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Uttoxeter Golf Club, Staffs. (1894 - WW2)

First appears in 1894 with a course on Uttoxeter Heath.

In 1909 the club moved to a course at Old Toll Gate Farm.

In the mid 1920s the course was located at Bramshall, it continued until closure following WW2.

The current club has been in existence since 1975.

The following is taken from the Uttoxeter Advertiser of 31 January 1894. “Golf: This interesting and exhilarating sport still gains support amongst the athletic young gentlemen of the town. The local “record” amongst the members has been gained by Mr A C Bunting, who has gone the whole round of nine holes in the respectable total of  47, the following were the figures – 4,7,6,5,3,7,4,6,5. To show the praiseworthy character of this feat, it may be mentioned that it took another member 43 strokes to “peg” his ball in the first hole”

The following report from September 1894 confirms the location of the early golf course; "The Uttoxeter Golf Club has been restarted with Mr O A Lasbrey as hon. secretary. The links are said to be capital ones, and are situated on the Uttoxeter Heath. No doubt the club will be a strong one."

The club seems to go into abeyance in the 1890s.

The club reappears in 1902.

Uttoxeter New Era Wednesday 22 October 1902. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Court case regarding subs in July 1905.

From the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 22 July 1905. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Reports on a new course at Old Toll Gate Farm in 1909.

Uttoxeter New Era Wednesday 3 November 1909. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Uttoxeter Advertiser and Ashbourne Times Wednesday 3 November 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The new course was formally opened on Saturday 13 November 1909.

In March 1910 Edgar Fletcher holed in one at the sixth hole. 

Uttoxeter Advertiser and Ashbourne Times Wednesday 6 April 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In 1911 it stated that the club was instituted in 1903. It was listed as a seasonal club from September to May. There was a membership of 30. The secretary was G R Rigby, Besley Lodge, Uttoxeter. No entry fee the subs were 10/6. Visitors' fees were 1/- a day.

In 1912/13 the joint secretaries were G R Rigby and E Fletcher, The Heath, Uttoxeter. 

The February 1913 monthly competition was won by H Nelson. Dr T Bamford and H C Luscombe qualified for the President's Cup.

In November 1913 Edgar Fletcher, a member of the Uttoxeter club, won the 40 guinea Challenge Cup of the Meir Golf Club.

A 9-hole course in 1914 the station was 1½ miles from the course. Local hotels were the Cross Keys and the White Hart. In 1914 there was a membership of 50. There was no entry fee. Subs were 11/6d. Visitors fees were 1/- a day. Sunday play was allowed without caddies. The season at this time was September to May. 

Result of a match played in March 1914.

Uttoxeter Advertiser and Ashbourne Times Wednesday 1 April 1914. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

At a meeting in 1914 plans were put forward to extend and improve the course. Unfortunately, due to the onset of WW1, the plans never materialised.

From the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 30 August 1919 - "The Uttoxeter Golf Club which was suspended during the war, is now being revived, and it is hoped the membership will be stronger than at any previous time. There has been some additions to the old course, which will allow of the laying out of a sporting nine-hole course with several natural bunkers and a good fairway."

It seems that the revival never came to fruition.

The later course was located at Bramshall in 1926.

Uttoxeter Golf Club button hallmarked Birmingham 1921 by Vaughtons. Image courtesy of Dixon Pickup.

Uttoxeter Golf Club reappears in 1926.

Staffordshire Sentinel Saturday 4 December 1926.Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Jordan's Daily register reported in February 1927 that a company had been formed to take over the Uttoxeter Golf Club. The first directors were; A C Bunting, G F Bagshaw, J C Deville and F F Hawthorn. The course and premises were taken on lease at Bramshall. 

Below the club re-forms.

From the Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal Friday 10 June 1927.

From the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 1 July 1927.

From the Staffordshire Sentinel Saturday 8 October 1927 – “UTTOXETER GOLF CLUB – “The new golf course at Bramshall, about two miles from Uttoxeter, was formally opened on Sunday by A C Bunting, J.P., the first president of the club.

The laying of the course was commenced about twelve months ago, on a plan suggested by Archie Compston. Each of the nine-holes has some distinctive and pleasing features, the bunkers are all natural. The turf is close growing and springy and the fairways are already nearing the stage when they may be classed as excellent. The season has been of material advantage to the greens, enabling them to be brought into really good condition. The club have secured a long lease and have erected an attractive clubhouse. The services of R Lewis, late of the Ashbourne and Clifton Golf Club, have been gained professional and green-keeping duties.”   

Mr A W Golby presided at the annual meeting on Saturday 13 April 1929. The balance-sheet showed the gross receipts (irrespective of membership fees) to be £532/10s/5d, after expenses there was a debit balance of about £3. G F Bagshaw was elected president; W C C Taylor, captain;  Frank F Hawthorn, vice-captain; C L Seath, hon. secretary; M. Longson, hon. treasurer.

Below is the result of a foursomes match played at Mickleover in July 1929. 

At the annual meeting of the ladies' section in December 1929 Mrs T V Bagshaw was elected captain; Miss E Hawthorn retiring after two years in office; Mrs G O Chubb was elected vice-captain; Miss G Wilks, hon. secretary. Miss Wilks mentioned that they had won five of the eight matches played. Mrs A G Baker had the record for the best net medal round (59.) Miss Hawthorn won the L.G.U silver medal and Mrs Weston the L.G.U bronze medal.

In 1930 visitors’ fees were 2/6d a day, 7/6d a week and 15/- a month.

In April 1930 Percy Fiddaman, professional, left the club to take up a position at Ludlow Golf Club.

In July 1930 Uttoxeter and Mickleover met in home and away four-ball matches.

Staffordshire Sentinel Monday 27 April 1931. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In February 1932 prizes won by members the previous year were presented at a bridge night in the clubhouse by the President, Mr G F Bagsaw.   

In 1932/33 the secretary was M Longson, Eversley, Uttoxeter, the green-keeper was A Chell. The membership was 135. Course records; amateur, A Ainsworth, 71; professional, A White 67. The nine-hole course was at Bramshalll two and a half miles from the station. Sunday play allowed.

Below a report on the seventh annual meeting in April 1934.

From the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 14 April 1934.

In the finals of the annual competitions at Bramhall on Saturday 8th September 1934 T D Potter beat M Longson 2 and 1 in the captain's competition and H B Griffin beat  G Nixon 8 and 6 in the president's cup.

The ladies' annual meeting was held at Bramshall in November 1934, the following officers were elected; President, Mrs A C Bunting; captain, Miss H Tatlow; vice-captain, Mrs A G Baker; hon. secretary, Mrs G Surtees; committee - Mrs H J Bamford, Miss E Hawthorn, Miss G Wilks; Mrs T V Bagshaw, Mrs S T Babb.

In June 1939 the Uttoxeter Golf Club entertained Leek Westwood in a club match on the Bramshall course. Winning pairs for Uttoxeter were F F Hawthorn and M Longson, T B Dwyer and T Smith, A A Bates and T Jones, while H B Griffin and G Surtees (captain) halved their game.

In 1940 and 1947 the membership was 130. Course records were amateur F C Bartlam (67) and professional A Ainsworth (70).

Ladies' meeting held in June 1946.

Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 29 June 1946. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Uttoxeter Golf Club had disappeared by 1951.

Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW2 shows the New Inn to the north village. The golf course was adjacent to the New Inn.

O.S. Map Revised 1938; © Crown Copyright {year of publication ca. 1949}.

The Google Map below shows location of the later course at Bramshall.