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Wellingborough Golf Club, Northants. (1893 - 1975)
Founded 1893 when a group of about 30 enthusiasts arranged to meet at Wellingborough Drill Hall to discuss the possibilities of a golf course in the town. Land on fields belonging to Nest Farm was acquired and Old Tom Morris laid out the clubs first course.
In 1923 the club moved to a site near Bushfield Waterworks were a new nine hole course was laid out by Tom Williamson, the professional at Notts Golf Club.
The club made a third move in 1975 to Harrowden, the clubs present home.
Old Tom Morris visits in November 1893.
St. Andrews Citizen Saturday 18 November 1893. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Report and description of the course in December 1893.
From "Golf" 1 December 1893.
Report on the annual meeting in September 1894.
"Golf" Friday 28 September 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
At the County Council meeting in October 1894 a letter was read from the secretary of the Wellingborough Golf Club asking the Board to make a footpath along the Nest Road, leading to the golf ground; but it was decided to reply that the Board could not undertake the work.
Results of competitions played over Christmas 1894.
“Golf" Friday 11 January 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below is the result of a one-sided match against South Beds played on Thursday 27 October 1898.
From the Luton Times and Advertiser 4 November 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In 1905 the secretary was C Woodcock, 20 Hutton Avenue, Wellingborough, and the captain W H Hope. Nine-hole course. The club had a membership of 60. Entrance fee was 10s/6d and subs £1/1s. Visitoes' fees 2s/6d a week.
Below is the result of a match played at Stanwick against Wellingborough Golf Club in March 1908.
| Stanwick Golf Club | Wellingborough Golf Club | ||
| Dr Baker (half) | 0 | C Woodcock (half) | 0 |
| G Mason | 1 | C Nicholson | 0 |
| R Smith (half) | 0 | H W Miller (half) | 0 |
| F L Heygate | 0 | W K Woolston | 1 |
| C A Wetenhall | 1 | Rev D H Meggy | 0 |
| Dr Greenfield | 0 | A C Chambers | 1 |
| R Marriott | 1 | D D Chisholm | 0 |
| Dr Owen | 0 | S H Cook | 1 |
| C Claridge | 0 | J Watts | 1 |
| O Claridge | 0 | R A Shouler | 1 |
| W H Lovell | 0 | F G Coales | 1 |
| O Parker | 1 | R Tebbitt | 0 |
| 4 | 6 |
Report on the death of Old Tom Morris in May 1908 and recollections of his visit to Wellingborough to lay out the first course.
Midland Mail Saturday 30 May 1908. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below is the result of a club match played at Wellingborough on Thursday 18 February 1909 against Stanwick.
| Wellingborough Golf Club | Stanwick Golf Club | ||
| C Nicholson | 0 | Rev A Wetenhall | 1 |
| J Pendered | 0 | Dr Baker | 1 |
| R D Pendered | 1 | Geo Mason | 0 |
| Rev D H Meggy | 1 | R Smith | 0 |
| W H B Bowers | 1 | C A Wetenhall | 0 |
| J Watts | 1 | F L Heygate | 0 |
| A C Chambers | 1 | R F Knight | 0 |
| Rev E P Powell | 1 | R Marriott | 0 |
| R A Shouler | 1 | W H Lovell | 0 |
| D D Chisholm | 1 | Dr Greenfield | 0 |
| J Sharman | 0 | Dr Owen | 1 |
| S H Cook | 1 | Rev E W Snart | 0 |
| 9 | 3 |
At a meeting on the Thursday 18 March 1909 it was reported that Earl Fitzwilliam had kindly offered to build a pavilion for the club at a cost of £150, the money was to be repaid in ten annual installments. An attempt was to be made to raise the money by voluntary subscriptions.
Miss Audrey Leigh, daughter of Sir Chandos Leigh, K.C, of Knuston Hall, won a competition arranged for the ladies’ section in March 1909.
In April 1909 the Rev D H Meggy won the H W Miller Challenge Cup with a score of 3down.
In May 1909 Mr W K Woolston won the championship cup, he beat R D Pendered in the final by 1up. Mr H C Knight, the holder, was beaten in the semi-final by Mr Pendered. The monthly medal was won by Mr R Tebbit.
