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North Worcestershire Golf Club, Northfield, Birmingham. (1900s - 2016)
Originally known as Northfield Golf club in the early 1900s.
It became North Worcestershire Golf Club in 1911.
Sadly, after over 110 years, the North Worcestershire Golf Club closed on 31 March 2016.
Exhibition Match at NWGC in 1912, Braid against Vardon.
The following message appeared on the club website:-
"It is with great sadness and deep regret that we have to inform you of the closure of our beloved Club. We have made every effort possible to retain North Worcestershire Golf Club as a viable Golf Club including special membership deals, expanding society golf offers and investigating the possibility of creating a 9-hole course or even retaining the clubhouse just as a social venue.
Despite all our efforts the financial constraints brought about by a steadily reducing membership over many years means that the Management Committee of NWGC have sadly decided that the Golf Course will close on the last day of March 2016."
Centenary Scorecard below.
Thanks to Christoph Meister for the above images.
Hole Names; One - Grafton's Plateau; Two - Braids Best; Three - The Presidents; Four - Sand Traps; Five - Clubhouse; Six - Franklyn; Seven - The Beech; Eight - Sherwood; Nine - Masonleys; Ten - Dingle; Eleven - Metcalf; Twelve - Chambers; Thirteen - Woddbrook; Fourteen - Birkett; Fifteen - Lickey View; Sixteen - Austin Rise; Seventeen - Sandpits; Eighteen - Cadbury.
The Original Clubhouse.
Views of the course prior to closure.
In 1905 Edward Cadbury stated that he was prepared to allow up to fifty people to play on his private golf course (a short 9-holes at Woodbrooke between Griffins Hill and Bournville) at a fee of £1 for twelve months, Mr. Cadbury reserved the right to cancel the concession at any time.
An enthusiasm for golf having been aroused, Oliver J. Chambers, one of the leading individuals, approached the late Thomas Quinney as to the possibility of playing golf on Mason Leys Farm. Ultimately a lease was arranged at a rent of £35 per annum, of sufficient land for nine holes subject to the conditions that no hedges were to be cut, there should be no Sunday play and that no dogs should be allowed on account of the grazing of sheep over the land.
A meeting was held, attended by fifty six people, at which it was agreed to form a Golf Club to be called “Northfield Golf Club” (It eventually became North Worcestershire Golf Club.)
The Kings Norton professional, W E Lewis, laid out the initial nine-hole course for a nominal fee. A local gardener charged the club £2 to build the tees and greens. There were no artificial bunkers, the hedges being considered sufficient hazards. The fairways were cut by a horse drawn machine and the rough had to be scythed, the members helping with this work.
Franklin Davis was elected President with T. E. Davis Hon Treasurer and Oliver J. Chambers Hon. Secretary.
Players jacket button prior to c.1910 - 20mm open back unmarked.
Image courtesy of Dixon Pickup.
The North Worcestershire Golf Club course was extended to eighteen-holes under the supervision of James Braid who first visited the club in 1909.
From the Birmingham Golfer November 1911.
Report on the progress of the club in 1911.
Birmingham Mail Wednesday 1 November 1911. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below is the result of a match played at Northfield against Ladbrook Park in November 1911.
| North Worcestershire Golf Club | Ladbrook Park Golf Club | ||
| L Meats (4 and 2) | 1 | E Spencer | 0 |
| J H Reece (3 and 2) | 1 | A H Crane | 0 |
| W Holdsworth (3 and 2) | 1 | C Sharrock | 0 |
| F H Gumbley | 0 | W McAlpine (3 and 2) | 1 |
| S Caldwell (halved) | 0 | G Longland (halved) | 0 |
| R Greenwood (1up) | 1 | W F Cutler | 0 |
| Stanley Cross | 0 | O H Russ (3 and 2) | 1 |
| A H Harris (6 and 5) | 1 | W J Riley | 0 |
| A R Kirk | 0 | W G Stewart (5 and 4) | 1 |
| D F Morehouse (4 and 2) | 1 | E A Waylor | 0 |
| 6 | 3 |
The extended course was eventually opened in 1912 with a match between James Braid who scored 79 and Harry Vardon with 74. Braid charged the club 10 guineas plus expenses for his work.
