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Bognor Regis Golf Club, Sussex. (1892 - 1922)
The club was founded 1892.
A nine-hole course was laid out in the centre of Bognor Regis between the Convent and Linden Road. It continued at this location until 1898.
The second course was between Bognor and Felpham, Ernest Gray the Littlehampton professional, who finished fifth in the Open Championship in 1906, laid out the new course. The opening ceremony took place in June 1906, a prominent feature of the course at Brook Lane was the Aldingbourne Rife.
Early professionals at the club; Ernest Gray, 1893 - 1896; C Kyte, 1905 - 1910; S Gray, 1910- 1912; S Hillman, 1912 - 1921.
The club moved to its current location in 1922.
Below is a report on the new club in January 1892.
From the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News Saturday 16th January 1892. Image © Illustrated London News Group.
From the Golfing Annual Vol. V -1891-92; Hon. Secretary - Henry Marshall, The Hawthorns, Bognor; Professional, J Tabor. The course is a nine-hole one close to the town, and there is also a course for ladies considerably above the average. The membership is rapidly increasing and visitors are made welcome.
A newspaper report in 1957 mentions the early golf course (1892 - 1898) and gives the following location – “There was a golf course stretching from Linden Road to the Convent.”
The Ordnance Survey Map above shows the Convent and Linden Road, no golf course marked. © Crown Copyright {1899}
A postcard of Golf Lane, Bersted, location of the first Bognor course.
Competition results from May 1892.
Bognor Regis Observer Wednesday 1st June 1892.Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of the December 1892 monthly medal; E Gibson, 101-16-85; D Edgell, 110-15-95; D Campbell, 112-17-95; W C Blaker, 112-17-95; Captain Fisher, 133-36-97; A Kennett, 124-25-99; Col. Hon. A Wood, 184-5-134.
Below is the result of a match played at Chichester in March 1893.
From the Sussex Agricultural Express Saturday 25th March 1893. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Results from the Easter Meeting played in March 1897.
Chichester Observer Wednesday 28th April 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The following report is from the Bognor Regis Observer 23rd March 1898; "I regret to hear that there is a chance of the Bognor Golf Club dying a natural death owing to part of the ground being required for other purposes. It seems a pity that an institution that has, no doubt, attracted many golfers to Bognor, should not receive some substantial support from the town, which benefits by those visitors and their families. In case the club should cease to exist notice of the fact will have to be published in the Golfing and Sporting papers. It is yet possible, should sufficient support be forthcoming, to secure a better nine-hole course than the existing one and quite as accessible."
It was reported in May 1899 that the collapse of the Bognor Golf Club was a considerable loss to the town.
Bognor Golf Club button.
Felpham Golf Links on a pre-WW1 postcard.
The Golf Course and Aldingbourne Rife.
A movement was started in 1903 to bring golf back to Bognor. I took a couple of years to finalise matters.
The first general meeting of the new club was held in the Council Chamber on Thursday December 14th 1905. Lord Bridport was elected to the chair and gave a report of the action which had been taken by the club in securing ground upon professional advice, collecting donations and engaging a professional, and appointing trustees etc. Mr Voules reported a membership of 75 and also eleven lady members. The following officers were appointed to hold office until the general meeting in May 1907; Captain, Lord Bridport; hon. secretary, M F Voules; hon. treasurer, G W Cutts; auditor, F W Lovett; committee - Lord Bridport, M F Voules, G W Cutts, E A Duffield Jones, Capt. Paine; E F Holland, William Cumming, Rev. Lea, G W Staley, Mr Sait, Mr Walton and Mr Hawkins. Votes of thanks were given to those gentlemen who brought the club to successful start and to Mr W Tillott Barlow for his advice and his assistance as architect. Thanks were also passed on to Mr Sait for furthering the success of the club. Later in December Lord Bridport was elected president of the club.
The first 18-hole medal play competition was played at Whitsuntide in 1906; M S Townsend, 95-20-75 (prize for handicaps over 11); C H Hale, 89-12-77 (prize for handicaps 18 or under); E A D Jones, 87-10-77; H P Tufnell, 104-24-80; Capt. Paine, 100-18-82; S Upton, 110-24-86; M F Voules, 106-11-95; Wilson Tickle, 124-24-100; H Gardener, 130-30-100; Dr. Michie, 144-36-108.
Result of a medal competition played at Easter in April 1908; R C Westall, 78-7-71; C Lamb, 98-20-78; E A Duffield-Jones, 85-6-79; J Haviland, 89-10-79; Dr. Michie, 105-24-79; R F Gatehouse, 85-5-80; E Holland, 110-30-80; C J Wilson, 96-13-83; W M Walton, 103-18-85; Lord Bridport, 120-24-96.
Result of a medal competition played in April 1910; E Heald, 82-17-65; C H Lamb, 85-15-70; J B Poore, 81-7-74; T H Gill, 92-18-74; R Smyth, 94-20-74; H D Jones, 91-14-77; M S Townend, 96-17-79; M E Ellis, 99-18-81.
In August 1912 S Hillman, formerly assistant professional at Littlehampton, was appointed professional at Bognor.
The annual meeting was held in the clubhouse on Saturday 5th May 1917. In the absence of Lord Bridport, Dr, H B Newman took the chair. It was noted that the club was suffering financially due to the war. The following officers were re-elected; Captain, Viscount Bridport; hon. secretary, Dr Grummitt (Mr Michell Ellis acting hon. secretary); hon. treasurer, T W Cutts; committee - Major Thompson, R E Bartley, Captain W M Walton.
Report from the Bognor Regis Observer 31st July 1918; "THE BOGNOR GOLF CLUB - As mentioned in our last issue, the links will be reopened for play tomorrow, August 1st. All the hay has been cleared and the full course is open. Any further information can be obtained at the links or from the hon. secretary Mr M Ellis, "Mordington," Upper Bognor, or the hon. treasurer, T W Cutts, 50 High Street, Bognor."
The club moved to its current location in July 1922. The new 18-hole course was designed by James Braid.
Location of the Brook Lane course. Grid reference SZ94425,99815, co-ordinates 494425,099815