Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs. Golf in the Dukeries. By John F. Moreton

Transcription

1 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Golf in the Dukeries By John F. Moreton

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3 Golf in the Dukeries By John F. Moreton

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5 Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence It gives me great pleasure to introduce this book celebrating the Centenary of the Derbyshire Union of Golf Clubs and we are most grateful to Mr John Moreton for his considerable work researching and writing this book. We are, of course, very greatly indebted to those who had the foresight and motivation, one hundred years ago, to recognise that a union of the county s golf clubs would greatly benefit the development of the game in Derbyshire and this book provides a valuable insight into the creation and expansion of the fledgling amalgamation. We must not forget the successive generations of players and officials who served to carry forward and to enhance that vision so that the Derbyshire Union of Golf Clubs is justly proud to take its place alongside the other English Counties. It would be most remiss to let this opportunity pass without registering the County s grateful thanks to all the clubs in Derbyshire who have made available their courses and clubhouse facilities. Without this support it would not have been possible to hold county events and indeed intercounty events which are very much part of the spectrum of county golf. We can only hope that the county may continue to enjoy the generous support of the clubs along with the patience and understanding of their members It is now our responsibility to ensure that progress continues so that future generations who may aspire to play this great game will be able to enjoy the benefits which derive from being part of a strong County Union. I am sure that this book will help to provide a sense of continuity and history which will encourage future generations of golfers in Derbyshire. Gordon Gray, Centenary President. 05

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8 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Contents Introduction Chapter One: The Birth Page 10 Chapter Two: The Father Page 14 Chapter Three: The Offspring Page 26 Chapter Four: The Family Fathers and Sons Page 38 Chapter Five: County and Country Page 50 Chapter Six: The Extended Family Page 54 Chapter Seven: The Boys Page 64 COVER OF YEAR BOOK Acknowledgements: Page 70 Derbyshire Golf Clubs: Page 70 Recent Presidents: Page 72 Appendix: Page 74 Past Captains, Presidents and Secretaries: Page 83 Champions and Major Trophy Winners: Page 84 Front cover image courtesy of the Chatsworth Estates Photo Library 08

9 Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence Introduction Rolls Royce, railways; steel works, stately homes, stone quarries and spas; woollen mills and well-dressings; Royal Crown Derby China; The Peak District Derbyshire has a rich scenic and demographic variety. This is reflected in the golf clubs spread throughout its rugged landscape. Many courses thread up and down hills, offering magnificent views, while below lie the mills, factories and farms. Others, on more level ground, are dominated by elegant mansions, occupied in several cases by members of the aristocracy, to whom a number of clubs owe their existence. The lace makers of Nottingham and Ilkeston play with steel workers at Erewash Valley in the south, while at New Mills, where the cotton trade once flourished, players are faced to the east by sturdy hills and to the north west the less pleasing sight of Greater Manchester. Professional men also played a vital role in bringing golf to Derbyshire, including the notable cleric, the Rev. Foster- Pegg, regarded by some as the father of Derbyshire Golf. As Chaplain to the Duke of Devonshire, the County Union s Patron, he played at Buxton and High Peak and, presumably at the Duke s private course in the grounds of Chatsworth House, which opened late in the 19th century as a six hole course. In the immediate pre-war years, none other than J.H. Taylor designed a new nine hole course, adapting the original layout. Little golf was played on the course from 1916 until 1921 when the 9th Duke returned from a tour of duty as Governor General of Canada. Golf in the county owes a lot to the aristocracy: several courses lie on land leased, and often eventually purchased, from their lordships, thanks to their far-sightedness, generosity and possible business acumen. The first golf club to be formed in the county which is still in existence, was Ashbourne, formed in 1886, but no longer on the original course. Buxton and High Peak followed one year later. In the next decade a golfing boom began in England and Derbyshire was well to the fore in this development. Doctors were advising their business and professional patients to take up the healthful and exercising game. Many clubs were formed but did not survive (see appendix), the First World War being one factor, although some had ceased to exist before then. There were by 1913, however, a sufficient number of clubs to form a County Union and their representatives were invited to a meeting at the Midland Hotel, Derby, on 11th March. 09

