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Benton Park Golf Club, Newcastle-on-Tyne. (1909 - 1950s)

The club was founded in 1909.

An 18-hole course with a SSS of 73 until the late 1940s when it was reduced to 14-holes.

There was a splendid clubhouse at Long Benton, Newcastle-on-Tyne. There were railway stations at Benton 5 minutes and Forest Hall 15 minutes. The electric tram and buses from Newcastle took 10 minutes.

Benton Park Golf Club was situated to the North East of Newcastle-on-Tyne. A compulsory purchase order was made by Newcastle Corporation after the Second World War and the old course was sold and used for housing development. The housing estate was named the “Fairways” in recognition of  its former use. The original clubhouse was eventually taken over and  used by the Benton Conservative Club.

Benton Park eventually became Arcot Hall Golf Club in the 1950s. It subsequently changed its name to reflect the club’s new location.

From the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Monday 20 December 1909 - "The Benton Park Golf Club (Limited) has been registered as a private undertaking with 500 members, each liable for 2 guineas in the event of winding up, to acquire the lease of the Benton House estate and premises and the Benton Park estate, in Northumberland, and to promote golf and other games."    

Members Only Entrance to the Benton Park Golf Club.

Report on the progress of the club and course in June 1910.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle Wednesday 8 June 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In 1910 the secretary was W E Bland, 22 New Bridge Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

The first competition for the Benton Park Golf Club was held on Saturday 23 July 1910. The prize for the winner was a silver rose bowl given by the captain Mr Theo Hurley, result as follows; F Cripwell, 93-24-69; F Barnfather, 96-24-72; R Tait, 87-14-73; J Walton, 95-20-75; T W Robinson, 87-11-76; W M Plues, 94-16-78; A Scott, 88-9-79; F Douglas, 97-18-79; F Rowley, 97-7-80; J Forrester, 95-15-80; T F McBeath, 96-16-80; J S Bowmer, 96-16-80; A H McBryde, 100-20-80; A T Watts, 105-24-81; J Fawcett, 104-20-84; W E Morhan, 99-14-85; J S Bulmer, 103-18-85; E Shapeley, 107-22-85; G Heeley, 109-24-85. 

The following report is from the Newcastle Journal:-

“Highly successful in every way must describe the first competition day of the club. Ideal weather prevailed and the course was in beautiful order. Two months ago, when playing a round of golf with Mr Elgie Bland, to whom chief credit is undoubtedly due for the formation of the club and the valuable acquisition to Benton of a picturesque golf course and palatial clubhouse, mention was made of of the difficulty in the matter of lost golf balls. The rough between the holes has been smoothed down and golfers are now assured of a really good game. In a few weeks the competition for a cup presented by the president, Mr Edward Brough, will take place.” 

In 1911 the secretary was W E Bland, 22 New Bridge Street, Newcastle, the professional was Thomas Edgar. Amateur course record, E Connell 71.

Result of the monthly medal played in March 1911. There were nineteen competitors, the following returns were made,

Result of the Easter Bogey competition played in a hurricane wind in April 1912; T Gill (17), 7 down; T S Main (9), 8 down; T Hurley (3) and G F Francis (18), 11 down; J G Pickering (14), F Barnfather (12)  and J Walton (14), 12 down; F H Ingham (14), 13 down. 

In 1914 there was a membership of 250 gents and 100 ladies. Entry fees for gents were £4/4/0 and ladies £1/1/0. Subs for were Gents £2/2/0, ladies £1/1/0.  Visitors’ fees were 2/- a day, 5/- a week, 15/- a month. Ladies were allowed to play all day Wednesday and Friday up to 5pm, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday up to 1pm, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays up to 10am.

Result of the final of the past six months medal winners was played on Saturday 24 January 1914; H Chapman, 96-13-83; T Hurley, 87-1-86; P Richardson, 97-10-87; M Holohan, 104-16-88; A McCombie, 98-10-88. 

Thirty-eight members entered a foursome competition played on Saturday 18 April 1914, leading scores; J Walton and B D Dale, 91-14-77; J Forrester and R C Kitchen, 92-10½-81½; S Barnfather and W Holohan, 94-11-83; G Gamble and J Nicholson, 96-13-83.  

Result of a medal competition played on Wednesday 6 May 1914; J Heads jun, 86-10-76; T H White, 90-14-76; D Smith, 95-18-77; W Walton, 85-7-78; T Gill, 92-14-78; T Pickering, 92-14-78; L Mann, 90-11-79; P Langford, 92-12-80.  

Below is the result of a match played at Jarrow and Hebburn Golf Club in May 1914.

The course was used for the growing of crops during WW1.

The Ordnance Survey Map below shows the Benton Park golf course at the time of WW1.

O.S. Map Revised 1913 © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1921}.

The re-opening of the 18-hole course in May 1920. Dr Alister Mackenzie to plan proposed bunkering. 

Sunday Sun (Newcastle) 2 May 1920. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

No evidence found so far of the bunkering scheme in the above report being followed followed through. See aerial picture of the course further down the page in the 1930s. 

In September 1921 the Doxford Bowl competition was won by S R Rymer, the club champion, with a score of 72 scratch. N H Mould, 85-9-76 was second.   

