The Early Years
The Formation at Penn Common
The conception of playing golf in Wolverhampton is undoubtedly accredited to the Scots, in particular Mr Mein Wilkie, Dr Biggam and Mr Thomas Graham, who along with the support of other distinguished gentlemen of the area such as, Mr Charles Tertius Mander (four times Mayor of Wolverhampton), Mr W. R. Lysaght, Mr Neville Hanbury Mander and Mr W. Wentworth Walker, became the founder members of The South Staffordshire Golf Club.
The first recorded mention of The South Staffordshire Golf Club was in the ‘Express and Star’ of Saturday 22nd October 1892 when it was stated that it was proposed to start golf in the town. The paper reported that there would be no difficulty in recruiting enough members but that the problem was somewhere to play.
The first recorded minutes are of the meeting held on Monday 24th October 1892, when the proposition to form a golf club called The South Staffordshire Golf Club and to play at Penn Common was carried unanimously.
Penn Common lay approximately three miles south of Wolverhampton and was already held for the grazing of cattle and horses by Freeholders of the Parish of Penn who derived these rights as a result of ownership of land and tenements surrounding the Common. The Common was also frequented by gypsies who camped there and it also had a racecourse laid out on it. The Club would have to gain the consent of the majority of Commoners and the Lord of the Manor, the Earl of Dudley, before a course could be constructed.
Following a meeting on 30th December, 1892 and an inspection of the proposed course, it was agreed that
The conception of playing golf in Wolverhampton is undoubtedly accredited to the Scots, in particular Mr Mein Wilkie, Dr Biggam and Mr Thomas Graham, who along with the support of other distinguished gentlemen of the area such as, Mr Charles Tertius Mander (four times Mayor of Wolverhampton), Mr W. R. Lysaght, Mr Neville Hanbury Mander and Mr W. Wentworth Walker, became the founder members of The South Staffordshire Golf Club.
The first recorded mention of The South Staffordshire Golf Club was in the ‘Express and Star’ of Saturday 22nd October 1892 when it was stated that it was proposed to start golf in the town. The paper reported that there would be no difficulty in recruiting enough members but that the problem was somewhere to play.
The first recorded minutes are of the meeting held on Monday 24th October 1892, when the proposition to form a golf club called The South Staffordshire Golf Club and to play at Penn Common was carried unanimously.
Penn Common lay approximately three miles south of Wolverhampton and was already held for the grazing of cattle and horses by Freeholders of the Parish of Penn who derived these rights as a result of ownership of land and tenements surrounding the Common. The Common was also frequented by gypsies who camped there and it also had a racecourse laid out on it. The Club would have to gain the consent of the majority of Commoners and the Lord of the Manor, the Earl of Dudley, before a course could be constructed.
Following a meeting on 30th December, 1892 and an inspection of the proposed course, it was agreed that the Club would spend £50 on ditching and draining the Common – a service which would be a benefit to golf
and improve the grazing and passage across the Common. The Club also agreed to pay an annual rent of £10. The Freeholders insisted on a resolution that any damage done to a person or an animal by golf ball would be compensated by the Club. The golfers also
agreed to play in red coats in order to be visible to other users of the Common and on January 12th 1893 the Freeholders gave their permission for golf to be played on Penn Common.
By now, sixty-five gentlemen and fifteen ladies had joined the Club, and by April 1893 nine holes had been laid out and were ready to play. With agreement of the tenant, William Lloyd Roberts, the front room of the Barley Mow Inn was to be used as a clubhouse and the Club’s first Professional, Samuel Jones from Hoylake was appointed on a weekly salary of 15 shillings. During the first two years of its life the Club hired and fired three professionals. In 1894 Jack Burns was appointed on a salary of a guinea a week. He had been the Open Champion of 1888 and in doing so had earned just £8 in prize money. In under a year he had returned to Scotland.
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Some of the early Club members on the Verandah
in front of the club rooms in 1894 |
By now, sixty-five gentlemen and fifteen ladies had joined the Club, and by April 1893 nine holes had been laid out and were ready to play. With agreement of the tenant, William Lloyd Roberts, the front room of the Barley Mow Inn was to be used as a clubhouse and the Club’s first Professional, Samuel Jones from Hoylake was appointed on a weekly salary of 15 shillings. During the first two years of its life the Club hired and fired three professionals. In 1894 Jack Burns was appointed on a salary of a guinea a week. He had been the Open Champion of 1888 and in doing so had earned just £8 in prize money. In under a year he had returned to Scotland.