10 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Chapter One The Birth Golf was first played in Derbyshire in 1886 when the Ashbourne and Dove Valley Golf Club played over six holes somewhere between the Isaac Walton Hotel and the Peveril of the Peak Hotel on the edge of the Peak District. It thus became one the oldest clubs in the English Midlands, seven years after the foundation of The Worcestershire Golf Club at Malvern Wells. Its lack of accessibility necessitated a move to land at Boothby Farm, Ashbourne Green, and clubrooms were rented from the Boothby Arms Hotel. The club s history describes the site as being of some 40 acres of permanent pastureland with the advantage of sandy subsoil. The holes were laid out by Mr W. Lowe who was the professional at Buxton and High Peak Golf Club, which had been founded one year after Ashbourne. He came from Carnoustie, where he was born in Ashbourne s first professional was J.T. Phillips who was appointed c.1893 but who only stayed for one year. He was followed by a number of short-lived appointments, a situation which stabilised when the club moved again, to a nine hole course at Clifton, on land of which some belonged to Hollies Farm. A problem many clubs had at the time when playing on farmland was that the owner often restricted the cutting of his hay crop in the summer, hence the need to wear plus fours in wet weather. When Buxton and High Peak was formed in 1887 the 8th Duke of Devonshire was invited to be the first president, instituting a long-standing family connection with the club. The 1890s were a boom period in the construction of golf courses, the game having been recommended by doctors as healthful exercise and the railway companies joined in its promotion. A course was opened at the Baslow Grand Hotel in 1890 and another at Lea Hurst, the latter ceasing operations in The Derbyshire Golf Club and Alfreton followed two years later and Sudbury Park in The Victoria County History of Derbyshire published in 1907 states that there were twenty-one clubs in the county, although the Duke of Devonshire s private course at Hardwick closed during that year. The trend continued with four new courses in 1894 Hardwick (closed 1907), Burtonon-Trent, Chevin and Glossop and District. Development continued steadily into the new century, twenty-two clubs being formed up to Some did not last long; some gentlemen belonged to more than one club and would change allegiance when threatened with an increase in their subscriptions. They also may have had handicaps which varied from club to club. The time was therefore right to effect some sort of standardisation and bring some order to the rapidly expanding game which had spread the length and breadth of the British Isles. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has always been the principal ruling body of the game but in the late 19th and early 20th centuries inland golfers were expressing concern at the seasiders apparent lack of interest in golf away from their traditional links. They required local rules to cover situations arising from hazards unknown on links courses hedges, fences and ponds, for example. A vociferous critic of the R&A s attitude was James Coventry, golf correspondent of The Birmingham Daily Post, who regularly teased them with hypothetical situations demanding a decision on the rules. He was instrumental in the foundation of the Midland Counties Golf Association in 1895, the same year in which the East Midlands Golf Association was formed, so Derbyshire could join Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Rutland and Northamptonshire. These bodies were formed to manage their own immediate affairs without constant appeal to a governing body in the North, a body which they regard, with perhaps little injustice, as one whose chief characteristic is indifference to their particular needs as inland golfers. The association s second purpose was to establish the rules for the new inter-county matches. The first president was Edward Blackwell, an R&A committee member who had used a false name when playing his first match for Worcestershire, where he farmed. The pseudonym G. Hugh after Jehu the Old Testament charioteer who drove furiously was soon exposed by James Coventry. 10

11 Chapter One The Birth Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence To place these developments in context it is worth noting that the Golfing Union of Ireland was founded in 1891; the Welsh Golf Union in 1897; The Ladies Golf Union began operations in 1896 ten years before the suffragette movement started. The first English county to form a union was Hampshire in 1893, Yorkshire a year later and Cornwall in Nottinghamshire and Sussex Golf Unions was inaugurated in After a pause of six years Worcestershire joined the roster in 1905 and Warwickshire and Gloucestershire the following year. By 1913 nineteen county unions were in existence, significantly none in the home counties immediately surrounding the capital, despite the burgeoning number of clubs in and surrounding the metropolis. There was still not a national body for golf in England the English Golf Union was not founded until 1924, despite earlier efforts by such men as Laidlaw Purves, who gave up the struggle and switched his enthusiasm to the ladies, assisting Issette Pearson in the formation of the LGU. Purves main claim to fame is the foundation and design of the Royal Saint Georges Golf Club of which he became the secretary. Derbyshire took the plunge in On March 11th representatives from nine clubs attended a meeting at the Midland Hotel, Derby. They were The Derbyshire, Chevin, Burton-on-Trent, Chesterfield, Erewash Valley, Ashbourne and Dove Valley, Matlock Bath, Matlock and Markeaton. The meeting was reported in The Midland Golfer, a monthly periodical based in Birmingham, which had already reported on events at The Derbyshire club. Mr G. Du Santoy presided over the meeting; the secretary of the Midland Golf Association explained the aims of the Union. It was agreed to affiliate to the association as the clubs represented now had a total membership of close on 2,000 members. It was felt that Derbyshire was improving as a golfing county, and it was time they had a union to promote the interests of the game. The following officials were appointed: President, Mr S.H. Evershed ( Burton), Hon Secretary and Treasurer, Mr T.H.B. Bamford (Ashbourne) and the committee consisted of Messrs W. Davey (Derbyshire), Ashbourne Golf Club 9th hole. E.P.W. Davis (Burton), J.H.W. Jeudwine (Chesterfield), H. Adams (Erewash Valley), T.B. Farrington (Chevin) and E.H. Bailey (Matlock). The next step was to arrange the first annual meeting which was held at Burton-on-Trent s Bretby course on September 17th, in somewhat changeable weather according to The Midland Golfer in its October issue. The President presented the first scratch prize, for 36 holes, to Dr. Hugh Barber of Derby with a score of 160. R.B. Rickman of the home club was second on 161 and G.C. Harrison (Chesterfield) and L.West (Derby) tied for third place. The team competition was won by Erewash Valley with 251, one stroke better that Burton. Chevin and Ashbourne came next and the Derbyshire team was disqualified for playing from the wrong tee at the fifth hole they had followed two members who were not 11

