Woodville Golf Club, Lurgan, County Armagh. (1918 - 1929)
The club was founded in November 1918.
Club officials in 1918/19; Patron – Right Hon. Lord Lurgan; President – H O’Brien Greer; Captain – Thomas Faloon, J.P; Treasurer – Norman Booth; Secretary – C W Neill.
The club had a nine-hole course located on Lough Road, five minutes from the railway station.
Woodville Golf Club continued until 1929 when it merged with Lurgan Golf Club.
Below is a newspaper report from April 1919.
Below is a report on the opening of the clubhouse in September 1920.
Forty competitors took part in a mixed foursome competition played in October 1921. It resulted in a tie between Miss McConville & Harry Anderson and Miss Dorris Brown & A W Munn, both 4down. Miss L Mercer & C W Neill were next, 6down.
The third annual meeting was held in November 1921. The annual report stated that the total cost of erecting, painting and completing the new clubhouse was £1,341/ 14s. Towards this members contributed a very respectable sum of £701/14s., leaving a balance of £640. To help clear the balance the committee were to create a small number of life memberships, which would produce £275. The treasurer’s statement showed that the club, so far as general funds were concerned, was in a good financial position. C W Neill was elected captain for the year; Mr Jordin, secretary; Norman Booth, hon. treasurer and J Simpson, hon. auditor. Vacancies on the committee were filled by the following; Wilfred Bunting, J A Duke, J Reid, W Waite and S Crothers. It was decided to increase visitors fees from 1s to 2s a day. The Rev. J L Morrow, hon. secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland for the past fifteen years, was elected honorary member in recognition of his general services.
There was a large attendance of members for the annual meeting in December 1922. They were entertained to tea by the new captain, Alfred Mann. The prizes for the year were presented by Mr C W Neill. The following officers were elected; C W Neill, secretary; H M Anderson, treasurer. The club was in a flourishing condition with over 200 members.
The secretary in 1923 was C W Neill, Solicitor, Lurgan telephone 53. The green-keeper was I Cousins. The 9-hole course was located on Lough Road. The club membership was 200. Visitors’ fees were 2/- a day. The station at Lurgan was a 5 minute walk away. Local hotels were the Great Northern, Railway and the Brownlow Arms.
In the final of the lady captain’s prize in May 1923 Miss Leta Brown beat Miss Magurran.
It was reported in October 1924 that the course was to be altered and extended. The course would cover over 40 acres. It would start with nine-holes extending from the current 2,400 yards to 3,000 yards, with available ground for extra holes if required.
The concluding stages of the captain’s prize took place at the end of October in 1924. In the semi-finals A Minnis beat J Simpson by 1up; James Reid beat R Dewart 4 and 2. In the final J Reid beat A Minnis, 1up.
The Victory Cup semi-finals were played in November 1924. Mrs Bell beat Miss A Pollock 2 and 1 and Miss McConville beat Miss McElhatton 3 and 1. The final was won by Mrs Bell by 1up. Miss McConville had revenge in the final of the President’s Cup beating Mrs Bell by 1up.
At the seventh annual meeting in December 1925 the following officers were elected; captain, James Reid; hon. secretary, C W Neill; hon. treasurer, H M Anderson; hon. auditor, James Simpson; lady captain, Mrs W H E Brown; ladies’ hon. secretaries, Mrs Bell and Miss Talbot; hon. treasurer, Mrs Gilpin.
In the mid and late 1920s the green-keeper was I Cousins. Visitors’ fees had been reduced to 1/- a day. Sunday play was not allowed.
The ninth annual meeting was held in the clubhouse on Friday 16th December 1927, William Hill, retiring captain, presided. C W Neill, secretary, said that 1927 had been one of its most successful seasons. Mr J Boyle, treasurer, said the club’s bank debt had been substantially reduced. Officers for the following year; captain, Cecil Brown; secretary, C W Neill; joint treasurers, J Simpson and J Boyle.
It was reported in October 1928 that the Woodville Golf Club and the Lurgan Golf Club were to amalgamate.
In the last year in 1928/9 the secretary was C W Neil, Solicitor, Lurgan telephone 53 the green-keeper was still I Cousins.
The Ordnance Survey Map below shows Woodville.