.
At the AGM held at the Central Sale Rooms on 4 February 1892 the retiring captain, Mr A H Leslie-Melville, was in the chair. The following were elected officers for the coming year; President, Mr Shuttleworth; Captain, Mr Montague Walde-Sibthorp; Treasurer, Mr Claude Pym; Secretary, Mr W T Toynbee; Committee, Mr C Brook, Mr A H Leslie-Melville, Mr H J Sutton, Mr H N Sutton, Mr R Swan and the Rev W N Usher. The club was reported to be in a flourishing condition, the balance in hand shown to be £34/3/3, membership was 52.
A pre-WW1 Lincoln Golf Club button. Image courtesy of Dixon Pickup.
Match played on the Racecourse in March 1892.
Beverly Echo Tuesday 8 March 1892. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a club match played at Belton Park in November 1892.
| Belton Park Golf Club | Lincoln Golf Club | ||
| F W Thompson | 2 | W T Toynbee | 0 |
| C A Young | 0 | Rev W N Usher | 1 |
| C G E Welby | 6 | Commander Swan | 0 |
| Rev E A Gillett | 0 | H N Sutton | 9 |
| Rev E M Clements | 0 | Lieut Col Clements | 2 |
| H J Hildyard | 2 | A H Leslie-Melville | 0 |
| Sir J H Thorold, Bart | 0 | R Swan | 1 |
| Rev E R Nicholls | 0 | Captain Wiley | 3 |
| 10 | 16 |
Report on the annual meeting in February 1893.
Lincolnshire Chronicle Friday 24 February 1893. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 18 March 1893. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Lincolnshire Echo Saturday 16 June 1894. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Result of a one-sided match played in June 1894.
"Golf" Tuesday 3 July 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The following officers were elected at the annual meeting in January 1895; President, A Shuttleworth; captain, W T Toynbee; treasurer, C Pym; secretary, Dr W Swan; assistant secretary, E Larken jun.; committee - A L Melville, M W Sibthorp, H J and H N Sutton, R Swan and Rev W N Usher. It was reported that the finances of the club were in a satisfactory condition, and also that the services of David Gourlay, St Andrews, had been secured as professional and green-keeper.
Result of the gold medal and the Melville prize played on the Carholme course in June 1895; W Toynbee, winner of the gold medal with a score of 92 gross; Mr M W Sibthorp, winner of the Melville prize, 93-14-79; Mr E H Edwards, 105-20-85; Mr F C Brogden, 108-12-86; Rev W N Usher, 94-8-86; Mr R Swan, 101-14-87; Rev J W Bury; 114-26-88; Rev A W Rowe, 109-20-89.
Stamford Mercury Friday 20 March 1896. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Hull Daily Mail Tuesday 13 October 1896. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In February 1897 the annual meeting was held in the new clubhouse on West Common. The following officers were elected; President A Shuttleworth; captain, Dr Stitt Thomson; hon. treasurer, C Pym; hon. sec., Dr W Swann; hon. assistant secretary, E Larken; committee - A H L Melville, H J Sutton, H N Sutton, R W Sibthorp, R Swan, W T Toynbee, W T Warrener and Rev W N Usher. The finances were very satisfactory. The members were stated to be very well pleased with the new pavilion.
Report on the course in May 1897.
Lincolnshire Echo Tuesday 4 May 1897. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Result of the June 1897 ladies' monthly medal; Mrs Ed. White, 126-19-107; Mrs Stitt-Thomson, 120-11-109; Miss Hutton, 148-32-116; Miss Crowfoot, 143-26-117.
Report on the annual meeting in January 1899.
Lincolnshire Echo Monday 30 January 1899. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Lincolnshire Echo Wednesday 29 March 1899. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Result of a club match played against Grantham over the West Common course on Saturday 10 March 1900.
| Lincoln Golf Club | Grantham Golf Club | ||
| A Wallace | 0 | D C Thompson | 3 |
| C Pym | 0 | S Shaw | 3 |
| J Alexander | 0 | H Preston | 1 |
| Rev H J Watney | 5 | R Rothwell | 0 |
| W T Warrener | 4 | A Maxwell | 0 |
| W J Cannon | 5 | L Shaw | 0 |
| T P Stokoe | 11 | J Lockhart | 0 |
| A B Porter | 5 | A L Shaw | 0 |
| G Ponsford | 4 | H Shaw | 0 |
| 34 | 7 |
In November 1900 a silver gilt cup bearing a hallmark of 1809 and weighing 36 ounces was presented to the club by the president, Alfred Shuttleworth.
In May 1902 a new record was established for the course by Rev H R N Ellison, who playing with Mr Alexander, went round the nine-holes in 36, as follows; 3,5,4,6,5,2,3,4,4. The previous holder of the record was A Wallace with 37.
Result of a match played in June 1902.
Stamford Mercury Friday 4 July 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Report on the annual meeting in February 1903.
Lincoln Leader and County Advertiser Saturday 7 February 1903. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Lincolnshire Echo Tuesday 14 April 1903. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The September 1903 monthly medal was played on the Carholme course and was won by Eric W Scorer, 105-36-69.
In 1903 the club moved to its current course at Torksey.
Ordnance Survey Map from the 1900s showing the Racecourse, golf course not marked.
O.S. Map Revised 1904; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1907}.