12 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs in the competition. The visitors expressed themselves as delighted with the condition of the links, the greens especially meeting with their approval. The standard of play was good, despite the indifferent light. Modern readers, unimpressed by such scores would do well to remember that the players were using hickory shafted clubs and the rubber-cored ball was still in early stages of development. It is unfortunate that after such a promising beginning the events of the next four years brought county and most club golf to a standstill. Courses were turned over to agriculture in some cases; clubhouses turned over for use as hospitals or for army use. Members of Derbyshire clubs dutifully answered the cause of King and Country, as numerous plaques in the county s clubhouses will testify. Sixty-three members of Burton-on- Trent enlisted, while the lady members agreed to assist with the maintenance of the course. Horses and cattle were grazed at New Mills, while sheep performed a similar function at Erewash Valley. Wives of members at this club were exempted from subscriptions while their husbands served in the forces and the subscriptions of men serving their country were suspended. Competitions were played in aid of the Red Cross Fund and other wartime charities. Only three courses appear to have ceased operations during the war year, including the Baslow Grand Hotel. A number of clubs had already succumbed in the previous decade (see appendix). A young caddie from

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14 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Chapter Two The Father As the country recovered from the deprivations of the Great War, golf was not an immediate priority with the bodies responsible for its administration. The Amateur Championship resumed in 1920, Cyril Tolley winning at Muirfield and the Midland counties resumed activities in the same year. The Irish had resumed their Amateur Championship the previous year, Warwickshire s Carl Bretherton being the first post-war winner. He became an important figure in English golf for many years. Golf in Derbyshire seems to have resumed its activities a year later when a man who was to dominate the Union s activities for many years arrived to take the positions of Vicar of Edensor and Private Chaplain to the 9th Duke of Devonshire. He was the Reverend William Horace Foster Pegg. The man who became dubbed the father of Derbyshire golf was born in Driffield, Yorkshire in He was educated at Malvern College, Worcestershire, where he may well have begun his golf, as the oldest club in the Midlands had been founded in 1879 by the head master of the college, Archdeacon James, and the Reverend Lord Moncrieff, Vicar of Clifton-on-Teme. Foster Pegg then graduated at University College, Oxford, winning the Scratch Challenge Cup and the St Andrews Cross in He was ordained Priest of the Church of England at Ripon Cathedral in He held a Curacy in Sheepscar, Leeds from 1906 until 1909, when he was commissioned as Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class on 19th April and served for three years in Hong Kong, where he won the Hong Kong Championship in However, he must have enjoyed several periods of leave back home, as Nisbet s Golf Year Book, 1912, lists him in the Who s Who section, indicating serious ability in the game. His address is given as The Vicarage, Battersea, London and his clubs and handicaps Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society, Sussex Martlets G.S., Bramshot G.C. (+2) and Aldershot Command G.C. (+2). He held the amateur course record of 74 at the former club, which was instituted in 1905 in Fleet, Hampshire. Aldershot Command dated from 1900 and was one and a quarter miles from the North Camp. It still exists as Army Golf Club in the club s sixth clubhouse, so no honours boards featuring Rev. Pegg are to be seen. On the outbreak of the war he was mobilised with the British Expeditionary Force on 10th August, attached to the 2nd Cavalry Field Ambulance, based at Warley in Essex. He was Mentioned in Despatches as early in the conflict as December,1914 and appears on the rolls of the London Gazette. He served for the duration of the war, retiring on health grounds in 1918, having been awarded a Silver Wound Medal, and retreated to Derbyshire. He joined Buxton and High Peak, winning the Scratch prize in 1920 and two years later, by which time he had become the Secretary and Treasurer of the county union. It was quite common for the local clergy to join their local golf club, presumably in order to make contact with the less devout of their parishioners. Back in 1896 a match was played at Alfreton against Chevin Golf Club in which no fewer than five players were men of the cloth. Foster Pegg played in the Amateur Championship in 1921 at Hoylake, losing in the first round to G. Tweedale. He entered twice more, in 1927, again departing in round one, and 1929 when he failed to appear for the opening round. He did win the mixed foursomes at High Peak with his wife, though. This was the year in which he and another great stalwart of the County s team, Charlie Thorpe, played quintuple Open Champion J.H. Taylor and Tom Williamson, the revered professional from Hollinwell, at Burton-on-Trent. The amateurs were given two holes start and won 4&3. It is only fair to the great J.H. to point out that he was nearly 60 years old! The match was followed by the County Dinner. Three years later Foster Pegg and Thorpe took on two younger professionals, also at Bretby, and were less fortunate, for despite a three holes start Percy Alliss and Abe Mitchell beat them 5&4. In between these events in 1930, while still in office as the Derbyshire Union s secretary and treasurer, he served as 14

15 Chapter Two The Father Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence President of the English Golf Union, which was founded in Clearly his work with the county union was earning wide-spread recognition. The Reverend Foster Pegg s golfing achievements within the county will take their place during the course of this narrative. Now in the Edensor Vicarage at Bakewell, attending to his parish and the service of the Duke, he took on the responsibility for reviving golf in the county. During the next few years he also joined Sherwood Forest and the Derbyshire Golf Club. The early 1920s experienced a minor golf boom. New courses were being opened and the ravages of agriculture on the existing ones were being addressed. The five times Open Champion James Braid, a professional golfer much in demand as a course designer, although his skills were not called upon in Derbyshire until several years later, and professional golf course architects Harry Colt and Dr Alastair Mackenzie were earning commissions throughout the country. These university graduates tended to scorn the efforts of professional golfers as course designers, yet Braid, Tom Williamson, J.H. Taylor and Harry Vardon all created challenging courses, and in some cases remodelled designs by the professional architects, most of whom had abandoned careers in law or medicine to satisfy their creativity. A course opened in Ripley in 1920 but only lasted one year; six years later Ormonde Fields was instituted in that town. Mickleover and the public course in Derby at Sinfin followed in The 9th Duke of Devonshire instructed his land agent to build a new course in Buxton, close to the Burbage Ladies Golf Club, which boded ill for that course, which closed not long after. To design the layout they called upon the services of Dr Alastair Mackenzie, then regarded as one of the most successful and imaginative of golf course architects. He created one of his masterpieces at Cavendish, following his Thirteen Principles of Golf Course Design. These recommended two loops of nine holes, a variety of lengths of holes including at least four one-shot holes ; short walks The Rev. H.W. Foster Peg M.A. President of DUGC 1932 and President of EGU

