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Bromsgrove Golf Club, Breakback Hill Course. (1894 - WW2)
Golf was played at Bromsgrove as early as 1894, the club was inaugurated in 1896.
A 9-hole course at Breakback Hill with good sandy soil. Holes varied in length from 130 to 592 yards. The bogey was 41. The station at Bromsgrove was 1 mile away. Local hotel was the Golden Cross. The club moved location to Slideslow in the 1900s but returned to Breakback Hill just prior to WW1.
First match played on the Breakback course in April 1896.
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 25 April 1896. Digital image © The Bromsgrove Society.
Report on the new club and course in June 1896.
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 20 June 1896. Digital image © The Bromsgrove Society.
Report on the first annual meeting in January 1897.
Golf Friday 22 January 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below, result of a match played at Alcester on Saturday 4 March 1899.
| Alcester Golf Club | Bromsgrove Golf Club | ||
| E T Neale | 7 | F J Russon | 0 |
| G W Hinwood | 4 | M W Grafton | 0 |
| T F Woolley | 10 | J H Ludlow | 0 |
| H Overbury | 0 | T Horton | 5 |
| P H Hales | 0 | G H Wall | 5 |
| 21 | 10 |
Below, result of a match played at Ipsley on Saturday 25 March 1899.
| Ipsley Golf Club | Bromsgrove Golf Club | ||
| H R Heatley | 4 | R Tapp | 0 |
| F C B Cave | 0 | M W Grafton | 4 |
| C A Milward | 3 | T Russon | 0 |
| F V Milward | 3 | W D Ashbourne | 0 |
| W A Downes | 5 | G W Wall | 0 |
| 15 | 4 |
The in depth report below gives important information on the early history of the club.
From the Birmingham Daily Post Friday 9 March 1900. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Ordnance Survey Map from the early 1900s showing the golf course and pavilion.
O.S. Map, Revised 1901; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1903}.
Result of a match played against Droitwich at Bromsgrove in February 1903.
| Bromsgrove Golf Club | Droitwich Golf Club | ||
| W L Bunting | 0 | O W Walford | 0 |
| R Tapp | 0 | A C Pickering | 6 |
| M W Grafton | 2 | Rev F D Richardson | 0 |
| H M Goodman | 0 | F A W How | 4 |
| F Holyoake | 8 | Pr Shirley Jones | 0 |
| H B Carslake | 5 | A W How | 0 |
| H C Barham | 8 | T Young | 0 |
| 23 | 10 |
Report on the annual meeting in 1905.
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 4 February 1905. Digital image © The Bromsgrove Society.
From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1894; Membership 100; Hon. secretary - J Stevenson, Dormy Cottage, Rock Hill, Bromsgrove; Captain, J Stevenson; Entrance fee, £1/1s, subs, £1/1s; 9-holes; Green-keeper, G Nicholls; Amateur course record - J Stevenson and E Perkins, 39; Visitors’ fees on introduction, 1/- a day, 5/- a week and 10/- a month. The soil is good and sandy, and the holes vary in length from 130 to 572 yards, bogey is 41.
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 11 February 1905. Digital image © The Bromsgrove Society.
Report on the annual meeting in February 1908.
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 15 February 1908. Digital image © The Bromsgrove Society.
Below is the result of a match played at Redditch Golf Club in February 1909.
| Redditch Golf Club | Bromsgrove Golf Club | ||
| Dr. Stevenson (4&3) | 1 | A M Alland | 0 |
| C E James | 0 | J H Henderson (7&6) | 1 |
| R W Smith | 0 | C W H Payne (5&4) | 1 |
| A Terry | 0 | C H Smith (half) | 0 |
| W Llewellyn (5&3) | 1 | A V Holyoake | 0 |
| H Harper | 0 | Rev. H Noel Paterson (1up) | 1 |
| G Leach | 0 | W Corbett (4&2) | 1 |
| R White (2up) | 1 | A F Hirst | 0 |
| C Curtis (2up) | 1 | F Neale | 0 |
| 4 | 4 |
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 14 October 1911. Digital image © The Bromsgrove Society.
From the Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger Saturday 7 February 1914 - "BROMSGROVE GOLF CLUB - The 18th annual general meeting of the Bromsgrove Golf Club was held at the Golden Cross Hotel on Friday January 30th. Mr Edward Perkins presided over a well attended gathering of members. The accounts for the year were presented, showing a surplus of £21/4s/1d on the income and expenditure account, but a deficit of £61/19s/1d on the removal account, and with the balance brought forward from last year the balance sheet showed a net deficit of £23/18s/3d. In view of the fact that the club is paying an increased rental, and also the expense of £96/14s/7d has been incurred in removing the pavilion and laying out the new course, the financial position was considered very satisfactory. This being the first general meeting since the removal of the club to Breakback, it was most gratifying to the committee to find the interest and keenness displayed; 19 new members were elected during the year, and 9 resignations received. A great deal of labour has been expended upon the course, which is fast improving, and which should prove a great deal more attractive in the immediate future. Expert opinion says the site is excellent, and with a little further outlay on the course there is every reason to believe it will be one which Bromsgrove may be proud to posses. With a view to this end a donation list has been previously started, liberally headed by new members, and at Mr Perkins' suggestion at the meeting many more names were added to it. The officers for the forthcoming year were elected, and the meeting was closed by a hearty vote of thanks being accorded to the officers for the past year and to the chairman for presiding."
In 1914 the club had a membership of 100. Entry fees were £1/1/0 and subs £1/11/6. Sunday play was allowed without caddies.
Although the course was recorded on Ordnance Survey Maps just prior to WW2 no written evidence of the club has been found, so far, between the wars.
Location of the Bromsgrove golf course, which was still appearing just prior to WW2.