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Torquay and St Marychurch Golf Club, Walls Hill, Devon. (1882 - 1936)
The club was founded in 1882.
Originally a six-hole course.
It was extended to nine-holes in the mid 1880s.
With fine views, it was delightfully situated at Walls Hill on Babbacombe Downs overlooking the sea. Hazards consisted of a quarry, furze, stone walls, bunkers etc. In the early years it was known as; Torquay, Torquay & St Marychurch or Babbacombe Golf Club. The clubhouse was situated at 1 Haredown Terrace, Babbacombe which was close to the ninth green. There were railway stations at Torre 1 ½ miles and Torquay 2 miles away. There was also a tram service every 10 minutes from Torquay and every 15 minutes from Torre, all trams passed the club.
Early mention of golf on the Downs in November 1882.
Torquay Times and South Devon Advertiser Friday 10 November 1882. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Anstey’s Cove from the golf course.
Vandals on the six-hole course in April 1883.
Torquay Times and South Devon Advertiser Saturday 7 April 1883. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
A competition for the Cassavetti medal was played on the Downs in December 1886. The winner was won by the Hon. Capt. Hewitt; runner-up, Major Hardie, secretary of the club.
Below is the result of a match played against Exmouth on the Babbacombe links on Thursday 10 March 1887.
| Torquay Golf Club | Exmouth Golf Club | ||
| Mr Deniston | 4 | Rev C Carr | 0 |
| Mr Horner | 0 | Mr Drysdale | 7 |
| Mr Clark | 0 | Mr Lowrie R.N | 5 |
| Mr Kane | 0 | Capt Hemphill | 1 |
| General Saunders | 5 | General Tod Brown R.N | 0 |
| Mr Holdsworth | 5 | Colonel Cox | 0 |
| 14 | 13 |
Above is the entry from the Golfing Annual 1888/89.
Torquay Times and South Devon Advertiser Friday 27 April 1888. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of the monthly competition for the Cassavetti medal played in May 1889; F C Maconchy, 125-30-95; W E Norris, 115-12-103; Rev. G T Warner, 121-16-105; R P Kitson, 123-16-107; Capt. Johnstone, 108 scratch; E H Sanders, 131-18-113.
Torquay Times and South Devon Advertiser Friday 1 November 1889. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
It was reported in January 1890 that golf playing was increasing and that the Torquay club had 50 members.
In March 1890 a Ladies Golf Club was started at Torquay, Miss Saunders was captain and Miss McDonall secretary.
Torquay Times and South Devon Advertiser Wednesday 24 December 1890. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The professional/green-keeper in 1891 was Ben Way.
Result of a club match played against Exmouth Golf Club on the Walls Hill course on Thursday 12 February 1891 in splendid weather. Exmouth won the match thanks mainly to the performance of Mr Dunsford who recorded an 18 hole score of 86. The previous best score in competition on the Torquay course was 97.
| Torquay Golf Club | Exmouth Golf Club | ||
| General Saunders | 1 | Rev M Carr | 0 |
| Captain Livingstone | 0 | Mr Dunsford | 11 |
| Mr Dykes | 4 | Mr H A Upton | 0 |
| Mr Fowler | 4 | Mr Pine-Coffin | 0 |
| Mr Lucy | 0 | Mr Cripps | 5 |
| Mr Norris | 0 | Captain Hemphill | 4 |
| 9 | 20 |
Ladies' competition results from April 1891.
"Golf" Friday 1 May 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Report on the annual meeting in October 1891.
Torquay Times and South Devon Advertiser Friday 16 October 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The secretary in 1893 was W E Norris, he wrote 14 novels, the first called “Heaps of Money” He played golf most mornings and did his writing in the afternoon.
Results from competitions played over Christmas 1893.
"Golf" Friday 5 January 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In February 1897 the following golfers represented the club in a match against Exmouth Golf Club (now defunct); A Saunders-Knox-Gore, E Smith, A R Hunt, G M Frean, G H Hardie and C S Wollen.
Torquay Times and South Devon Advertiser Friday 26 March 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Card of the course in the early 1900s -
| Hole | Yards | Bogey |
| 1 | 240 | 4 |
| 2 | 365 | 5 |
| 3 | 196 | 4 |
| 4 | 280 | 5 |
| 5 | 100 | 3 |
| 6 | 280 | 5 |
| 7 | 270 | 4 |
| 8 | 280 | 4 |
| 9 | 220 | 4 |
Total length, 2,231 yards, bogey 37. The course record at the time was 69.
| Secretary | Professional/greenkeeper | |
| 1908-28 | W H Richards (p) | |
| 1914-26 | A Mylrea, Westholme, Babbacombe, Torquay. | |
| 1927 | A Hill | |
| 1928-30s | H Crawford, "Hallowdene" Babbacombe Road, Torquay. | E J Furse (p&g) |
| 1936 | E Davis, The Nest, Barnton Hill, Torquay. | E J Furse (p&g) |
Ordnance Survey Map from the 1900s showing the course.
O.S. Map Revised 1904; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1906}.
From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Torquay & St. Marychurch Golf Club; Instituted 1882; Membership of 95; Hon. secretary - F Cobbett, Ye Reddeclyffe, St Marychurch; Captain, W E Norris; Entrance fee, £1/1s and subs £2/2s; Nine-holes; Professional, C Hope; Course records; Professional - W H Richards, 70; Amateur - G H Hardie, 70; Terms for visitors, 5 shillings a week, 17s/6d a month. The course is on Babbacombe Downs, overlooking the sea.