16 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs From left: Joe Armitt, Cyril Ashmore, Donny Mason, Dereck Cross, Arther Robinson and Eric Ashmore. 16

17 Chapter Two The Father Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence from green to tee; undulating greens and fairways but no hill climbing, (easier said than done in Derbyshire!); holes of differing character and few blind shots; beautiful surroundings with use made of natural features; some heroic carries but alternative routes for weaker players; infinite variety in the strokes required to play the various holes ; the course should appeal to the plus man wishing to improve his game and to the long handicap player and, finally, equally good in summer and winter with consistent grass texture. The course today is much as he conceived it in As the spreading of golf throughout the country continued to expand it was finally accepted that a national body was required to regulate handicaps, inter-county and club matches and national competitions. In 1924 a meeting was called in Manchester and the English Golf Union was formed. It is almost certain that Rev Foster Pegg represented Derbyshire with Captain H.M. Peacock of Markeaton Golf Club. They remained the County s delegates until Foster Pegg retired from the EGU 1936 and Mr. A.V. Nutt took his place. The English Golf Union instituted the County Championship and the English Men s Amateur Championship and was responsible for the selection of the team for the Home Internationals when they started in The dream of Laidlaw Purves finally came to reality thirty years after he had first suggested the need for such a body. The architect and founder of Royal St Georges Golf Club in his frustration turned to the ladies and assisted the formidable Isette Pearson in the foundation of the Ladies Golf Union. This organisation soon had ladies golf running on very smooth lines, holding major events and issuing year books listing all the members. Later several Derbyshire ladies, notably from Cavendish, featured prominently in the union s activities. Later in the decade strikes and economic problems began to stretch the nation s resources and a course at Wirksworth closed in 1930 after only a year s existence. The Duke also had his own nine hole course at Chatsworth, which, probably at Foster Pegg s instigation, affiliated to county union, and the English Golf Union, founded in 1924, thirty years after the Ladies Golf Union, allocated a standard scratch score of 67 in No doubt the Duke s Chaplain enjoyed numerous rounds amid the tranquillity. By 1927 there were twenty-five courses in the county. However Mellor and Townscliffe later joined the Cheshire Union, as did a club at Whaley Bridge a decade later. To return to 1921, early in that year, Rev Foster Pegg called a meeting to revive the union. He arranged a number of fixtures, the first against Leicestershire and Rutland, to be played at Buxton and High Peak on June 9th, followed by matches against the County s professionals and Warwickshire at Finham Park, Coventry. The Inter-club foursomes were also arranged. The Buxton Advertiser noted the reformation of the Union and listed the players for the Leicestershire match, including Foster Pegg but in the event he did not play. The clubs which had already renewed their allegiance to the Union were Alfreton, Ashbourne and Dove Valley, Bakewell, Burton-on-Trent, Derbyshire Golf Club, Chevin, Buxton and High Peak, Chesterfield, Erewash Valley, Markeaton and Matlock. Leicestershire proved strong opposition at High Peak, winning by seven matches to five. The Derbyshire team was T.B. Farrington (Chevin), L. West (Derbyshire), D.C. Stark (Borrowood), T.G.M. Ward (Chesterfield), H.M. Peacock (Markeaton), S. Kidd (Matlock) and F.J. Field ( Buxton) representation thus being spread over the county s clubs. The County Championship was held at the Derbyshire Club and was won by G.Nutt, a local member, who served on the County Executive Committee as Auditor after the next war. A minute in the Buxton and High Peak s handicap committee s book lists the players who would represent the club in the championship, recording the handicaps of Foster Pegg and Henriques as

