The Internet's Most Comprehensive Guide

Cannock Chase Golf Club, Milford Common Course. (1894 - 1922)

There is evidence of a club playing on Stafford Common in the early 1890s (see separate Staffordshire Golf Club entry.)

The Cannock Chase Golf Club was founded in 1894. The club rented land on Milford Common, between the villages of Milford and Brocton, at a cost of 1 shilling a year. The nine-holes were quickly laid out at a cost of just £70. The professional at the outset was J Hutchings and he continued until the club’s closure in the early 1920s.  The railway station at Milford and Brocton was 10 minutes away.

The club members originally used a small pavilion next to the Barley Mow Inn. By 1898 the impressive thatched clubhouse was built. To celebrate the opening of the clubhouse a 36-hole match was played between the professional J H Taylor (Royal Wimbledon) and amateur John Ball (Hoylake), Taylor won the match by 6&5. J H Taylor was a five time winner of the Open Championship. John Ball was the first English-born player to win the Open in 1890, he also won the Amateur Championship in the same year, newspaper report below.

Birmingham Daily Post Saturday 24 September 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The course and the impressive thatched clubhouse. Authors Collection.

Below is the result of a match played against South Staffs at Penn on Saturday 13 May 1899. 

On Saturday 3 June 1899 Cannock Chase played two home matches on the same day. The game against Burton on Trent was a one sided affair, the other match against Notts Golf club was much closer, results below. 

Lovely postcard of the clubhouse and veteran cars at Milford. Image courtesy of David Heath.

Ordnance Survey Map from the 1900s showing Cannock Chase Golf Club and Golf Course.

O.S. Map Revised 1900; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1902}.

In 1906 the secretary was Dr George Reid, Brocton, Milford. Course records were amateur K Wilson 75 and professional J Hutchings 70. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 1/- a day and 5/- a week.

Early postcard of the clubhouse Milford. Authors Collection.

Below is the result of a match against Buxton and High Peak Golf Club played in May 1906 at Buxton. 

Result of a home match against Church Stretton Golf Club in October 1908.

Result of a match between Milford and Whiitington played at Brocton on Wednesday 8 June 1910. 

Below, result of a match played at Whittington Barracks (against Milford on this occasion) in October 1910. 

Results from the Spring Meeting in May 1911.

Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 13 May 1911. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Below is the result of a match played against South Staffs Golf Club at Tettenhall on Saturday 15 June 1912.

Below is the result of a match played at Little Aston Golf Club in April 1913. 

Below are the results from the Ladies’ Autumn Meeting held on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 October  1913. The course was in excellent condition and there was a full entry for all competitions. Arrangements had been made by the secretary, Mrs Conway Morgan, assisted by a special committee, as follows; Mrs Hand, Mrs S W Morgan, Mrs Allan Hughes, Miss Bull, Mrs Nesbitt and the Misses Southam.

Thursday morning bogey competition, prize given by Miss Wolfe Barry. Mrs Beard won the play off against Mrs Fernie. There were 13 no returns.

Leading scores for the Thursday afternoon foursomes medal, prize donated by Mrs Allan Hughes and the Misses Twigg.

Friday morning medal competition, prize given by Miss Nadin.

Friday afternoon mixed foursome, prizes given by Mrs Hand and Miss Morgan.

In 1914 the secretary was F J Nesbitt, Tixall Lodge, Stafford, the ladies’ secretary was Mrs Conway Morgan, Queensville, Stafford. At this time the club had a membership of 140 gents and 70 ladies. Entry fees for gents were £3/3/0 and ladies £2/2/0. Subs for gents £2/2/0 and ladies £1/1/0. Visitors’ fees were 2/6d a day and 7/6d a week. Ladies were not allowed to play on Wednesday or Saturday afternoons except in mixed foursomes or on competition days. Sunday play was not allowed. There was also a small working men’s club, composed mostly of ex-caddies, who were allowed to play after 1pm on Sundays.

In the early 1920s membership was 103 gents and 70 ladies. Visitors were required to be a member of a recognised club and were permitted on introduction at 2/6d a day, 10/- a week and 25/- a month.

Result of a match played at Beaudesert in May 1921.

Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 28 May 1921.

From the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 25 March 1922.

The fire that devastated the picturesque thatched clubhouse in March 1922 no doubt contributed to the demise of the Cannock Chase Golf Club.

At about the same time land became available nearby and this became the current Brocton Hall Golf Club.

Milford clubhouse. Postcard by W H Smith & Son, Greengate, Stafford. No 82c.

The former clubhouse in November 2023, now a private residence.

Location of the course on Cannock Chase.