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Falmouth Golf Club. (1894 - 1924)

Founded 1894 the original course was located at Higher Argal.

In 1898 the club moved to Higher Kergilliack. 

The club was on the move again to a course at Trevethan prior to WW1.

The current course at Swanpool Road was established in the late 1920s.

It was reported in June 1894 that efforts were being made to establish a course for Falmouth although it was proving difficult to find a suitable location. It was understood that land near Argal, Buddock could be a possibility. A course would be welcomed for both locals and the many visitors to the area.

Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Saturday 7 July 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the new club in November 1894.

Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times Saturday 3 November 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the first handicap competition played in January 1895.

Cornish Echo and Falmouth & Penryn Times Saturday 19 January 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

“Golf” Friday 26 March 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In December 1898 the competition for two candlesticks presented by Miss Edwards was won by Mr C R Broad who beat Mr A N Deakin after a close and exciting match.

The Mansel medal was played for on the Higher Argal course on Friday 22 April 1898 in beautiful weather. The course and greens were in good condition, result; W W Sharpe, 50 first round, 71 second round, 121-40-81; A N Deakin, 50+54=104-18-86; C R Broad, 50+45=95-8-87; D Donald, 61+57=118-30-88; L Stuart Anderson, W A Fawcus, Robert Fox, J F H Owen, H Fox, C A Tucker, H B Carlyon, C Bland and L M Haslope also competed.

In October 1898 the new course at Higher Kergilliack, which had been under construction for two months, was now open for play. A nine hole course with hazards of roads, hedges and trees, it measured a total of 1 mile 326 yards. The club rented a cottage adjoining the first tee and last hole and this served as the clubhouse. The views from the course were beautiful taking in Falmouth Bay, the harbour and Pendennis Castle. At the opening competition a cigarette case, kindly presented by Mr L Stuart Anderson, was played for against bogey. There were eleven competitors and the winner proved to be Mr J F H Owen with a score of 2 down.

The O.S. Map below shows the location of the course at Higher Kergilliack.

Ordnance Survey Map © Crown Copyright {1909}.

Following is a report from the Royal Cornwall Gazette dated Thursday 6 December 1900. It’s headed Falmouth Golf Club and it clearly states that the club was now located at Higher Kergilliack. “It’s a long time since the golf course at Higher Kergilliack presented such an animated scene as it did on Friday, when the members of the Falmouth club inaugurated their winter season by competing for prizes presented by Mr and Mrs L Stuart Anderson, the captains of the men’s and ladies’ golf clubs. The conditions of the competition were as follows:- mixed foursomes, medal play, under handicap, 18 holes; the best nine holes to count, according to Macpherson’s eclectic system. Fortunately the weather was fine, but the course was heavy, while the grass in many places prevented many of the players from showing their true form. Thanks, however, to the greenkeeper, Ingleheart, the putting greens were in capital order”. Ten couples started, result as follows; Miss Hibbert Ware and B B Carlyon, 45-2-43; Mrs Carne and R Fox, 60-15-45; Miss Grylls and L F B Knuthsen, 52-7-45; Miss Lock and Captain Phillips, 57-11-46; Mrs Broad and W L Fox, 54-8-46; Mrs Foster and L F H Owen, 58-11-47; Mrs Grylls and C R Broad, 59-10-49; Mrs Cocking and H Mansel, 69-14-55; Mrs W L Fox and Capt Burder, 76-19-57.

Presentation for two popular members in January 1902.

Northern Constitution Saturday 25 January 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of a ladies club match against West Cornwall Golf Club played at Lelant in April 1902.

The home team also won the foursomes match, same players involved.

Result of a match played at Falmouth against West Cornwall on 4 March 1903.

Competition result from April 1904.

Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Friday 8 April 1904. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Entry from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1894; Membership 35, 30 ladies; Station at Falmouth 2 and half miles; Hon. secretary - W A Fawcus, Treveader, Falmouth; Captain, H B Carlyon; Entrance Fee nil and subs £2/2s, ladies, £1/1s; 9-holes; Green-keeper, C Ingleheart; Amateur record - L S Anderson, 34; Fixtures - Saunders Badge, February; Mansel Medal, March; Hospital Challenge Prize, April; Terms for visitors, 1s a day, 3s a week. An inland course with natural hazards, consisting of hedges, one brook, and two lanes. The total length is 2,140 yards. Hotels - "Falmouth," "Pendennis," Green Bank." 

The secretary fights back in March 1905.

Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Friday 17 March 1905. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

At the annual meeting in August 1906 the following officers were elected; Captain, H B Carlyon; hon. secretary, D T Savary; hon. treasurer, T R Grylls; committee - C R Stephens, W L Fox, W A Fawcus, Deakin, Tucker, Major Luard; green-committee - H B Carlyon, J M Carne, C A Carne. There were 40 gentlemen and thirty lady members.

Results from the winter meeting played in February 1907.

Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Friday 1 March 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition results from December 1908.

Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Friday 18 December 1908. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the move to the new course at Trevethan in February 1910.

Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Friday 18 February 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Friday 8 April 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The O.S. Map below shows the area around Trevethan prior to the course being laid out.

Ordnance Survey Map © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1909}.

Competition result from June 1910.

Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Friday 17 June 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the ladies mid-monthly medal played in February 1911; Miss Hibbert-Ware (2), 2 down; Mrs Newton Watson (23) , Mrs Meares (18), Mrs Harrris (20), all 5 down; Mrs Bearne (17), 7 down.

Result of the November 1912 bogey competition.

Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser Friday 6 December 1912. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The course was taken over by the military in June 1914.

After years of wrangling with the War Office it was decided to wind-up the club in July 1924.

Cornishman Wednesday 9 July 1924. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

It was reported in June 1927 “that the scratch cup presented to the club, who had their course at Trevethan, by the late Mr C H Hext, and which had not been played for since 1913, was played for under the auspices of the Falmouth (Pennance) Golf Club”. 

The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the Kergilliack course.