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Mersey Golf Club, Penketh, Warrington. (1894 - 1961)
The club was founded 1894.
The club was also known as Fiddler's Ferry Golf Club in the local area.
Report on the opening in April 1894.
Widnes Examiner Saturday 14 April 1894. Public domain.
Result of a bogey competition played on Saturday 29 June 1895. The prize was given by Mr Stuart Deacon; J Craig, (18) 2 up; W J Gloer (7) and W Fowler (17) tied for second on 7 down. A good number of members entered and 16 cards were returned. The bogey for the course was "a rather stiff figure of 74".
In July 1895 the final for a silver cup presented by the honorary president (Hon. T W Legh, M.P.) G A Morkill beat F W Gilbert by 5 and 3.
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser Tuesday 28 March 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below is the result of a match played at Penketh against St. Helens on Saturday 28 April 1900.
| Mersey Golf Club | St. Helens Golf Club | ||
| Rev H R Wild & Dr Peacocks | 0 | W J Glover & Dr McKechnie | 0 |
| F Williamson & E Parry | 0 | Dr Gray & Dr Unsworth | 3 |
| F W Gilbert & H Hatton | 10 | J Hammill & Mr Openheim | 0 |
| W Johnson Johnson & F W Wareing | 7 | Dr Masson & Dr Basset | 0 |
| J Bernard & J Fairclough | 13 | Dr Harris & T Varley | 0 |
| 30 | 3 |
The first qualifying round of the captain's prize was played in April 1903; T Miniati, 84-12-72; J D Fairclough; Dr. Peacocke, 85-5-80; J C Chorley, 92-10-82; J E Unsworth, 108-20-88; John Fairclough, 130-28-102. Mersey Ladies' Club - qualifying competition for a prize given by Miss Bolton; Miss Forster, 128-36-92; Miss F Jeans, 110-15-95; Miss Daunt, 110-15-95; Miss A Jeans, 108-5-103; Mrs White, 112-5-107; Miss Chorlton, 146-36-110; Miss E Jeans, 136-23-113; Miss M Tinsley, 145-31-114.
In 1906 secretary was T Miniati, Penketh, near Warrington. A 9 hole course. The amateur course record holder was E Parry with a sore of 70. Visitors’ fees on introduction 1/- a day, 2/6 a week and 5/- a month. The Station at Fiddler’s Ferry was 5 minutes away.
Below is the result of a match played against Flixton Golf Club at Flixton on Saturday 19 May 1906.
| Flixton Golf Club | Mersey Golf Club | ||
| W Heyes | 0 | F W Gilbert | 1 |
| D T Delaney | 1 | C R Adamson (captain) | 0 |
| J Spink | 1 | J M Murray | 0 |
| A B Barnes | 1 | T Miniati | 0 |
| S Kneale | 0 | G G Ainsworth | 0 |
| A V Slater | 1 | R N Foster | 0 |
| H S Holmes | 1 | R H Pearson | 0 |
| O W Heald | 1 | C Lofthouse | 0 |
| W H Eyre (captain) | 1 | F Joynson | 0 |
| T Lightfoot | 1 | Dr C S Brebner | 0 |
| W Bolton | 1 | F R Roberts | 0 |
| T H Bissell | 1 | H Unsworth | 0 |
| 10 | 1 |
Below is the result of a match played against at Penketh against Hough Green Golf Club (now defunct) on Saturday 27 July 1907.
| Mersey Golf Club | Hough Green Golf Club | ||
| F W Gilbert | 1 | F Brown | 0 |
| E G Medley | 1 | R Craig | 0 |
| T Miniati | 1 | L Robinson | 0 |
| W S Knowles | 1 | J J Rankin | 0 |
| R N Foster | 1 | F Bibby | 0 |
| A W Paul | 0 | R B Helliwell | 1 |
| Dr Lindsay (half) | 0 | C R Lewis (half) | 0 |
| H Unsworth (half) | 0 | J Walker (half) | 0 |
| E Hartland | 0 | A J Wilkinson | 1 |
| 5 | 2 |
In 1914 the secretary was still T Miniati, Derby Road, Widnes. The professional was H C Higgins. 9 holes with a membership of 160. The entry fee was £1/1/0 and the subs £1/1/0. Visitors’ fees on introduction by a member were 1/- a day, 2/6 a week and 5/- a month. Sunday play allowed without caddies.
Runcorn Examiner Saturday 2 October 1920. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1923 the secretary was W S Knowles, “Fairfield”, Great Sankey, Warrington. 9 holes with a membership of 150. The professional course record was held by H C Higgins with a score of 69. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 2/- a day, 7/6 a week and 15/- a month.
During the 1930s the secretary was W J Lingley, Belmont Crescent, Sankey, Warrington. H C Higgins had now improved on his previous professional record score by one shot to 68.
Report on the course from March 1936.
Liverpool Echo Wednesday 18 March 1936. With thanks to Trinity Mirror. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.
Death of respected member Thomas Linekar in June 1939.
Runcorn Guardian Friday 30 June 1939. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1940 the secretary was L E S Jackson, 37 Bridge Street, Warrington the professional was C Brady and the green-keeper J Hitchmough. A 9 hole course with a SSS of 72 and a membership of 120. Course records were, amateur R H Dennett with a score of 74 and professional J G Gerrard 68. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 2/- a day, 2/6 Sundays, 7/6 a week and 15/- a month. Station at Fiddlers Ferry ¼ mile away.
In 1947 the secretary was N Williams, 11 Whittle Hall Lane, Sankey, Warrington and the membership was 160. All other information as 1940.
Runcorn Guardian Friday 26 August 1949. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
By 1951 the secretary was E Wilson, 80 Liverpool Road, Great Sankey, Warrington and the green-keeper S Leech. There was a new amateur course record of 72 by J Parkinson. Membership was now 125. Visitors on introduction paid 2/6 a day, weekend and Bank Holiday 3/6.
Later in the 1950s the secretary was J R Campbell, 38 Liverpool Road, Great Sankey. There were also joint holders of the professional course record, J G Gerrard and C Brady 68.
Article written by Leslie Edwards for the Liverpool Daily Post, in August 1953 - "One charming nine-hole course, sitting snugly on the bank of the Mersey at Fiddler's Ferry, can boast 62 years. I have myself been connected with the Mersey Golf Club for sixty years in one capacity or another. Through the years there have been periods of difficulty, particularly when many influential members left to form the Warrington Golf Club at Appleton."
Sad end to the Mersey Golf Club in April 1961.
Liverpool Echo Monday 10 April 1961. With thanks to Trinity Mirror. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.
Reflection on the golf club and course in April 1993.
Widnes Weekly News and District Reporter Thursday 15 April 1993. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW2 showing the golf course and pavilion.
O.S. Map Revised 1938 to 1939; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1947}.