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Newton Nottage Golf Club, Porthcawl. (1910 - 1920s)

The following is taken from The British Professional Golfers 1887 – 1930 A Register by Alan E Jackson. The professional between 1910 and into the 1930s (from 1922 at Pyle & Kenfig) was William B Lewis.

The above is the only mention found for the club prior to WW1.

Sport loving Porthcawl brothers Sapper William (Billa) David and Sergeant Major Thomas David both served in the forces during WW1. Billa was a very good golfer and played at Newton Nottage during its brief existence.

After the war Billa resumed his golfing career.

In October 1919 the opening of the Newton Nottage Golf Club took place. To celebrate the opening a four ball match was played over 18 holes between Mr R.F Orr, past captain Royal Porthcawl Golf Club and Mr Cyril Gray, of the same club, against Mr W (Billa).David and Mr Edgar Rowe of the newly formed Newton Nottage Club. Despite being dormie 2 the match was halved with Porthcawl winning the last 2 holes.

Below a report on the opening of the course.

Western Mail Thursday 2 October 1919. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Western Mail Tuesday 27 January 1920. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Western Mail Tuesday 3 February 1920. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Competition results from February 1920.

Western Mail Monday 16 February 1920. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of a match against Ladyhill Golf Club (now defunct) played at Newton Nottage in June 1920.

Report from the Western Mail Tuesday 20 July 1920 – “The executive committee of the Newton Nottage Golf Club have increased the subscription to two guineas. New members will have to pay an entrance fee of two guineas in addition to the annual subscription. Mr Romilly Bevan, the hon. treasurer, presented a satisfacory report to the committee on the club’s finances, and Stanley Johns the club’s enerjetic hon. secretary, an interesting account of the past year’s working, and he paid tribute to the excellent work done by the professional, W Lewis, and the groundsman. The first and second teams have been successful in all their engagements. The erection of a clubhouse worthy of the club was advocated by Mr Fred Lord, the club’s first captain who said that with such a large membership there was a growing need for a substantial building. H C Clare, vice-captain, J N Turner, W T Purnell, Morgan Jenkins, William David and F E Duck also spoke in favour.

An intersting foursome was played on the Newton Nottage links on Saturday when W Lewis, the club’s professional, partnered Stanley Johns, in a match against Kam, the Newport professional and Mr J N Turner. The game was of a ding-dong character  until the ninth-hole where Lewis and Johns became 2 up. Turner and Kam won the tenth, and the eleventh was halved. Lewis played the last hole admirably, and the game ended with honours even. In the match against against Ladyhill (below), the home team won every game. The weather conditions were ideal for golf, and the visitors expressed themselves as very pleased with the course, which is at present in capital playing condition”.

In the first round of the Welsh Amateur Championship at Southerndown in August 1920, E Rowe, Newton Nottage, returned a score of 84, two strokes off the lead.

The following were selected to play a match against Maesteg Golf Club in September 1920; E R Rowe, W David W T Burnell (captain), J N Turner, S Johns, S T Cook, P Williams, S Best, W Williams, W Brook, W H Turner, E M Evans, W Watts, T Watts and W Lewis (professional). 

Result of a match played in October 1920.

Twenty competitors took part in a bogey competition played in November 1920, leading scores; M C Morgan (20) all square; W M Turner (4) 1 down; W David (scratch) 1 down; S Johns (5) 2 down; T Thomas (12) 2 down; W T Burnell (4) 2 down; J N Turner (scratch) 3 down; R Sampson (18) 4 down; S S Stephens (15) 4 down; D L Morgan (20) 8 down; L Burnell (15) 10 down. In the Deere Cup there was a tie for first place between M C Morgan and T Thomas both 3 down.

Remarkably the Newton Nottage club reached the final of the Welsh (Mens’) Team Championship twice running during its brief existence, losing to The Glamorganshire Golf Club in the final of 1920 and to neighbours Southerndown in the final of 1921.

Below is the result of the Team Championship Final played at Southerndown in August 1920 between the Glamorganshire Golf Club and Newton Nottage Golf Club.

In July 1921 the Championship was played on the beautiful links course of the Aberdovey Golf Club.

The Newton Nottage team was to be selected from the following players; E R Rowe, P Williams, W David, W T Burnell, J N Turner, Capt. Stanley John, W M Turner and W Brooke.

In the first round Newton Nottage beat Royal Porthcawl by  five matches to two.

The final was played between Newton Nottage and Southerndown, result below.

Report on a possible new course in December 1920.

From the Daily Herald Wednesday 1 December 1920. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the first annual meeting in December 1920.

Western Mail Thursday 2 December 1920. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Percy Alliss sets new course record in December 1920.

Western Mail Friday 10 December 1920. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of a bogey competition played in January 1921; J N Turner, 2 up; S Johns and A Overington, 2 down; E R Rowe, A Passmore and S Best, 3 down; W Turner, 5 down; B Deeble, 6 down.

Alterations to the golf course in February 1921.

Western Mail Tuesday 15 February 1921. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Playing over the “new” course in February 1921 William David, a scratch player, performed a unique feat of holing in one at the short tenth and seventeenth holes. A golfer for over 20 years Billa David had never before holed in one. 

In May 1921 Mr S T Coook created a new amateur course record of 63. The previous best was 65, made at different periods by W T Burnell and J N Turner.

A mention for Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club in October 1921.

Western Mail Tuesday 11 October 1921. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Extract from a report on the opening of the Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club and a mention for "the late Newton Nottage Golf Club in July 1922.

Western Mail Monday 31 July 1922. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

When the Newton Nottage Golf Club disappeared many members,including Billa David, joined the newly formed Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club which opened in July 1922. He won the club championship at P & K four times; 1926/27/28 and in 1947. It was reported in 1965 that Billa, at the age of 74, holed in one at the 210 yard fifteenth hole. The report continued - “Mr David was one of the finest amateur golfers in Wales in 1921. At Southerndown in the Welsh Close Championship, partnered by the late Jack Turner, he won the Ashburnham Shields, and at Royal Porthcawl in 1923, partnered this time by Phil Williams he won the Victory Shield. Mr David also played Rugby and Cricket for Porthcawl”.

W B Lewis became professional at the Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club.

We can speculate - but the exact reason for the demise of the Newton Nottage Golf Club remains a mystery. If anyone has information please get in touch via the "Contact Us" facility on the website homepage.

Map showing location of Newton Nottage golf course.
Grid reference SS84420,77320, co-ordinates 284420,177320.