Also listed was the Torquay Ladies' Golf Club; Instituted 1890; Membership of 55; Hon. secretary - Miss G Livingston, Edenhurst, Torquay; Captain, Miss P Collett; Entrance fee, 10 shillings and subs, 10s/6d; Ladies' course record; Miss P Collett, 84 (18-holes) and 41 (9-holes); Visitors, 1 shilling a day, 2s/6d a week, 5s a month. The club plays on the men's course.
R Noble Acutt presided at the annual general meeting in October 1908. R P Kitson was elected captain of the club for the coming year; A Mylrea was re-elected hon. secretary; A L Body, hon. treasurer.
Result of the December 1908 ladies' medal; Miss Lucy, 97-15-82; Miss M M Collett, 107-23-84; Miss M C Wrey, 114-27-87; Miss C Peek, 113-25-88; Miss P C Collett, 94-5-89; Miss K Oldfield, 114-25-89. The greens were very heavy with low scoring impossible.
It was reported in the Torquay Times in February 1909 that "A professional golf player had visited the Torquay Racecourse and after inspection expressed the opinion that there are no difficulties in the way of it being made into a thoroughly good 18-hole course". This report refers to the current Torquay Golf Club at Petitor Road, St Marychurch.
Just prior to WW1 there was a membership of 140. Entry fees were £1/1/0 and subs £2/2/0. Visitors’ fees were 2/- a day, 7/6 a week and 25/- a month. Sunday play was not allowed.
It was reported in November 1917 that the whole of the course was to be ploughed up for the war effort.
Below is the result of the Still Golf Cup, a ladies team competition, played at Walls Hill against Churston in January 1924.
| Torquay Ladies' Golf Club | Churston Ladies' Golf Club | ||
| Miss D Willes Little | 0 | Miss Hingston (19th) | 1 |
| Miss Lloyd Williams | 0 | Miss Bradford (5&4) | 1 |
| Mrs Willes Little (2&1) | 1 | Hon. A Yarde Buller | 0 |
| Miss Swash | 0 | Miss Coppin (6&5) | 1 |
| Miss Sanders | 0 | Miss Sands (3&2) | 1 |
| Miss F M W Little (4&3) | 1 | Mrs Smyth | 0 |
| Miss G C Wright (3&2) | 1 | Mrs Sparkes | 0 |
| 3 | 4 |
Below, result of a Ladies versus Gentlemen match played at Walls Hill on Friday 25 January 1924.
| Ladies | Gentlemen | ||
| Miss D Willes Little | 0 | E J Roe (5&3) | 1 |
| Miss Lloyd Williams | 0 | J F Willes Little (6&4) | 1 |
| Mrs Willes Little | 0 | A Annesley (2&1) | 1 |
| Miss Swash (2&1) | 1 | H G Cumming | 0 |
| Miss Sanders (half) | 0 | T S Talbot (half) | 0 |
| Miss Bolkow (half) | 0 | R Noble Acutt (half) | 0 |
| Miss M W Little | 0 | A Mylrea (2&1) | 1 |
| Miss Wright (half) | 0 | H Crawford (half) | 0 |
| Mrs Eales | 0 | C H Partridge (2up) | 1 |
| Miss Greame (1up) | 1 | A Hill | 0 |
| Miss Kerr | 0 | Brig-Gen M C Curry (7&6) | 1 |
| Mrs Staveley | 0 | E W Wortabet (7&6) | 1 |
| 2 | 7 |
In 1928 to the mid 1930s membership had decreased to about 90.
During the 1930s the course was experiencing problems with youngsters playing football and cricket on the greens, and the once pristine course began to suffer. The council arranged for a warden to patrol, but things did not improve and the members became more frustrated with the condition of the course. The club agreed to a further condition, that golf could only be played in the mornings at weekends during July and August. This probably proved to be the last straw, in March 1936 it was given six months notice to quit to take effect in early September.
Result of the ladies monthly medal played in January 1935; Mrs Hann, 108-30-78; Miss Lloyd Williams, 99-15-84; Miss C C Wright, 118-25-93; Mrs MacTaggart, 139-36-103.
Results from the spring meeting at Walls Hill in April 1936; Hardy Cup (18-holes scratch medal), A E Townsend, 86; Cassavetti Gold Medal - H W B Henn, 95-20-75.
Result of the May 1936 monthly medal; W A Deakins, 92-24-68; E Davis, 85-15-70; A E Townsend, 81-10-71; E F Morgan, 81-10-71.
In the club's last year in 1936 the nine-holes had a SSS and Par of 70. Ironically, there was now a licensed clubhouse.
From the Western Morning News Wednesday 7 October 1936; "The parks committee recommended, and it was agreed, that no action be taken with regard to a suggestion that a municipal golf course should be established at Walls Hill, where the tenancy of Torquay Golf Club has recently been terminated."
Sign on the site of the former Torquay Golf Club. Note the ironic point on the bottom line “No Golf”. Author's Collection.
Above Babbacombe from Walls Hill (2003)
Above Babbacombe from Walls Hill (Postcard 1900s)
On close inspection many features can still be made out on the former course. Pictures taken in 2003. Authors Collection.
Location of the former course on Walls Hill.
Early picture showing the Golf Links & Racecourse, St Marychurch (current course Founded 1909). Image courtesy of Frank Accleton.