18 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs George Lionel Quixano Henriques was born in Manchester on 17th January, In The Golfer s Handbooks of the 1930s his clubs are listed as Royal Lytham and St Annes, Beaconsfield, Buxton and High Peak and Cavendish. He lived at Park Hill, Park Road, Buxton. He was twice runner-up in the Derbyshire Championship and occupied the same position in the Lancashire Championship in This led to a slight controversy later when Buxton wished to reduce his handicap but the Derbyshire Union replied that as Henriques was registered as a Lancashire player, it was the responsibility of that union to act. In fact he played in 38 county matches for Lancashire. October was a busier month for golf in the county. The Buxton Advertiser reported on the Derbyshire Professional Championship at Matlock, in which all but one of the county s professionals played. It was won by H. Wooliscroft of Buxton with score of 72+76=148. His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, the President of the club since its formation, wrote regretting his absence due to other commitments but expressing his interest in the event and the Association. Later in the month the County team travelled to Coventry for the match against Warwickshire. The team was considerably strengthened by the inclusion of three Buxton members, Rev Foster Pegg, Mr G.L.Q. Henriques and Mr V.E. Cockerton, only Henriques contributing a point to the Derbyshire victory by seven matches to four. The were no foursomes matches, so eleven a side would ensure a result. Foster Pegg was beaten by Carl Bretherton, English International, who became a major influence on Midlands and national golf. When the team was announced in The Advertiser for the first match of 1922 an anomaly appeared, D. Peacock being listed a member of Manchester. H.M. Peacock, presumably his brother, who had played in the first match of 1921, was a reserve. Henriques confirmed his golfing pedigree by winning the monthly medal at High Peak in May, with a score of 74 off scratch. Foster Pegg, also scratch, was second with 81. The course was the venue for the first match against Yorkshire in September. The foursomes were played in the morning and Derbyshire failed to win a point Foster Pegg and Henriques frittering away a lead of three holes after five to lose two and one. This inspired the Reverend to play brilliant golf after lunch, going out in 35 to be three up and winning on the 16th. The singles were shared six matches each. As Rev. Foster Pegg s minute books cannot be found, information on County matters is scarce and not every match or meeting was recorded in the local papers, the Derby papers in particular seeming very loath to include golfing matters, a situation that regrettably prevails in their 21st century counterparts. For the record, the Amateur Championship was won by E.P.W. Davis of Burton-on-Trent at Chesterfield. However The Ilkeston Advertiser carried a full account of the County Amateur Championship in 1923: Probably there is no more delightful golf course in the county of Derbyshire than that in Erewash Valley at Stanton Gate. There were 108 competitors and the report made much of the quarry holes with their tricky greens. The Rev. W.H. Foster Pegg of Buxton, now plus 1, was a strong favourite for the championship prize. He played wonderfully well in the first round and returned a net score of 76, doing each of the first three holes in one below bogey. His score for the second round was 84. B.W. Maltby, scratch, however showed consistently good form both in the morning and afternoon and won the championship, his scores being 77 and 79. Maltby was a member of the host club. Foster Pegg had an unfortunate habit of following a good first round with a mediocre score in the second. Might this have been a legacy of his war wound? Bogey was the score in which a competent player was expected to make on a hole, prior to our modern par coming into regular use. Maltby was selected for the match against Leicestershire at Matlock and contributed two points to Derbyshire s 18

19 Chapter Two The Father Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence 10-6 victory. The Buxton Advertiser reported Perfect golfing weather prevailed and in spite of the recent rain the staff of the Matlock Course had brought the links into wonderful condition, though the quickness of the greens was responsible for some missed putts early on. The catering and other arrangements made by the Matlock club was worthy of every commendation. The same paper reported on Foster Pegg s report to the Union s A.G.M. in April, 1924, in which he announced that four clubs had joined the Union: Derby Golf Club, Chapel-en-le- Frith, Mellor and Townscliffe and Sinfin Moor, bringing the total number of clubs to eighteen and the membership to 3,481. He reported that six county matches had been played but only one had been won surely a mistake in view of the report above. Cheshire and Nottinghamshire were new opponents and a match had been arranged with Staffordshire for the year in progress. Buxton had tied for fifth in the Midland Counties Championship at Castle Bromwich, the highest position a Derbyshire club has occupied three of their players finishing in the top ten. The Derbyshire Open was instituted at this meeting and Captain H.D. Orr presented the Challenge Cup, which would be held by the winning club of the amateur or professional who emerged as champion. Mr J.W Adam presented the gold, silver and bronze medals for the first three amateurs, the professionals receiving money prizes. Captain Orr also presented honours boards for inscribing the names of the winners and their clubs. The competition was held at Burtonon-Trent and was won by H.W. Wooliscroft the Buxton and High Peak professional and he also won the Professionals Championship on his home course. He was dismissed from the club in 1929 when he entered the clubhouse, against the etiquette of the time for professionals, to deliver a message and was ordered out by George Henriques, the stockbroker Two ads during The Great War. 19

20 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs no doubt shaken by news of the Wall Street Crash. A more generous side to the nature of one of Buxton s few millionaires will be revealed later. Wooliscroft soon found employment at Bury Golf Club. Subsequent winners were H. Walker of Sicklehome (1925) and T. Barber (Cavendish) (1926, 1928, 1929 and 1930). His tenure of the title was interrupted in 1927 by S. Harrison (Chevin). J. Fallon of The Derbyshire won in 1931 at Buxton and High Peak but the following year the professionals domination of the Orr Cup was ended by an amateur, Joe Armitt of the Buxton Artisans at Mickleover. He retained the title the following year, yielding it in 1934 to another distinguished amateur, Charles Thorpe also from Buxton, but a member of the parent club. A quarryman, Joe was born in He was coached by his cousin and joined the Artisans in By the age of 14 he had a handicap of 3. He was employed as a caddy, which meant he was regarded as a professional and could not compete in amateur competitions. However, successful campaigning by a former captain of the club led to his reinstatement, along with other artisan members. He won the Orr Cup three times and was County Amateur Champion on three occasions, on either side of World War II. His nearest rival was Charles Thorpe, who was the Amateur Champion on seven occasions from 1926 until He was a long hitter and an inventive one, his shot to win the Orr Cup at the Derby Municipal course in 1934 being particularly memorable stymied behind a tree, he fashioned a shot with his spoon (an equivalent of the modern three wood) which finished ten yards from the hole and made his par. In 1943 he played with Henry Cotton, James Adams and George Henriques in a charity match to raise funds for the Red Cross. Cotton was apparently very impressed with the Buxton players. An advertisement which appeared in the Matlock Visitor brochure during the 1920 s and 1930 s. By 1929 Rev Foster Pegg was finding the task of running the county s golf more onerous and requested help. Mr A.B. Clayton was appointed Honorary Assistant Secretary 20

