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Mid Norfolk Golf Club, Norfolk. (1899 - 1940)

The club was founded in 1899.

The original 9-hole course was located between Scoulton and Little Ellingham. The railway station at Attleborough was about six miles from the course. 

The later 9-hole course was at Morley Hall, it continued at this location until closure at the outbreak of WW2.

Below a report on the opening of the course in December 1899. 

From the Eastern Evening News Monday 27 November 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Below a report on the first spring meeting in May 1902.

From the Norfolk News Saturday 10 May 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It was announced in February 1903 that Mr H W B Edwards had been elected president of the Mid Norfolk Golf Club, whilst Major W M Edwards, V.C., of Hargham Hall, had been chosen one of the vice-presidents.

Below results from the spring meeting in 1903.

From the Eastern Daily Press Saturday 16 May 1903. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Attleborough; Mid Norfolk Golf Club; Instituted 1899; Number of members, 80; Stations, Kimberley 6 miles and Watton 4 miles; Hon. secretary – E W James, Hingham S.O., Norfolk; Captain, A Donovan; Entrance fee 10s and subs 26s; Nine-holes; Professional, F Larke; Terms for visitors, 1s a day, 10s a month; Hotels – “The George,” Watton and “White Hart,” Hingham. A sporting little course, most of the hazards are natural.

In 1906 John Cyril Crossley bought Morley Hall. In 1911 Ernest Gardiner Hill appears at Morley with his wife Molly and their four daughters. The family were keen golfers and their names appear frequently in match results in the 1920s/30s.  John Crossley didn't enjoy the best of Health and Molly, who was a nurse, looked after him. The relationship would eventually bring about golf on the Morley Hall course. 

In 1906 visitors’ fees on introduction were 1/- a day and 3/6d a week.

The Mid Norfolk professional plays an exhibition match at Lowestoft in July 1907.

Ashbourne Telegraph Friday 26 July 1907. Images © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In the 1911 census a Walter Herbert Jex, aged 26, occupation Golf Professional, was lodging at Rectory Cottage, Scoulton.

Walter Jex the Mid Norfolk professional. He was killed in action on 12 October 1916.

Following information courtesy of the “P.G.A. Remembers” project – Walter Herbert Jex; elected to the Professional Golfers Association in 1909; Regiment, 2nd Battalion 30th Division Bedfordshire Regiment; Rank, Private; Service Number, 28834; Died, 12/10/1916; Age, 32.

The above watch is inscribed – Presented to Walter Jex by the members of the Mid Norfolk Golf Club in appreciation of his services - Dec 1912.

Thanks to Julia Grover who sent me the following recollections of Aston Parker whose family owned part of the land (of the earlier course) in the 1960s; “From before WW1 on land now known as ‘The Golf’ situated to the right of the lane leading to Melsop Farm and extending across the stream into Little Ellingham was a nine-hole golf course with 2 or 3 holes on the Scoulton side and the others on (what is now) Daniels land.

There were 2 bridges crossing the stream. One was a footbridge towards the road and another at the other end was wider, possibly to support a horse-drawn mower. Evidence of brick supports were found here when the stream was cleared.

Clarence Brown was one of the golfers. This (earlier) course closed some time in the 1920s. The Golf House was across the stream. This was removed to Hingham. It is believed to be somewhere down Copper Lane.

At this time ownership of the land is not known, but in 1945 it was owned by Fred Perkins who lived in the Old Rectory and he was resident there before WW2.

As far as is known this was never glebe land.”

In 1914 the club had a membership of 70. Entry fee for gents was 10/-, ladies 5/-, families £1. Subs for gents were £1/10/0, outside a 7 miles radius 25/-, ladies £1/1/0 and 15/-. Visitors’ fees were 1/6d a day, 5/- a week and 15/- a month. Sunday play was not allowed.

Ordnance Survey Map showing the earlier golf course.

O.S. Map Revised 1905; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1906}.

The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the earlier course.

Mid Norfolk Golf Club button. 

Morley Hall and Estate for sale in 1921.

Country Life Saturday 9 July 1921. Image © Future Publishing Ltd.

