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Barton-on-Sea Golf Club, Hants. (1897 - 1922)
In 1897 the first Barton-on-Sea nine-hole course was laid out by Tom Dunn on a cliff top to the west of the present course.
Also known as Barton Court Golf Course.
The course was primarily used by guests of the Barton Court Hotel, golfers green fees were 2s/6d. A club was eventually formed by Sir Robert Affleck and a group of golfing enthusiasts who had permission to use the course and play competitions.
This course continued until 1909.
Report on the opening of the course in June 1898.
Bournemouth Guardian Saturday 18 June 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Competitions played in October 1898.
Bournemouth Guardian Saturday 1 October 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The first Barton-on-Sea course is clearly marked in the centre of the above map. Reproduced from the {1898} Ordnance Survey map.
From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1897; Membership 80; Hon. Sec., H Handy; Captain, J Gibb; No entrance fee until 1906, Subs, £2; Nine-holes; Professional, M J Walker; Visitors 2s a day, 7s/6d a week, 25s a month. The links are situated on the top of a high cliff. The course is a sporting one of nine-holes and is kept in good order. There are plenty of natural hazards in the shape of hedges, ditches and streams.
An early postcard of the links.
Just as the above course finished a property developer acquired a large area of land called the Barton Court Estate. There were ambitious plans to build houses and construct an 18-hole golf course. Although the housing scheme never really “got off the ground” the construction of the 18-hole course at “The Meadows” went ahead and Harry Vardon was given the job of laying out the course which opened in 1910.
Following WW1 there was a need for more housing and the course was under threat of development. The course disappeared under housing in 1922.
The Golf Links, Barton –on-Sea, Meadows course?
The above image appears to have more of an inland appearance, could it be the Meadows course?
The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the first course.