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Alveston Golf Club, Rudgeway, Glous. (1903 - 1948)

Founded 1903/4.

Report on the golf course from the Western Daily Press Monday 16 November 1903 - "I am now in a position to give some particulars of the new golf course at Alveston, which is to be opened for play early next month. The course is of a thoroughly sporting nature, and the holes are of a fair length. The turf is of that mostly spongy nature which is so suitable for the game. The first hole is short (110 yards) but will require most careful play. Bunkers consisting of a 4 foot wall and a hedge some 30 yards apart have to be negotiated, but a straight cleek shot will find the green. The second hole is 300 yards in length. Thirty yards from the green there is a hazard of a high hedge. There is no terror for the first shot but a pull with the second would probably find a pond.

The third hole is 220 yards and a hedge is the first hazard to be negotiated. The green is guarded by a 4 foot wall. A steep bank beyond the green would bring the ball back to the green if the approach shot was too strong. The fourth hole is short (125 yards) but it is a genuine sporting hole. The player has to play up an incline, and there are about 50 yards of hazard in the shape of a stone quarry and bushes.

The fifth is a very tricky one of 300 yards requiring straight and good play from the tee. It is played over a road, with a low wall on either side, and the tee shot will require a 100 yard carry, if short or pulled a hazard of a hedge will be met with. The sixth is 280 yards in length. A straight drive of 150 yards will bring the green (which is guarded by hedge) in view. The seventh is a long one (340 yards) and will require careful play. A pulled tee shot will be badly punished. The green is an expensive (sic) one, and to reach it a very accurate approach shot will have to be made. The eighth will only require a good drive to reach the green as it is only 155 yards in length. Gorse and a wall and a road will trap a short drive.

The ninth is 200 yards. The tee shot is played from a high bank, and an orchard and wall are the hazards. A carry of 100 yards will clear both and then it is plain sailing to the green. I am glad to hear that the membership is most satisfactory."  

The new course of the Alveston Golf Club was opened on Saturday 30 April 1904 with a match between club members and a team put together by Mr W D Canning. There was a membership of 55 at this time.

In 1906 the secretary was Stewart Irwin, Alveston, Gloucestershire. A 9-hole course. The course record was 70. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day, 5/- a week, 10/6 a month. Stations were at Patchway and Thornbury were both 3 miles away.

Competition result from December 1906.

Western Daily Press Thursday 27 December 1906. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Leading scores in the ladies' silver rose bowl competition played in May 1908; Mrs Langley, 107-12-95; Miss Hutcherbury, 124-19-105; Mrs C Davey, 125-20-105; Mrs MacWatters, 130-23-107.

Below is the result of a match played at Alveston against Wotton-Under-Edge Golf Club (now defunct) on Saturday 5 December 1908.

Report on the annual meeting held in November 1909.

Clifton Society Thursday 11 November 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Results from  a competition played over Christmas 1909; Rev. C H T Wright, 87-1-77; W D Canning, 89-10-79; E W Carroll, 87-6-81; G Calcott, 94-12-82; A L Felton, 93-8-85.

Eight entered for the Ladies' Challenge Bowl played in April 1912; Miss G Lloyd, 104-85; Mrs Lloyd, 114-95; Miss M Arkell, 129-104; Mrs Lewis Jolly, 145-117.

Report on the course in June 1912.

Clifton and Redland Free Press Friday 28 June 1912.

On Tuesday 10 March 1914 the Alveston ladies’ team visited Knowle, result below.  

In 1914/15 the secretary was R E Potter, Ridgewood, Almondsbury, Bristol. The 9-hole course was situated mostly on down land. The hazards which were all natural, being walls, gorse and a quarry. It was dry in winter and a clubhouse was available. There was a membership of 70. The entry fee was £1/1/0 and subs £1/1/0. Visitors’ fees, when playing with a member were 1/- a day, without introduction 1/- half day and 1/6 for full day. No Sunday play was allowed. Interesting to note that the station at Thornbury was now only 2 miles away. There was also a bus service from Bristol which was seven miles away.

In 1922 the Secretary was F D Armstrong of LCW & Parrs Bank Ltd, Thornbury. Green-keepers were T D Ryland and F D Armstrong. Visitors’ fees were; 1/6 half day and 2/- a day.

Location of the golf course in the 1920s

Ordnance Survey Map © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1923}.

In 1928 the secretary was T K Rowlands, The Down House, Tockington, Bristol. The greenkeeper was G Caswell. Club membership had dwindled to 40. Course records were amateur 72 and professional 70.

The club went in abeyance for several years.

There was an attempt to reinstate the club in the mid 1930s, a small clubhouse was erected and a 9-hole course was laid out, the club had a healthy membership of over 100.

The images below show the layout of the course and individual hole descriptions.

There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting held at The Ship Hotel in March 1938, Mr C P Taylor presided. Mr R Wyatt said that in spite of a loss of £10/2s/6d on the year’s working, chiefly due to labour costs on the greens, they still had a balance in hand of £27/10/2. The following officers were elected; President, Mr T P Rogers; vice-presidents, Captain R A Bennett, Captain W J Dutson and Mr C P Taylor; secretary, Mr W J Lewis; treasurer, Mr R Wyatt; committee – Miss R Lloyd, Mr & Mrs H W Wilmot, Captain G S Harvey, Dr J F Lyons, Flight-Lieut Berryman, W G Rabley, S Bostock-Smith, D J Cullimore, W W Chapman, A W Wells and E J Brant.      

It was reported in July 1939 that the new clubhouse of the Alveston Golf Club was opened on Tuesday 18 July 1939 by the wife of the president, Mrs T P Rogers. W W Chapman, captain, who deputised for the chairman, C P Taylor, said the permanent officials of the club - W J Lewis, hon. secretary, and Mr Wyatt, treasurer - were responsible for carrying out the scheme. During the autumn they were hoping to improve the course. To celebrate the opening there was an exhibition match between S H Newman and G Brooks and C J Bailey and A Harrison.

The picture below shows C J Bailey, the Failand professional,  driving off at the first tee.

From the Western Daily Press Wednesday 19 July 1939. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The club continued throughout WW2 but there was a steady decline in membership and the course gradually deteriorated, the club was finally wound up in 1948.

Western Daily Press Monday 22 March 1948. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Location of the Alveston course.