21 Chapter Two The Father Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence and treasurer and the Reverend was presented with a half hunter gold watch, suitably engraved, in recognition of his services. A full fixture list was announced and the executive then prepared a list of players deemed worthy of selection for county matches. 120 club members applied to join the County s membership scheme and in October Wirksworth Golf Club was affiliated to the union. The next year s A.G.M. enjoyed a double celebration: the Union s first president, Herbert Evershed was knighted in the New Year s Honours and Rev Foster Pegg was elected President of the English Golf Union. The list of invitees to represent the county was vetted by the executive, which admitted the Peewit club at Ilkeston to the Union but deferred a decision on the application for membership from Buxton Artisans, which was later accepted. The club was to provide the backbone of the county team for many years. The club was elected at the next A.G.M., but would have no representation on the executive. Joe Armitt s name was included on the list of invitees along with Harry Bennett and the thirteen artisans who had previously worked as caddies were reinstated as amateurs. The Derbyshire Playing Fields Association requested support for its campaign which was endeavouring to obtain exemption from further taxation on golf courses and other open spaces. The executive agreed to donate ten pounds and to circulate all golf clubs asking for their support for the association. The Reverend Foster Pegg resumed his duties as secretary and was further honoured by his election as the County s President produced severe weather conditions leading to floods which delayed the county s inter-club competitions. Another blow fell later in the year when Wirksworth Golf Club informed the county that it might be closing; the executive agreed to retain their membership in the hope that the situation would improve. Unfortunately it didn t and the club closed the following year. This news was balanced by the application of Glossop and District Golf Club for affiliation which was quickly agreed. Foster Pegg s efforts on the county s behalf were further acknowledged by his election as Captain for He had a squad of thirty players to call upon. Mr Clayton was re-elected as secretary and treasurer. Although the county s finances were on a secure footing, a request for the union s quota of forty pounds to the Board of Research was met with a suggestion that non-subscribing clubs be asked to assist with contributions. This body was the fore-runner of the Sports Turf Research Institute, now based at Bingley. The English Golf Union announced a new scheme for standard scratch scores and by March, 1933 twenty-two clubs had been allocated new scores. Foster Pegg, D. Cunningham (Derbyshire), P.J. Ball (Chevin) and R. Bleasdale (Matlock) were selected for the National Championship at Ganton which was won by Yorkshire. Foster Pegg advised the selection committee that too much notice should not be paid to handicaps when selecting teams; he preferred experienced players on whom the team had relied in the past and list of players in order of priority for selection was submitted. Charles Thorpe headed the list, Foster Pegg was next and Joe Armitt was included in seventh position. The country s economic situation at the time was reflected in a huge fall in the number of members of the membership scheme, which had lost one hundred members, to leave the scheme with 430 subscribers. A further financial burden fell upon the Union when the E.G.U announced that it was now time to employ a paid secretary and an increased affiliation fee was required from every club. The executive s reaction was to create a sliding scale of payments dependant on the size of the club began with the recognition of Dr Hugh Barber, who had won the first Derbyshire Amateur Championship in 1913, by his election as President of the Union. The A.G.M. Buxton and 21

22 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs High Peak tabled a proposal that, because of congestion, the County Championship should be held over three days and asked the Executive to review the conditions under which it was played. The meeting considered this carefully and proposed that the first day be confined to handicaps 1 to 6 and the second to 7 to 14 handicaps, this to be discussed and approved or modified. After some debate it was decided that Division 1 would include players up to 8 handicap and Division 2 handicaps 9 to 16. The secretary reported that he had entered a team for the English County Championships, which were to be held at Formby in April. It was agreed that every effort must be made to put in the strongest team, J. Long, C. Thorpe, R.S. Bleasdale and J. Armitt are selected and the secretary instructed to write to say it was hoped they would make every effort to go as a matter of duty and loyalty to the County. It was also agreed that their reasonable expenses be defrayed by the Union. How they fared was not recorded in the minutes; the event was won by Worcestershire, the first of three victories in the 1930s, represented by a team composed mainly of international players. Two more clubs were admitted to the Union during the year, Wingerworth in June and Stanedge in October. The executive had a more contentious issue to discuss in February, The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Union had made a proposal to the English Golf Union that affiliated clubs should pay a minimum of one guinea and a maximum of five guineas as the annual contribution. The Rev. Foster Pegg considered that this could cause less wealthy clubs to reluctantly withdraw from the Union. The Derbyshire Union suggested a sliding scale based on club membership: clubs with fewer than 100 members would pay five shillings per annum. Clubs with 500 members would pay 40 shillings (i.e. 2 pounds). As an alternative Derbyshire would be prepared to guarantee a maximum of 22. Then, as now, the Union had several clubs with nine holes and low memberships, unlike the prosperous southern clubs in the stockbroker belt around the capital. The effects of the depression were still being felt in industrial areas of the country but by 1936 signs of improvement were evident, an international programme of rearmament having begun. Rolls Royce were already busy with aircraft components, having had a triumph with the Leander seaplane, which set a speed record early in the decade. Advertisement which appeared in Golf Illustrated Mr H.M. Peacock, in place of Rev Foster Pegg, was to present these proposals to the E.G.U. at its executive meeting, which 22