In 1922 visitors’ fees were 3/- a day, 6/- a day at weekends.

Result of the District Cup competition played in July 1924; W R Henderson and R Armstrong tied for first place with scores of 141 net; G Catchside and A Cranston tied runners-up, 143 net.

Following is an interesting article from The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer dated February 1927. It was headlined “Competition For Novel Prize – Playing To Obtain An Appointment” It relates to the departure of professional Dick May and the process the club went through to find his replacement:-

“Golfing history relates the stories of many strange wagers in golf matches. Before the days of the modern professional school, amateurs played golf for club wines and food and even for clothing for the club’s servants. In modern matches among professionals the stakes usually take the form of big money prizes or purses subscribed by interested parties. Never has there been a competition for a professional appointment, however, and this is apparently the prize offered to the winner of a competition to be held by the Benton Park Club.

Dick May, another of the prominent members of the younger school of British players, is shortly leaving the Benton Park Club for America, and the club is finding it difficult to make their final selection of his successor. There were originally 87 applicants for the post, and this list has now been reduced to eight candidates. Among them is amateur, G Boswell (Gosforth). The others are prominent players, mostly from the north; T B Robertson (Preston), J Fryer (Penrith), C H Gadd (Brancepth), E McInnes (Littlehampton), A L Taylor (Beverley), F Spalding (Royal Lytham & St Annes) and J A Nield (Fairfield).

As there is some difficulty in finally choosing from this list, the secretary is communicating with the applicants with a view to arranging an exhibition match, in which all would take part”. Not sure that the applicants would have been to thrilled with this particular selection process.

Result of a ladies' match played in October 1927.

Newcastle Journal Thursday 6 October 1927. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Visit of James Braid in January 1931.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle Friday 9 January 1931. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Alliance Cup winner for Benton golfer in April 1931.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle Thursday 9 April 1931. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of a four-ball bogey played in March 1932; A J Duncan and H Walker, G Boswell and D Taylor and J K Morrison and J G Kevan all finished 1 up.

Sunday Sun (Newcastle) Sunday 11 September 1932. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Course records on the extended course in April 1933.

Sunday Sun (Newcastle) 23 April 1933. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Thanks to Neil Crafter for the image below from the 1930s. Neil is a Golf historian and course architect and is an expert on the work of Dr Alister MacKenzie. 

Newcastle Evening Chronicle Friday 19 February 1937. Image © Reach plc.

In July 1937 D E Patterson won the 36-hole McBeath and Lundi Cup by beating S H Alexander by 4 and 3. 

In October 1937 W A Hatton was appointed secretary.

In March 1938 the club held the first competition of the season. Result of the four-ball better  ball competition; R W Acaster (12) and E Smythe (10), 2up; W Vasey (17) and J W P Robinson (15), 1up. 34 members took part.

In July 1938 eclectic competition N Wilkinson equalled the course record of 70. Result - J A Hall (10) 68; J H Hunter (3) 68; I W Thomson (10) 69; D E Patterson (3) 69; N Wilkinson 70 scratch.

Benton to lose its golf course.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle Friday 30 June 1939. Image © Reach plc.

In the final of the Hardy-Wilson Bowl played in July 1939 W Mates beat H P Borrell by 5 and 4.

The finals of the Dunford Bowl were to be played Saturday 7 November 1940, draw as follows; J Love v G M Gelder; G H Hunter v G Pickering; W H Robson v W Bruce; G S Gowan v J W Knighting or R Shielding; J G McWhirter v G S Robb; G H Slee v G W Patterson; J D Carr v G W Walker; E J Billingham v T H Wood.

In 1940 there was a membership of 420. Visitors’ fees for gents were 2/- a round, 3/- a day, 5/- a day at Weekend or Bank Holiday (3/- with member). Ladies 1/6 a day.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle Friday 31 March 1944. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Advert from the Newcastle Journal Monday 16 April 1945 - "Waitress or girl to train as waitress wanted; good wages and prospects; meals supplied. Apply with references to Secretary, Benton Park Golf Club, Longbenton." 

In June 1945 F L MacNaughton holed his tee shot at the 191 yard seventh hole. 

In 1947 visitors’ fees were 3/6 a day, weekends 5/- a day.

1920s advert for Dick May. Author's Collection.

Longbenton Conservative Club. The former clubhouse for the Benton Park Golf Club.

Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW2 showing the golf course.

O.S. Map Revised 1938; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1947}.

Thanks to Michael Wedgwood who made this contribution in 2004 -

“I was bought up in Newcastle Upon Tyne and can remember a golf course, known I am almost certain, as Benton Park Golf Club, located in the north eastern suburbs of Newcastle and located between Benton Road and Coath Lane. In about 1950 the course was sold for redevelopment as a housing estate, the club bought land at Arcot Hall, several miles north of  Newcastle and developed a new course there, known initially as Benton Park Golf Club, but then changing its name to Arcott Hall Golf Club. I became a member of Arcott Hall during the late 1950s and played there for a few years whilst a university student, but have no memories of playing at the original course, other than as an unruly teenager after the course had been sold, and before the development started.