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Castle Hill/Castlebar Golf Club, Ealing. (1895 - 1901)

Appeared in 1895 as Castle Hill Golf it eventually became Castlebar Golf Club.

Castle Hill Golf Club was founded  in March 1895 under the stewardship of three local dignitaries; Mr Gibbon, Mr Geen and Mr Hay. Entrance fee was 3 guineas, and subs two guineas. The professional was S J Cooper.

Middlesex County Times Saturday 30 November 1895. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Below is an application form for the Castle Hill Golf Club. 

Castle Hill Golf Club Application Form.

The first clubhouse "A Grand Victorian House" opened in 1898 and was located at the bottom of Kent Gardens.

Acton Gazette Friday 27 May 1898. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The secretary in July 1898 was Henry Maule, Castlebar Golf Club, Ealing.

The following advert appeared in the London Evening Standard on Thursday 13 October 1898 - "Ealing, 13 Kent Gardens - To be let, a capital family house, containing 3 reception and 8 bed-rooms, within a few yards of the Castle-hill golf links."

Acton Gazette Friday 14 October 1898. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

It was reported in March 1899 that the membership of the Castlebar Golf Club, 15 Kent Gardens, was now upwards of 130.

Professional match played on the Castlebar course in June 1899.

Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser Saturday 17 June 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser Saturday 16 September 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the Middlesex County Times Saturday 28 October 1899; "CASTLEBAR GOLF CLUB - The General Meeting of the members of this club was held on Saturday, after the autumn meeting. The chair was taken by Mr Henry Gibbon of Kent House, one of the proprietors of the club. There was a good attendance of members. After a preliminary statement by the chairman giving an account of the rise and progress of the club, which now numbers 165 men and 50 ladies, a committee was nominated to confer with the executive on certain general points, and the meeting was adjourned for a month.

Results of the autumn meeting; Colonel Lawson, 90-5-85; Major Maule, 101-12-89; L Moritz, 104-14-90; W A Wade, 103-10-93; C T Hazell, 115-20-95; L Tindal, 104-8-96; J T Peters, 106-10-96; W H Smith, 116-20-96; H C Taylor, 115-18-97; J Brooke Little, 121-24-97; T Coote, jun., 118-20-98; R H Higgins, 118-20-98; F C Dewsnap, 120-22-98; A H Shield, 131-30-101; W F Melhcish, 119-15-104; Gilbert Lean, 127-22-105; T F Way, 130-18-112; E Delevingne, 136-20-116; Mr Denham Shelson, 145-24-121."

Results from the Castlebar club's Spring Meeting in May 1900; Scratch Prize won by F Maclean with 89, Mr J Turing Peter Leing second with 90. Handicaps fifteen and under; J S Forbes, 90-11-79; C T Hazell, 92-12-80. Handicaps over fifteen (tied); Mr Romilly Hall, 95-18-77 and R W Higgins, 96-19-77. 

It was reported in February 1901 that S J Cooper, the Castlebar professional, had patented a very fine golf ball which he calls the "C.I.V." This ball will be on sale by 1 March, at 9s/6d a box of one dozen.

The images below show the layout of the course. At this time the first and eighteenth holes where on the north side of Scotch Common, close to where Bellevue Road and Woodbury Park are nowadays.

Holes one to eight and eighteen.

Holes to the north-east; holes nine to seventeen.

Course measurements; Hole One - 310 yards; Two - 300 ; Three - 245; Four - 315; Five - 210; Six - 150; Seven - 190; Eight - 340; Nine - 330; Out - 2390 yards.

Hole Ten - 270 yards; Eleven - 450; Twelve - 300; Thirteen - 195; Fourteen - 250; Fifteen - 100; Sixteen - 310; Seventeen - 400; Eighteen - 310; Home - 2585; Total yardage - 4975.

The club button for the Castlebar Golf Club below is hallmarked Birmingham 1899 (by J & Co Jennens). The central crest alludes to the then owner of the Castlebar estate.

Thanks to Dixon Pickup for supplying the above image and information.

Middlesex County Times Saturday 30 March 1901. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The Castlebar Golf Club disappeared and amalgamated with Ealing Golf Club in 1901.

The Maps below show the location of the golf course.

O.S. Map Revised 1891 to 1894; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1897}.