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Portsmouth Golf Club, Great Salterns Course. (1926 - 1972)

An 18-hole municipal course designed by H S Colt.

It was generally called Potrsmouth Golf Club but in the earlier years it was also known as Portsmouth City Golf Club or Great Salterns Golf Club.

The later Portsmouth Golf Club was founded in 1972 with a course at Widley.

Early report on the Great Salterns Golf Course from the Portsmouth Evening News November 1922; “With reference to the laying out of a golf course at Great Salterns, the Parks and Open Spaces Committee recommended that Mr H S Colt be engaged to prepare the plans and supervise the work at a fee of 300 guineas. Councillor H W Blackadar moved an amendment that 100 guineas should be paid to Mr Colt, and that the work should be supervised by the Parks Superintendant.”

It was reported in September 1925 the H S Colt had submitted a report on the course at Great Salterns. The architect stated that he was astonished at the progress made and he thought it would be possible to open the course quickly if extra labour could be employed. The 18-hole golf course covered an area of about 110 acres.

The development and construction of the course was a mammoth task for that time. It’s described perfectly in the following extract from an article that appeared in the Hampshire Telegraph on Friday 11 June 1926.:-

“MUNICIPAL GOLF – PORTSMOUTH CITY’S NEW MODEL LINKS DESCRIBED – A GREAT SALTERNS TRANSFORMATION.

The new course is situated immediately in front of the well known mansion on the new Eastern Road.

The land on which the golf course has been fashioned has been reclaimed practically from the sea. When first tackled some five years ago it was a veritable slough of despond, but hundreds of cartloads of rubble, earth, and what not were brought to the spot and tipped. Thousands of drainage pipes were placed in the ground, and slowly but surely the place took shape and was ready for its purpose. Incidentally, this gave work to hundreds of Portsmouth’s unemployed.

Whilst on this particular subject, I may add this wonderful system of drainage keeps the place almost entirely free from surface water. The drainage pipes empty themselves into a cutting through the links, which in turn carries the surface water off the course and spills itself in the Great Salterns Lake adjoining the course. At low tide sluice gates of the latter are raised and allow the water finally to empty itself into the sea.

Following the make-up, the services of the eminent golf architect, Mr H S Colt, were secured and the course laid out. One would never dream that the bunkers and greens are one and all fashioned from made-up ground, so natural are they in appearance. Recognising the fact that a very large percentage of prospective players would be beginners, Mr Colt carefully avoided making too many hazards, but nevertheless he has contrived to make each and every hole as interesting as the lie of the land would permit. In the work of preparation, Mr F Baker, the new Parks and Open Spaces Superintendent, did valuable service, and he and Messrs. Humphreys and Pope are worthy of special mention.

The Palatial Clubhouse – The mansion aforementioned has also been acquired by the Corporation, and is at present in course of renovation and preparation for the comfort and convenience of prospective members, for whom it will provide a handsome and commodious clubhouse. One very large room overlooking the links which I saw was already fitted with several lockers for the safe custody of members’ clubs and golf balls.

On making my round of the links, I was vastly impressed with the beauty of the fairways. The newly appointed green-keeper, Mr Workman, has seen to it that they and the putting greens are kept well mown and rolled and the result is a pile-like tread, on which the ball “sits” well up. The fairways are kept in this excellent order by means of petrol mechanical motors, and by a tractor drawing a triplex mower, but the greens are mown by hand power.

Mr Colt has fashioned the course on the lace principle – that is one goes out and home twice in the full course of 18-holes, but so cunningly has each putting green been fashioned that no hole is played twice. In all the course measures approximately 6,000 yards.

The holes described – Taking the holes in their proper order, No. 1 measures 444 yards, and calls for a perfectly straight drive. Whatever you do a slice must be avoided here, otherwise you are out of bounds and on to the main road. Yet another warning is not to overrun the green for there are numerous pot-bunkers lying in wait beyond in readiness to trap bad shots of this variety.  