Although many improvements/changes were made to the course over the years the general layout remained as planned by Braid.
Result of the February 1914 monthly medal; W D Cheshire, 93-17-76; Norman Twist, 98-15-83; C H Wakeman, 103-17-86; H G S Thornton, 106-19-87; O Sewell, 110-23=87; F Crewe Roden, 105-16-89.
Below are the results of matches played against Leamington Golf Club (also now defunct) in May 1914.
The first teams at Leamington.
| Leamington Golf Club | North Worcestershire Golf Club | ||
| D Heasman (4&3) | 1 | J B Reece | 0 |
| W Heasman (2&1) | 1 | H L Meach | 0 |
| E A Harris (2up) | 1 | B Holdsworth | 0 |
| G Lord (6&5) | 1 | F Gumbler | 0 |
| W W Jones (1up) | 1 | R W Greenwood | 0 |
| S Straw (half) | 0 | H Newton Adams (half) | 0 |
| J K Tonkin (2up) | 1 | A Measures | 0 |
| E Berrington (3&1) | 1 | H B Hartill | 0 |
| A Dean (2up) | 1 | F E Hands | 0 |
| 8 | 0 |
The second teams at Northfield.
| North Worcestershire Golf Club | Leamington Golf Club | ||
| A James (6&5) | 1 | A Hartley | 0 |
| J Hallam (6&5) | 1 | W A Skelton | 0 |
| W J Lowe (4&3) | 1 | P Collins | 0 |
| J P McGuire (5&3) | 1 | T T Bromwich | 0 |
| N Twist (half) | 0 | S Carbis (half) | 0 |
| C Wakeman (half) | 0 | E J Wright (half) | 0 |
| J W Parker (1up) | 1 | H E Major | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW1 showing the golf course, clubhouse and Masonleys Farm.
Revised 1913 to 1914 © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1921}.
Scorecard from a match played at North Worcestershire between Edward Ray and James Braid In June 1920.
From the Birmingham Daily Gazette Thursday 10 June 1920 - "James Braid who originally designed the course at Northfield played an exhibition match yesterday against Edward Ray."
Result of the January 1930 monthly medal; Division 1 - C D Gilbert, 82-7-75; F J Huhn, 83-8-75; G Longland, 82-5-77; J T Wheeler, 78 scratch; F C Buckley, 87-9-78; R J Austin, 82-3-79; Division 2 - P V Goodwin, 87-13-74; H Bailey, 95-17-78; F W George, 92-12-80; Division 3 - J C S Branson, 99-20-79; T Grant Dixon, 102-22-80.
In 1932/3 the secretary was C L Holding, 14 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham; Membership of 370; Professional, M J Walker; Amateur course record, J T Wheeler, 69; Professional course record, H L Sutton, 69; Visitors on introduction, 2s/6d a day; weekend, 3/6.
On 18 July 1937, the great American, Walter Hagen, played an exhibition match at North Worcestershire. He had never seen the course before and went round in 66, seven strokes under bogey.
It was reported in May 1939 that The North Worcestershire Golf Club had decided to reduce green-fees for the duration of the war; weekdays 1s/6d a round and 2/6 a day; weekend 2/6 a round and 4/- a day.
