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North Tawton Golf Club, Devon. (1912 - 1920s)

The club first appeared in 1912, the course opened in 1913. 

A later course opened at Burton Hall in 1927.

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette Friday 25 October 1912 ; "NORTHTAWTON - Progress is being made with the laying out of the new golf course, under the direction of an expert and professional golfer. The opening will probably take the form of a tournament."

Below preparing the North Tawton Links.

On the North Tawton golf course. Left to right Sam Hoyle, ? ?, Mary Gibbings, W D Gibbings, W Edworthy, Sammy Skinner. Thanks to Lee Patterson @LdnGolfHistory

The advert below appeared in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on Friday 31 January 1913.

The following is an extract from a report that appeared in the Western Times on Tuesday 25 March 1913.

"In charming weather yesterday, the new golf course, recently laid out on the Bathe Moor, North Tawton, was formally opened. It was disappointing that the doctor's orders prevented the Right Hon. George Lambert, M.P., who was to have performed the opening ceremony, from attending. The course is of nine-holes, covering 40 acres, and is 2001 yards in length. The idea of establishing a course was debated at a public meeting, a small committee was formed, as follows; Dr Desprez, captain; S Hoyle, hon. treasurer; W Durant Gibbings, hon. secretary; Rev S J A Wallace, Major H B Woods, J G Tavener, W Skinner and J G Durant. An offer of the land was made by Mr G G James, of de Bathe Barton, and was promptly accepted. The captain of the Tavistock Club, Mr C H James, and other members rendered valuable assistance, and placed the services of their professional, Metters, at the service of the North Tawton Club in laying out the course. The membership of the club now stands at nearly 40. Although now on the short side, the course can, when thought desirable, be extended to the full length. A club room has been established. The Right Hon. the Earl of Portsmouth is the patron of the club, and Mr John E Shaw, M.P., president. Among those present at the opening ceremony were; Colonel Sir Robert White-Thomson, Dr & Mrs Desprez, Mr G D Cann, Major Woods, Rev S J U Wallace, Rev H W & Mrs Milne (Sticklepath), Mr & Mrs J G Gibbings, Mr & Mrs E May (Crooke Burnell), Mr S Hoyle, Mr G Davidson, the Misses Hole.

The new Club's flag was run to the mast-head, amid applause, lead by Mrs Desprez. 

They were glad to have with them Colonel Sir Robert White-Thomson to open the links, after Mr C H James, Tavistock Club captain, had teed of the first ball.

Cheers having been given to Sir Robert, a threesome was played by Rev H W Milner, Mr C H James and Ernest Metters, the Tavistock professional. The players expressed their surprise at the excellence of the greens, considering the small amount of play which had taken place over them. Metters easily had the best of the game, covering the nine-holes in 36 strokes.

 After the golf a well attended luncheon was provided in the club room."

The opening of the North Tawton Golf Course in March 1913.

Thanks to Frank Accleton who provided the following information on the picture above - "Second from right of the giant in the Bowler Hat is George Duncan and second left from the same man Harry Vardon."

Result of a match played on the Stafford Moor Course, Dolton, in September 1913.

Report on the annual meeting in January 1915.

Western Times Tuesday 26 January 1915. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The annual meeting of the North Tawton club was held on Wednesday 26 January 1916. A satisfactory balance sheet was presented by the treasurer. The following officers were elected; John E Shaw, president; Dr H S Desprez, captain; Mr W Durant Gibbings, secretary; Mr S Hoyle, treasurer.  

Unfortunately nothing further has been found and WW1 probably put paid to the prospects of the early club.

Report on the opening of the new course at Burton Hall in May 1927.

Western Times Friday 20 May 1927. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Picture of Burton Hall location of the later golf course in the 1920s.

The Google Maps below show the location of the first course at Bathe Moor(top); and at Burton Hall the later course (lower).