In 1924 visitors’ fees were now 2/6d a day.

Result of a match played at Diss Golf Club in October 1924.

Result of a match played against Fakenham Golf Club in June 1926.

The new clubhouse of the Mid Norfolk Golf Club was opened at Morley Hall on Saturday 21 June 1926 by the captain, Mr Luke Webster. 

It was reported in August 1926 that W K Southerland was appointed professional, replacing R R Kelly who had resigned. Southerland had served as assistant to Tom King at Royal West Norfolk for four years.

From the 1928 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 120; Secretary - E Gardiner Hill, Morley Hall, Wymondham; Professional, W K Southerland; Green-keeper, T Disdale; Professional course record, T King, jnr., 70; Visitors, 2s/6d a day; Sunday play without caddies.

Result of a match played at Diss in April 1929.

Result of a Ladies' match played at Morley against Fakenham Ladies' Golf Club in April 1930. 

In September 1930 Miss S Newbold won the Lady Mann Cup at Diss. She also won the Mirrlees Cup and Gardiner Hill Cup at Mid Norfolk.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s the SSS was 72 and membership 150.

Yarmouth Independent Saturday 8 October 1932. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1933; Membership 200; Hon. secretary - L Webster, St Margaret's, Attleborough; Professional, H W Wade; Green-keeper, T Disdale; Professional course record; W H Wade, 68; Visitors, 2s/6d a day.

From the Diss Express Friday 12 January 1934 - "The Mid Norfolk Golf Club held its annual dance on Friday at the Women's Institute Hall, Wymondham. Miss Goulden of Little Ellingham Hall bought an abundance of holly and evergreens which Mrs F T Partridge and Miss Lack, the joint secretaries, and their helpers decorated the hall. Owing to several dances being held the same evening the company was not so large as in former years, about 90 dancers took the floor to the strains of the Norfolk Dance Orchestra. Mr Frank T Alpe was M.C. During the supper interval Mr W H Wade the Mid Norfolk professional, gave a clever display of step dancing. After midnight an egg and bacon supper was served. Dancing continued until 2 a.m."

From the Lynn Advertiser Friday 22 June 1934 - "The Mid Norfolk Ground at Morley Hall between Attleborough and Wymondham is a nine-hole gem set in a beautiful wood, freely bunkered and, with all its flatness and limit of space, a satisfying course for many a contest."

From the mid 1930s to the club’s final appearance in 1940 the secretary was N Vincent. Nine-hole course had a SSS of 68 and a club membership was 150. Sunday play was allowed without caddies and there was a licensed clubhouse.

The Morley Hall Estate up for sale in 1945 which includes the former golf course.

Diss Express Friday 1 June 1945. Image © Iliffe News & Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Thanks to Phil Dunsford for the following memories.

“Towards the end of 1949 I arrived at the Teacher Training College which had been established at Morley some three years earlier. The college occupied a vacated American Army Hospital and was only marginally more comfortable than the barracks from which I had been demobbed a couple of years before. Along with the intake of 360 students was a lecturer recently arrived from South Africa. A well qualified man, he could probably pick and choose where he worked and he had made his choice when he noted that Morley St Botolph had this 9 hole course. He was more than a little put out though when he arrived and found that the sprawling American Hospital had been built on the golf course. There was absolutely no sign of the course”

Further memories from Doug Fulcher “Where Wymondham College is now situated there used to be a golf course. This land was used to build a hospital for US airmen during WW2. This part of the country was virtually taken over by US airfields and their wounded air crews were taken to this hospital which consisted of "Nissan Huts". After the war these huts became the classrooms for Wymondham College pupils, only recently being replaced by modern buildings although there may be one or two old ones left”

A group of Mid Norfolk golfers during the mid 1930s, can anyone put a name to the faces?. The clubhouse can be seen in the background. Author's Collection.

Ordnance Survey Map below is from the 1950s. The construction is underway on the Wymondham College on the site of the former golf course on Golf Links Road.

O.S. Map revised 1950; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1953}.

Mid Norfolk GC course situated between Attleborough and Wymondham.