23 Chapter Two The Father Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence referred them to the executive for further discussions. He was also charged with the responsibility of opposing the EGU s suggestion for modifying the existing stymie rule, which the Derbyshire executive considered outside the scope of the E.G.U., changes to the rules being the preserve of the R & A and the U.S.G.A. For the benefit of the modern reader unfamiliar with the term, if a ball lay between another player s ball and the hole it could not be lifted, unless the balls were within six inches of each other. Cards at that time had a measurement of six inches to facilitate the calculation. Ironically, it was the misfortune of a Derbyshire player in a national event two decades later which led to the abolition of this rule. The team for the National Championship was C. Thorpe, J. Long, Rev Foster Pegg and Joe Armitt, with Bleasdale, M. Schunck, G.E. Bell and D. Cunningham reserves. Schunck had moved to Derbyshire having previously played against them for Cheshire. Unfortunately Armitt was injured, so Bleasdale took his place. However, Worcestershire retained the trophy at Hollinwell. The executive clearly took a very strict attitude to handicaps in 1937: the secretary of Cavendish reported that George Henriques ( the club s chairman) had returned scores of 70+1=71 and against the s.s.s. of 73. The committee decided that has Henriques had not appeared to have returned similar scores in national or major events he does not qualify for a recommendation to be placed on the +2 mark. They took a kinder view a few months later when a Buxton and High Peak Artisan, A. Robinson, recorded sub-par scores in the County Championship and in club competitions. He was given a handicap of +1. A year later Joe Armitt s handicap was reduced to +1 for club purposes, the executive reserving the right to review this if Joe wished to apply for a national handicap. He had broken the scratch record at High Peak on a number of occasions. There was certainly something in the Buxton air to produce such a stream of quality golfers. Nevertheless a request from the Artisans for expenses for county matches was turned down. Robinson, Armitt and Eric Ashmore won the Union Shield in the County Amateur Championship at Matlock in 1937, Ashmore retaining the individual title and Robinson now playing off +2. Henriques s handicap had been reduced to +2 by Cavendish, but the Derbyshire executive pointed out this if the club wished this to be recognised they must place the matter before the Lancashire Union as he was qualified to play for that county a confusion of birth and residential qualifications, perhaps? Chesterfield Corporation Golf Club applied for membership of the Union and was accepted. This club experienced difficulties which were resolved by the foundation of Tapton Park Golf Club later in Another club, Borrowood, was in dispute with Shardlow Council having been judged in the right by a local magistrate but the Council decided to take the matter to the High Court. The outcome appears in the Union s minutes as a reference to the club s closure in March The Union s badge until this time had been the arms of Derby Borough, a buck in a park. It was decided to provide badges for the President and the Vice-presidents and the secretary was instructed to obtain a sketch design of the County Arms the rose and crown, and this remains the emblem today, shared with the Derbyshire County Cricket Club. The sketches from Mappin and Webb were received in April, In the meantime the Rev Foster Pegg had resigned from the Captaincy, the Executive and as the delegate to the E.G.U. A vote of thanks was passed in recognition of all his work over the many years he had devoted to the union. A suggestion from the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary that the union might wish to endow a ward in the planned extension of the hospital was turned down regrettably... for pecuniary reasons. Because of boundary changes the course at Whaley Bridge now lay in Derbyshire and the club applied for affiliation to the Union. This proved short-lived as later changes caused 23

24 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs the club to revert to the Cheshire Union. A similar fate befell Mellor and Townscliffe and the clubs were given the option of choosing which union to join. At Dr Barber s suggestion it was decided to award county colours for players who had played a minimum of five matches. These would incorporate the new badge on a blue background. When the executive met in March, 1938 it selected Pattinson, Hartopp and Bennett for the three man team to contest the National Championship at Moortown in April where Staffordshire were the winners. John Jacko Cradddock- Hartopp was a member of the distinguished family who played at Cavendish. His sister Gwen was an English international. The club s history described him as one of the last true English gentlemen. An inter-club league was proposed by the captain of the Derbyshire club in the hope that it would revive interest in matches between clubs, which had suffered due to the depression. It was later realised that nothing could be done in Clubs were circulated to sound out their willingness to allow Sunday play for members of Individual Membership Scheme, the majority of those who replied were in favour but some agreed on condition that all clubs agreed. As seven replied in the negative and eight clubs did not reply, no change was possible. Pattinson, Hartopp and Thorpe were selected for the National Championship to be held at Birkdale. This meeting also received the news that Chesterfield Municipal Golf Club had withdrawn from the Union; no doubt the members had joined Tapton Park. It was agreed to delete older statistical information from the year book hence the lack of results during the early part of the decade. As Foster Pegg was no longer active in an official position it was agreed that a presentation be made to him. This was duly made in May. He was still an active player, though, playing in six matches in 1937, winning or halving three. Later that year he moved from the county to his new parish in Lincolnshire. The team played matches that year, only winning one and losing heavily in several others. They also lost to the Ladies. Results were much better the following year, Derbyshire winning five of the nine matches and halving one. The committee also sent a letter of sympathy and regret at the death of the County s Patron, the Duke of Devonshire hoping that his son would succeed his father as Patron, a position he accepted. The Marques of Hartington also accepted the invitation to become a Vice-president. 24