Result of a match played at Gay Hill Golf Club in July 1939.
| Gay Hill Golf Club | North Worcestershire Golf Club | ||
| E Dent & G Dent | 0 | E L McEnroe & A C Wilcox | 1 |
| H Tyler & D Bowen | 0 | R Burke & R H Harvey | 1 |
| J Brown & F Westwood | 1 | W R Heeley & L E Mottram | 0 |
| H Cooke & A D Lyon | 1 | W L Brookes & H L Cattell | 0 |
| A C Bacon & H G Bloore | 0 | J A Blackham & E L Howell | 1 |
| D Bain & J H Gay | 1 | F H Robottom & T R Eastwood | 0 |
| 3 | 3 |
Result of a match played at Castle Bromwich Golf Club (now defunct) in July 1939.
| Castle Bromwich Golf Club | North Worcestershire Golf Club | ||
| J H Darrah (1up) | 1 | W Towers | 0 |
| A E Shaw | 0 | W E Inglis (2up) | 1 |
| W H Ball ( 4 and 3) | 1 | P Martin | 0 |
| J P Nicholson (2 and 1) | 1 | E Leek | 0 |
| K C MacDonagh (2 and 1) | 1 | P Prescott | 0 |
| R B Evans (2 and 1) | 1 | R Burke | 0 |
| A Pierce (6 and 5) | 1 | L Cassell | 0 |
| E G Lawrence (3 and 2) | 1 | J Blackham | 0 |
| G Stubbings | 1 | R H Harvey | 0 |
| H Crump (5 and 4) | 1 | H Yorke | 0 |
| L E Greenwood | 0 | F H Gilbert (3 and 1) | 1 |
| 9 | 2 |
Result of the March 1940 running bogey; R H Nix (5), 2up; J P Pickup (14), all square.
From the 1947 Golfer's Handbook; Membership of 220; hon. secretary - A E Coley, Oaklands, Frankley Beeches Road, Northfield; professional, P V Trapp; green-keeper, A E Hodgetts.
In the early 1950s the secretary was K Bayliss, 11 Hermitage Road, Edgbaston; professional, F T Sumner and green-keeper A E Hodgetts; Membership of 320; Amateur course record, R H Crump 68; Professional course record, K J Hooker, 64; The 18-hole course had a Par of 73 and a SSS of 72; Visitors' fees on intro, 2s/6d a round and 4/- a day.
From the 1964 Golfer's Handbook; Membership of 300; secretary, L S Dunn; professional, K Jones; green-keeper, J Blundell; course records - amateur, H Roberts, 67; professional, K J Hooker, 64; visitors on introduction, 3s/6d a round.
The new president in March 1968 was Harry Gompertz. The outgoing president was David Hayward.
From the 1972 Golfer's Handbook; Membership of 400; secretary, F W Stone; professional, K Jones; 18-holes measured 6,034 yards, SSS 69; course records; amateur - A Guest, 66; professional - N Underwood, 65; visitors, £1.
Joe Mercer guest at the annual dinner dance in 1977.
Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 2 November 1977. With thanks to Trinity Mirror. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.
Golfer's Handbook 1982; Membership of 550; secretary, F W Stone; professional, K Jones; 18-holes measured 5,907 yards SSS 69; course records; amateur - D J Russell, 64; professional - N Underwood, 65; visitors, £4 + VAT.
Golfer's Handbook 1988; Membership of 550; secretary E J Pearce (B F Hudson 1991); professional, K Jones; visitors, £9 + VAT.
In 2004 the professional was Finlay Clark; 18-holes measured 5,950 yards SSS 68; visitors, £18.50.
In 2006 the secretary was D Wilson; professional, I F Clark; visitors, £25.
It continued to be listed in the Golfer's Handbook until it ceased publication in 2015.
Course scorecards.
I attended the all must go auction on Tuesday 10 May 2016 which was held in the clubhouse and on the course; a really sad occasion. Course and kitchen equipment, club memorabilia including honours boards, club pictures, first aid kits, green pins, tee markers even turf from the greens went under the hammer with no reserves.
Pictures below were taken on the day of the auction; weather wet, misty and miserable; which matched the mood round the place.
Entrance to the golf club on auction day.
Some of the course equipment in the all must go auction.
The once proud clubhouse on auction day.
View from the first tee to the fairway and green.
The clubhouse and approach to the eighteenth.
Further sad news; In April 2019 the derelict clubhouse was destroyed by fire.