Slicing should likewise be avoided at No. 2 (363 yards) for there is thick gorse on the right. The tee for this hole is, I learn, to be put back later on, when the drive will be across a small pond.

One of the longest of the first nine-holes is No. 3 (420 yards) where a long straight drive and rising ball are necessary to clear the gorse immediately in front with rough behind. Cutting flush across the course in front of the green is a cinder road, which, however, it is comparatively easy to clear with a full iron stroke. Nos. 4, 5 and 6 are comparatively short holes of 270 yards, 145 yards and 290 yards respectively, calling for just a mashie stroke, and not more than one or two putts. No. 4 is one of the prettiest greens of the round. It is in superb condition, smooth as velvet, and undulating towards the approach. Like No. 1 however, don’t overrun the green. At No. 6 there is likewise a clump of trees on the left to be avoided. No. 7 (416 yards) takes one back again over the cinder road. It needs only to keep straight to enjoy the advantage of a magnificent fairway, short-cropped, practically right up to the green, the entrance to which is guarded by a pot bunker.

No. 8, the longest hole on the front nine, measures 437 yards. Care must be exercised with the drive here, for there is gorse directly ahead to be cleared, with pot bunkers and rough lurking in the rear. These obstructions cleared (and a clear rising ball of about 100 yards should manage it) it is plain sailing to the green, for the fairway is in excellent order, Approaching the green, beware of pot bunkers to the left and right. The green slopes slightly towards the player. No. 9 (187 yards) is just a mashie stroke and a putt. The green is undulating and exceedingly pretty.

No. 10 is the longest hole on the course measuring 451 yards. A pot bunker to the right and the rough to the left are there to punish faulty drives, as long as one is able to keep to the fairway there is nothing much to fear. The raised green slopes slightly towards the player.

No. 11, although only 368 yards, is one of the most difficult to negotiate, for it requires an exceptionally good and straight drive in order to clear gorse on the right, with pot bunkers and a plantation in direct route. Pot bunkers likewise guard the green on three sides.

No. 12 (157 yards) is just a mashie pitch and putt. This hole has the biggest green.

No. 13 (347 yards) takes one across the drainage brook (of which beware!) right up to the trees fringing the northern boundary. Stout planks for crossing the water have been placed over the brook. Pot bunkers guard three corners of the green, which slopes slightly towards the player.

No. 14 (170 yards) is another short mashie hole back across the brook. The green is level, but pot bunkers guard the entrance. It should not, however, be a very difficult feat to clear these and pitch right up to the flag.

No. 15 (340 yards) runs parallel with the Gas Works boundary, so beware of slicing. About half way is plentifully sprinkled with pot bunkers. Two of these guard the entrance to the level green.

N0. 16 (426 yards) requires a fairly long straight drive to clear gorse and the brook to the left. The green is quite level, but avoid overrunning the pitch, for pot bunkers are on the far side.

At No. 17 (429 yards) pot bunkers are in direct line of the drive. Safely over, however, it is plain sailing to the lovely level green, with a wide approach between two pot bunkers.

No. 18, the final hole of the round, measures 346 yards. Here a good straight drive is required to clear bunkers guarding No. 17 directly in front. It is also necessary to avoid slicing, for the fairway to the hole runs parallel with the hedge bordering the road. The drainage brook cuts across about halfway, and should, in my opinion, be covered in at this hole, for it is likely to trap a really good drive. The green slopes towards the player, and is guarded practically all round by pot bunkers.

The following scale of charges for playing have been drawn up; Annual tickets, £2/12s/6d; monthly tickets, £1/5s (July, August and September,) 15 shillings for other months; weekly tickets, 7s/6d (5 shillings);daily tickets, 2s, 1s/3d per round.”

It was reported in June 1926 that the Thomas Harry Amos was to be appointed professional at Great Salterns.

