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Blaenavon Golf Club, Forge Side, Torfaen. (1906 - WW2)
The club was founded in 1906.
A 9-hole course with very well kept greens on mountain and meadow turf. Sunday play was not allowed in the early years but was “optional” in the 1930s. The railway station was 5 minutes away. There was a licensed clubhouse in the 1930s.
Club Professionals; R Brown 1906 - 1909; T E Taylor 1910 - 1917; A S Phillips 1924 - 1926.
A competition for a silver spoon given by Mr R J Fowler at the newly formed Blaenavon Golf Club was played in February 1907, result; W A Taylor, 100-16-84; R J Fowler, 96-9-85; R H Hutchinson, 93-6-87; G Forster Martin, 95-6-89.
Pontypool Free Press Friday 31 May 1907. With thanks to the National Library of Wales. All rights reserved.
From the Pontypool Free Press Friday 25 October 1907 - "The captain of Blaenavon Golf Club Mr C E Westlake, presented the club with a very handsome silver rose bowl for the best average three cards during the first, second and third weeks of October, one card only to qualify in each week. Such a trophy naturally invited a good number of players. The competition was exceedingly interesting, Mr H H Head and Mr W A Taylor tied for the top, with a score of 263 each. Mr Rees Jones came next with 275. Considering the weather conditions at the time, these are good scores, and proves, for a young club, that it possesses players who will be more widely known in the world of golf in South Wales. The tie for first position will be played next Saturday."
Below is the result of a match played at Pontypool in October 1908.
| Pontypool Golf Club | Blaenavon Golf Club | ||
| K P Jones | 1 | R J Fowler | 0 |
| W Griffiths (halved) | 0 | T Osborne (halved) | 0 |
| A H Bailey (halved) | 0 | C W Westlake (halved) | 0 |
| T C Winston | 0 | J Payne | 1 |
| H L Jones | 1 | Rees Jones | 0 |
| Cliff Udell | 1 | G Hirst | 0 |
| Major Ford | 1 | Lieutenant Johns | 0 |
| J Knapp | 1 | J A Cecil | 0 |
| A H Gittins | 1 | H Taylor | 0 |
| C Wilkinson | 0 | Cecil Skrimshire | 1 |
| R G Davies | 1 | Lieutenant Edwards | 0 |
| E C Daniel | 1 | Rev. R Lewis | 0 |
| 8 | 2 |
The course was in splendid condition for a match played against Radyr Golf Club in May 1909. It was reported that the excellent situation of the course must have thoroughly pleased the visitors who were making their first appearance at Blaenavon.
| Blaenavon Golf Club | Radyr Golf Club | ||
| G Forster Martin | 0 | E Williams | 1 |
| R H Hutchinson | 1 | J Allan | 0 |
| R H Fowler | 0 | W H Bull | 1 |
| C W Westlake (half) | 0 | W M Carnegie (half) | 0 |
| H B Head | 0 | W Morgan | 1 |
| Rees Jones | 0 | R G Jones | 1 |
| Dr Skrimshire | 0 | A Bland | 1 |
| Geo Hirst | 0 | W G Wailes | 1 |
| 1 | 6 |
In July 1909 a match between H Prosser and H Brown the professionals of The Barry and Blaenavon Golf Clubs respectively, was played at Barry, Prosser won by 5 and 4.
| Secretaries | Professional/greenkeeper | |
| 1906 - 1909 | R Brown (p) | |
| 1910 | C Fowler | T E Taylor (p) |
| 1914 | H H Head, The Terrace, Blaenavon | T E Taylor (to 1917) (p) |
| 1923 | C F Sullivan, 6 Ewnayon Rd, Blaenavon | W T Phillips (g) |
| 1924-1926 | T C Davies, London House, Aberaeron | A S Phillips (g) |
| 1927 | E M Dwyer, Geluytd, Blaenavon | S Phillips (g) |
| 1928-1931 | R J Morris, 25 Allgood Ave, Blaenavon | |
| 1932 | F E Davies, Brooklands, Blaenavon | |
| 1937 | A F Lowe, Cwmavon | C Phillips (g) |
The final round of 36-holes for the Cecil Cup was played in January 1910 when George Forster Martin beat C W Westlake by 7 and 6.
The retiring captain, T B Hirst, was in the chair at the annual meeting held in August 1910. It was stated that the past year had been a very successful one financially with a balance in hand at the bank. The following officers were elected; Mr George Forster Martin, captain; Mr Rees Jones, vice-captain; Mr C W Westlake, match captain; Mr C Fowler, secretary.
Membership in 1914 was 140, there was no entry fee, and subs were £1/1/0. Visitors’ fees were; 1/- a day, 5/- a week, 15/- a month.
Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW1 showing Forge Side, location of the golf course (not marked).
O.S. Map Revised 1916 to 1917; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1922}.
In 1923 Membership had dropped to 90. Visitors’ fees were now 2/6d a day.
Result of a ladies match against Tredegar Park played in May 1923.
Western Mail Monday 28 May 1923. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1927 visitors’ fees had been reduced to 1/6d a day and 10/- a month. Membership at this time was 60.
Western Mail Wednesday 30 September 1931. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Western Mail Friday 1 July 1932. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Western Mail Friday 7 February 1936. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In the club’s last year in 1937 the 9-hole course had a par of 36, and there was a membership of 52. The amateur course record was held by C Phillips with a score of 36. Visitors’ fees were; 1/6d a day, 10/- a month.