The Club officers were appointed, Dr Biggam becoming the first Captain and Mr Mein Wilkie Hon. Treasurer, a post he was to occupy until his death in 1935. T. F. Waterhouse was the Hon. Secretary. The Earl of Dartmouth accepted the invitation to become President of the Club and the following accepted Vice-Presidency, The Duke of Sutherland. The Earl of Dudley, Lord Wrottesley, Rt. Hon. Henry H. Fowler, M.P., Rt. Hon. C. P. Villiers, M.P., Rt. Hon. C. A. Staveley-Hill, Q.C., M.P., Sir Alfred Hickman, M.P., Mr W. Wentworth Walker, Mr C. T. Mander then Mayor of Wolverhampton and the Reverend C. H. Cole-Webb, the Vicar of Penn.
By 1896, 175 members including 65 ladies had been enrolled. The entrance fee was 3 guineas and annual subscription was 2 guineas. A separate nine-hole course was laid out for the exclusive use of the ladies who now formed their own committee. The Club bought the Barley Mow Inn and installed a tenant to run the beer house keeping the clubhouse part strictly separate. Beer was sold at 2d per pint.
In December, 1898 it was decided to extend the course to eighteen holes at a cost of £105 3s 9d. The new holes were finished by the summer of 1899 making a course of 4,700 yards. The clubhouse attached to the Barley Mow was extended in 1900 but the old inn was retained by the Club and was still open to the general public.
By 1903 The South Staffordshire Golf Club was well established with a strong playing membership, a good fixture list and thriving clubhouse. However, there were several drawbacks. The course had clay subsoil which meant the links was wet for much of the year, and the course was proving to be too short for the modern rubber-cored ‘gutty’ ball which was soon to be replaced by the Haskell golf ball.
By 1904 it was impossible to play the ladies’ course for long periods after heavy rain as it was badly drained. Agreement was reached for the ladies to abandon their course and play on the men’s course at all times except after 12.30pm on Saturdays.
The course was not easily accessible at that time from Wolverhampton – the nearest tram route being a mile away. Most men walked or arrived on horseback. Also, there was the problem of the many different uses made of the Common, most of them conflicting with golf. Walkers and horse riders interfered with golf, the Volunteer Regiments used the Common for manoeuvres, pleasure parties came in brakes and traps and in the summer many picnics were held. In addition, the relationship with the Freeholders remained uneasy, particularly when they felt that there grazing rights were threatened and their permission had to be received before any improvements to the course could be made.
The solution to all of these problems was to seek a new course which could be longer and be more accessible and private.
By 1896, 175 members including 65 ladies had been enrolled. The entrance fee was 3 guineas and annual subscription was 2 guineas. A separate nine-hole course was laid out for the exclusive use of the ladies who now formed their own committee. The Club bought the Barley Mow Inn and installed a tenant to run the beer house keeping the clubhouse part strictly separate. Beer was sold at 2d per pint.
In December, 1898 it was decided to extend the course to eighteen holes at a cost of £105 3s 9d. The new holes were finished by the summer of 1899 making a course of 4,700 yards. The clubhouse attached to the Barley Mow was extended in 1900 but the old inn was retained by the Club and was still open to the general public.
By 1903 The South Staffordshire Golf Club was well established with a strong playing membership, a good fixture list and thriving clubhouse. However, there were several drawbacks. The course had clay subsoil which meant the links was wet for much of the year, and the course was proving to be too short for the modern rubber-cored ‘gutty’ ball which was soon to be replaced by the Haskell golf ball.
By 1904 it was impossible to play the ladies’ course for long periods after heavy rain as it was badly drained. Agreement was reached for the ladies to abandon their course and play on the men’s course at all times except after 12.30pm on Saturdays.
The course was not easily accessible at that time from Wolverhampton – the nearest tram route being a mile away. Most men walked or arrived on horseback. Also, there was the problem of the many different uses made of the Common, most of them conflicting with golf. Walkers and horse riders interfered with golf, the Volunteer Regiments used the Common for manoeuvres, pleasure parties came in brakes and traps and in the summer many picnics were held. In addition, the relationship with the Freeholders remained uneasy, particularly when they felt that there grazing rights were threatened and their permission had to be received before any improvements to the course could be made.
The solution to all of these problems was to seek a new course which could be longer and be more accessible and private.