Below is the result of a home match played against Kettering on Thursday 6 May 1909.
| Wellingborough Golf Club | Kettering Golf Club | ||
| H C Knight | 1 | C Speight | 0 |
| W K Woolston | 0 | H A Cooper | 1 |
| R D Pendered | 0 | J H Wallis | 1 |
| G W Grudgeon | 1 | C J Olive | 0 |
| H W Miller | 1 | H W Mobbs | 0 |
| Rev D H Meggy | 0 | C Saunders | 1 |
| C Wetherall | 1 | J Thompson | 0 |
| R A Shouler | 1 | F Mobbs | 0 |
| J Watts | 0 | G H Lane | 1 |
| S H S Cook | 0 | A Cheaney | 1 |
| F G Coales | 0 | C L Wilson | 1 |
| R Tebbit | 1 | A G Layton | 0 |
| 6 | 6 |
Result of a competition for a prize given by Mr Groggen of Hinwick Hall played in November 1910; H C Knight, 3down; W A Shouler and C F Nicholson, 3down; W K Woolston and C H Oxland, 5down; C Nicholson and R Tebbit, 7down; D H Meggy, 10down; A T Down, 12down.
The following report is from the Northampton Mercury Friday 19 September 1913 – “At Wellingborough on Wednesday evening the large farm of pasture land over which the Wellingborough Golf Club play was sold to a London firm for £3,200. The farm formed part of the Fitzwilliam Estate, and was sold by the order of Earl Fitzwilliam, who recently has been disposing of a good deal of his outlying lands.”
Result of a match played at Stanwick Golf Club (now defunct) played in January 1914.
| Stanwick Golf Club | Wellingborough Golf Club | ||
| R Mason | 1 | A H Bull | 0 |
| R Smith | 0 | R A Shouler | 1 |
| F Heygate | 0 | W F Ford | 0 |
| R Marriott | 0 | C Nicholson | 0 |
| C R Claridge | 0 | E Lilley | 1 |
| C A Wetenhall | 1 | R Knight | 0 |
| G Mason | 0 | Rev. D Meggy | 1 |
| C Wing | 0 | R Patenhall | 1 |
| C S Hull | 1 | A E Chambers | 0 |
| 3 | 4 |
It was reported in April 1914 that “Mr C Woodcock, who was largely responsible for starting the Wellingborough Golf Club, to which he acted as hon. secretary for thirteen years, has taken the post of secretary at the newly formed Bramley Golf Club.”
The hon. secretary prior to WW1 was Cuthbert Nicholson.
It was reported in August 1917 that Private G R Leslie, Leinster Regiment, 35 George Street, Wellingborough, grounds-man of the Wellingborough Golf Club, had been killed in action in France.
In October 1917 Earl Fitzwilliam was again chosen as president of the club; captain, C H Oxland; vice-captain, A H Kirby; hon. secretary, A Birkitt.
In April 1918 the H W Miller Cup was won by C H Oxland of Wellingborough School. The winner the previous year was Rev. D H Meggy.
At the annual meeting in October 1919 it was decided to allow Sunday play.
In October 1920 R D Pendered was elected club captain, his father, J Pendered J.P., was one of the founders and was now president.
In October 1921 W George was elected captain and W B Thompson, vice-captain.
Result of the September 1922 monthly medal; J Burkitt, 80-9-71; T Perkins, 84-9-75; A Burkitt, 94-14-80; F H Johnson, 105-22-83. Result of the monthly bogey; S Booth (14) 4up; T Perkins (9) 3up; W Upchurch (12) 2up; J Burkitt (9) 2down; F E Johnson (22) 3down; B G Plowman (20) 4down; A Burkitt (14) 5down.
Below is a report on the move to the new course in 1922.
From the Northampton Mercury Friday 27 October 1922. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Below is the result of a match played at Desborough Golf Club (now defunct) against Wellingborough Golf Club in June 1939.
| Desborough Golf Club | Wellingborough Golf Club | ||
| R Haynes and T Dean | 0 | H Dorman and R Mumford | 1 |
| R Barton and W Coe | 0 | T H Parker and O A M Wilson | 1 |
| L J Burditt and W Stratford | 0 | M C Collier and G Binnie | 1 |
| W Busby and L Tebbutt | 0 | M Smith and C E Dorman | 1 |
| H Goodman and C Gingell | 0 | S Marshall and S C Pentelow | 1 |
| 0 | 5 |
In 1947 the secretary at the Harrowden Road course was A M Wilson, 15b Hatton Street, Wellingborough, the professional and greenkeeper was G Craddock. The nine hole course had a Par and SSS of 72. Membership of 200. Visitor’s fees, 2/6 a day, 7/6 a week.
In 1972 the secretary was W Rowley and the professional R A King. Nine-holes, the course had a total yardage of 5,824 yards and a SSS of 68. Membership of 300. Visitors' fees 75p a round, £1.25p at weekend.
Location of the first Wellingborough course, nowadays part of an Industrial Estate.
Location of the second Wellingborough course at Harrowden Road. This area is completely covered by housing with roads reflecting the lands former use, Gleneagles Drive, Wentworth Avenue etc.