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Birling Manor Golf Club, Birling Gap, Eastbourne. (1894 - 1952)
The club was founded in 1894.
In the early years the course was open seven days a week, which bought much displeasure to the local clergy of Eastbourne.
Above is a pre-WW1 postcard showing the Birling Gap Hotel and Golf Links.
Report on the golf course in August 1913.
Eastbourne Gazette Wednesday 20 August 1913. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1914 the secretary was F E Cracknell, Birling Gap Hotel. The professional was Arthur Billett. A 9-hole course. There was no entry fee, subs were 10/6. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day. Sunday play was allowed. The station at Eastbourne was 4 ½ miles away.
In 1922 the secretary was Miss Binney, The Bungalow, Birling Gap, Eastbourne.
The Golf Course Birling Gap.
The golf links marked on the Ordnance Survey Map in the 1920s.
O.S. Map Revised 1925 - © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1927}.
Postcard showing the clubhouse and course to the right.
Alterations to the golf course in April 1939.
From the Eastbourne Herald Saturday 8 April 1939. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From 1940 to the clubs closure in the early 1950s the secretary was R G Hall, Manor Office, Eastbourne, telephone 180 and the green-keeper W Chatfield. There was a membership of 75. A private course visitors’ fees from April to September were 2/- a day, October to March 1/6 a day. The station at Eastbourne was 5 miles away. Local hotels were the Imperial, Queen’s, Grand, Cavendish and the Sussex.
The following advert is from June 1950 – Birling Manor Golf Club, Birling Gap. The nine-hole course is now open to the public and all visitors are welcome. The present green-fee is only 2/- a day.
Below a further advert for Birling Manor Golf Club in June 1951.
Eastbourne Herald Saturday 23 June 1951. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Notice of the closure of the golf course in March 1952.
Eastbourne Herald Saturday 8 March 1952. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The club was recorded into the early 1950s. The land once occupied by the course reverted to farmland.