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North Warwickshire Ladies’ Golf Club, Leamington. (1889 - 1920s)

The North Warwickshire Ladies’ Golf Club was founded in 1889 with a course near Kenilworth Road, Leamington. The course continued to play on the course until 1903.  At some time between 1903 and 1907 the ladies' club moved to Milverton were they shared a course with the Leamington Golf Club. 

The current North Warwickshire Golf Club at Meriden, was founded in 1894. This created more confusion as the ladies' section of this club was called North Warwickshire Ladies (Meriden.)

Extract of a report from the Leamington Spa Courier Saturday 22 June 1889;  “NORTH WARWICKSHIRE LADIES’ GOLF CLUB – A tournament by holes, under handicap rules, for the Club Gold Medal, played for the first time, took place this week.”

Competition results from June 1889.

The Field Saturday 6 July 1889. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the first general meeting in November 1889.

Leamington Spa Courier Saturday 16 November 1889. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

On Friday 21 March 1890, the first anniversary of the opening of the club, a competition took place for a handsome diamond and pearl hunting-crop brooch, presented by Mr J Y Robins (High Sherriff of Warwickshire,) a second prize of six golf balls was added. The day was bright and warm and a large number of spectators assembled to watch the play. Thirteen players entered; in the final Miss Middleton beat Miss A Clarke. 

From the Golfing Annual 1891-92 was the North Warwickshire Ladies' Golf Club; Instituted March 21st 1889; Entrance Fee, five shillings; Annual Subscriptions (Playing Members) 7s/6d; Non-Playing Members, 5s; Gentlemen Associates, 5s; Number of members, 102 - Gentlemen Associates, 48; President, R O Milne; Vice-Presidents - Rev. J Dawkins and G Savile; Captain, Miss A Clarke; Committee - Mrs Ashton, Miss Dawkins, Miss A Langton Clarke and Miss Middleton; Secretary - Miss Chambers, Eastwood Lodge, Leamington; Green-keeper, Mr Lay; Green - Kenilworth Road.

Prize winners in 1891; Silver Challenge Bowl, Miss A Dawkins; Club Gold Medal - March, Miss Mackenzie; May, Miss A Dawkins; October, Miss A Dawkins; Silver Medals - February; Miss Ward, 87-12-75; March; Miss Crane,93-9-84; April; Miss A Dawkins, 77 scratch; October; Miss A Clarke, 88 scratch; November; Miss Middleton, 93 scratch; Silver Sugar Basin; March, Miss Mackenzie, 85; April, Miss A Dawkins, 86; May, Miss Dawkins, 77; September, Miss Chambers, 109; October, Miss Ward, 94; November, Miss G Stanger-Leathes, 108. It is a nine-hole course about a mile from town. The hazards consist of two hedges, a pond and natural declivities in the ground. There are two pavilions.  

Result of a match played against Leamington Ladies ' on the Campion Hills Course in May 1892.

In May 1893 the North Warwickshire Ladies’ Golf Club joined the Ladies’ Golf Union, and where entered onto the list of associated clubs. 

Report on a general meeting in January 1895.

"Golf" Friday 1 February 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Results from the spring meeting played in April 1903. Interesting to note that the club is still playing on the Kenilworth Road course at this time.

Leamington Spa Courier Friday 1 May 1903. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Ordnance Survey Map from the 1900s showing the first golf course.

O.S. Map Revised 1904; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1906}.

The club eventually moved to share the course at Milverton with the Leamington Golf Club. The exact date of the move is still to be found.

From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1889; membership of 100; hon. Secretary – Miss Chambers, 20 Lillington Road, Leamington; captain, Miss Humphreys; entrance fee, 10s and subs £1, gentlemen associates, 15s; nine-holes; terms for visitors, 1s a day, 2s/6d a week, 10s a month. An undulating course with hurdles, hedges, and a pond as bunkers. 

From the Leamington Spa Courier Friday 27 April 1907; "NORTH WARWICKSHIRE LADIES' GOLF CLUB PRESENTATION - This morning members and associates met in front of the pavilion on the Milverton Links to present Miss Chambers, hon. secretary of the club, with a testimonial in recognition of 17 years of devoted service. The presentation was made at the request of the captain, by the vice-president, Rev. C J Reade, and took the form of a solid silver tea service."

Changes to the Milverton course in November 1911.

Leamington Spa Courier Friday 10 November 1911. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A match between the Captain's team against Secretary's team was played on the Milverton course in May 1912.

The general meeting was held in March 1913, Mrs Sam Browne presided. Miss H Cave hon. secretary, laid out the financial statement which was found to be very satisfactory. Green fees and membership had increased.

Also in March 1913, James Piper professional at Southdown, was appointed professional to both Leamington Golf Club and North Warwickshire Ladies' Golf Club.

The reports below from May 1914 show that the ladies were still playing on the Milverton course.

Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 13 May 1914. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Extract from an interesting report that appeared in the Warwickshire Advertiser in March 1920. In addition to discussing the Leamington Golf Club it confirms the fate of the former North Warwickshire Ladies’ Golf Club who had been playing golf on the Milverton course of the Leamington club prior to WW1. The full report can be seen on the Leamington Golf Club entry on this website.

Report from the Birmingham Daily Gazette in May 1925 “In the neighbourhood, at the Old Butts, is to be found the nine-hole (Leamington) course, whilst in the same district is the nine-hole course of the North Worcestershire Ladies’ Golf Club.”

Google Map pinpointing the location of the first North Warwickshire Ladies' Golf Course.