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Robin Hood’s Bay Golf Club, North Yorkshire. (1895/1920s)
The first nine-hole course was laid out on the Mount Pleasant Estate by James Kay, Seaton Carew.
In the early 1920s there is mention in a newspaper report that the renowned golf course architect Dr Alister MacKenzie had visited Robin Hood's Bay.
The first report found on the proposed club appeared in January 1895. It stated that Alex Wilson would be secretary and the course would be situated just north of the railway station on fields at Bay Ness Farm. The putting greens were to be sixteen yards square and the home green 20 yards square. The home hole will be on the Mount Pleasant Estate and the course will extend northwards as far as Bulmer Street hole, reaching across to the railway line near Ness Farm. The principal hazard is a deep ravine.
Further report on the proposed course in February 1895.
"Golf" Friday 8 February 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
From the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Saturday 23 February 1895; “ROBIN HOOD’S BAY GOLF CLUB – Mr E W Beckett the member for the Whitby Division, has accepted the presidency, and Mr G S Gibb, the general manager of the North-Easten Railway Company, the vice-presidency of the recently formed Robin Hood’s Bay Golf Club. The promoters have already had the greens staked out, and the making of the ground will be vigorously proceeded with next week.”
From the Whitby Gazette Friday 10 May 1895; “The Robin Hood’s Bay Golf Links are to be opened in a few days, and the event is likely to be celebrated by avisit from Mr E W Beckett, who will strike the first ball and also by a dinner afterwards at the Robin Hood’s Bay Hotel.”
From the Whitby Gazette Friday 17 May 1895; “The opening by Ernest W Beckett, M.P., of the Robin Hood’s Bay golf Links, is not to come off, the honour falling to his worship, the Mayor of Scarborough ( Alderman V Fowler), who will visit The Bay for that purpose on Thursday morning, the first ball to be struck at half-past ten o’clock. A scratch prize of three guineas, a handicap prize of two guineas (36-hole match), and an optional half-crown sweepstake will further enhance the proceedings.”
Thanks to Colin Palmer for sharing the article below.
Article from “Golf” 31 May 1895. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Report on the club and course in July 1895.
Edinburgh Evening Dispatch Saturday 27 July 1895. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
There’s a mention of the course in The Whitby Gazette in December 1895; “Golf Links have been established in Robin Hood’s Bay and should prove an attraction to the seaside town and watering place.”
Unfortunately nothing further has been found regarding on the earlier Robin Hood’s Bay Golf Club.
The intriguing report below is from December 1921. Dr Alister MacKenzie was visiting Weston-super-Mare to carry out changes to their course. In the article it mentions that Dr MacKenzie "had done great things at Robin Hood Bay." Searching for more information on this visit and its conclusions.
Weston-super-Mare Gazette Saturday 31 December 1921. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
If anyone has any further information on the eventual demise of the club and courses please “Contact Us” via the website homepage.
The Ordnance Survey and Google Maps below shows Bay Ness Farm.
O.S. Map Revised 1892; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1895}.