From the Portsmouth Evening News July 1926; “PORTSMOUTH GOLF COURSE – The golf matches at the opening of the Great Salterns Municipal Golf Course will be umpired by the Rev E S Ulyat, R.N., the present holder of the Royal Naval Golf Championship.”

Portsmouth Evening News Monday 23 August 1926. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

A meeting of the committee was held at the Mansion House in September 1926, Councillor J F Hooper in the chair. The first captain was to be J F Hooper and vice captain, Captain H L Ashby.

The first inter-club match was played on Wednesday 6 October 1926 against Southsea Golf Club.

The first competition of the ladies’ section was played in October 1926. The spoon was won by Mrs Windsor with a score of 96-26-70.

Below the newly named Portsmouth Golf Club in July 1930.

From the Portsmouth Evening News Friday 4 July 1930. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Map showing the Portsmouth City Golf Links and Practice Links. 

Ordnance Survey Map Revised 1930/31 © Crown Copyright {1946}

Entry from the 1933 Golfer’s Hadbook; There is an 18-hole course at Great Salterns (with a 6-hole practise course), and a 9-hole miniature course at Eastney, Southsea, belonging to the Corporation over which the following clubs play. The Corporation charge for play on the 18-hole course is 1s/3d per round; 2 shillings a day; 7s/6d a week. For play on the 9-holes course the charge is one shilling per session of three hours.

Portsmouth Golf Club, Great Salterns; membership of 260; secretary – Capt. A L Ashby, R.N., (retired,) 34 Osborne Road, Southsea; professional, W J M Stait; green-keeper, A Tull; course records – amateur; Capt. W W R Aitken, R.E., 73; professional; H Amos, 67; club subscriptions, 1s/6d a t; 2s/6d a month; 5 s per annum; No Sunday play.

Southsea Golf Club; hon. secretary – Mrs J J Risien, 42 Grayshott Road, Southsea; green-keeper, G Goodall; course records – amateur; W Watts, 22; professional, A Tull, 20; station at Fratton one and half miles; No Sunday play. 

From The Bystander Wednesday 18 November 1936. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of a match played at Great Salterns against Petersfield Golf Club (now defunct) in June 1937.

The club is re-formed following WW2.

West Sussex Gazette Thursday 20 June 1946. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Entry from the 1947 Golfer’s Handbook; Membership of 128; hon. secretary -  Major A F Smith, R.N., (retired,) 73 Wykeham Road, North End; professional, G West; course records – amateur; E C Curtis, 70;professional, G West, 65; 18-holes with a Par and SSS of 74.

Golfer’s Handbook 1951; Membership 200; secretary – L G Chittenden, 69a Beaconsfield Road, Casham; professional, G West; 18-holes with a Par and SSS of 72.

Golfer’s Handbook 1956/7; Membership 200; secretary, L G Chittenden; professional, G West; green-keeper, A Heath; amateur course record – P B Hine, 69; 18-holes, 6,130 yards, Par 72, SSS 70 visitors, 3 shillings a day, 3s/6d at weekend.

Golfer’s handbook 1961; Membership 250; secretary, L G Chittenden; professional, G West; green-keeper, A Curtis; 18-holes, 6,000 yards, Par 71, SSS 69; visitors, 7s/6d a day.

In the later 1960s the secretary was W Landon.

Golfer’s Handbook 1971/2; Listed as both Private and Public; membership of 423; secretary, E C Molyneux; professional, W McHardy. 

It was reported as early as January 1954 that the ongoing losses of the Great Salterns Golf Course were of concern to the local council. It was proposed that the land be used for the ever growing need of housing and industrial development. Part of the Colt course was eventually given up for development.

In the early 1970s the Southsea Golf Club left their miniature course and began playing on the Great Salterns course. Porstmouth Golf Club moved to the current course at Crookhorn Lane, Widley.

The Google Map below pinpoints the north end of the former golf course.