25 Chapter Two The Father Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence It was noted than no artisan would be available on the date; in the event Worcestershire completed their third victory. A full fixture list was prepared for the year but as the year drew to a close more important matters engaged the nation. It was realised that there would be no point in arranging inter county matches for 1940 and the annual dinner was cancelled. The E.G.U. was asked for advice regarding petrol for tractors and mowing machines and the executive reelected en-bloc for the duration The last meeting to be held during the war took place in January 1941 The Union s trophies were put into storage and it was agreed to invest 75 of the Union s funds in National Defence Bonds. 25

26 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Chapter Three The Offspring The first Executive Committee meeting after the war was held at The Midland Hotel, Derby on 15 June, 1945 with the President, J.C. Harrison in the chair. Clubs were circulated to inform them that the Union wished to resume activities the following year and invited them to send delegates to a meeting in October. Nine delegates attended and reported that their courses would be playable by April Many had been used for agricultural purposes during the war and were still be reinstated, pending compensation from the county s Agricultural Committee. G.L. Henriques proposed a reunion dinner be held at the Midland Hotel, but this was not possible. The committee met again in January. Of the 26 clubs operating pre-war, 19 had rejoined the Union; Rolls Royce was defunct; two had suspended activities for the time being; Markeaton no longer had a course, although Kedleston Park was soon to be opened, and three failed to respond. One of these, Mellor, had combined with Townscliffe in the Cheshire Union. The first post-war Annual general Meeting was held at the Midland Hotel on Friday, 25th January. Members stood in silence for a minute in memory of those who had fallen in the war. Mr G. Walker was elected President and Mr R.K.Harrison Captain. So far only one other county had agreed to a fixture. This was against Yorkshire and was played at Chesterfield, Derbyshire losing heavily. The Championship was arranged for 19th and 20th June at Buxton and High Peak. It was won by a local player, Joe Armitt, of the Artisans Club, with a score of 143. The Orr Cup was played at Cavendish the following month and was won by Charles Thorpe. Joe Armitt was a member of the Artisans team which won the Inter-club Foursomes the following year, beating Burton-on- Trent in the final. He was not selected for the match against Yorkshire at Sheffield (the newspaper report does not specify which course) and Derbyshire suffered a heavy defeat, although D.M. Forbes of Chesterfield holed his second shot on the 433 yards 10th hole. He and R.N. Harrison were the only survivors of that team in the side that faced Leicestershire at Chevin in George Henriques won convincingly in his singles, playing at number two, followed by the three Buxton stalwarts, Armitt, Bennett and Ashmore. Derbyshire took the singles 8-4 and completed their victory with a more closely fought foursomes performance. They followed this with a less comprehensive win against Staffordshire at Bretby, England international Charles Stowe disposing of Harry Bennett by 6&5. Joe Armitt had a successful day, beating Eric Perry in the singles and combining with Eric Ashmore to dispose of Stowe and Howard Thirlby in the foursomes. A contentious item discussed in June, 1946, was the E.G.U. s rating of courses for their levy contributions. The County Union s income was just sufficient to meet its own needs and it was thought undesirable to ask clubs for more than they could afford. The proposals were that each club should contribute 2s.6d per full playing member, to provide facilities for visitors from other clubs who held County membership cards; the County Union would supply each affiliated club with a free supply of cards to sell to members for 5s.0d. This was seen as a form of reimbursement for the cost of the membership levy. George Henriques was by now making an indelible impression on Derbyshire golf: he organised a match at Cavendish to which several internationals were invited. A full fixture list was arranged for 1947, which began sadly with the withdrawal of Markeaton from the Union as the club no longer had a course, a victim of Derby s expansion. However a new club had formed with a course originally designed pre-war by James Braid and now adapted by J.S. Morrison on land leased from Lord Scarsdale in the grounds of Kedleston Hall. The club affiliated to Union the following year and was soon a breeding ground for some of the county s most notable players. 26

27 Chapter Three The Offspring Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence The County s representatives in the English County Championship, R. Pattinson, C.H. Thorpe and H. Bennett finished third behind Staffordshire and Lancashire at Ganton. Pattinson was not a regular member of the county team, as he was a headmaster in Surrey but retained his allegiance to Derbyshire by nominating Mickleover as his home club. He represented Derbyshire regularly in this event and played in the championship, with some success, as indicated below. This was before the current regional qualifying process was instituted and all English Counties were eligible to enter. The Midland Counties Golf Association was revived at a meeting in Birmingham in March, 1947 at which Henriques and R.E. Fryer, County Secretary, represented Derbyshire. This was organised by Guy Bigwood, the Worcestershire President, as commanding a figure as George Henriques, and Carl Bretherton, Warwickshire s President and former international. The County Union donated five guineas to the funds. All the County s major competitions were now being contested and a new trophy, The Leonard West Memorial Cup was donated by The Derbyshire Club and it was decided to use it as a Challenge Cup for the Derbyshire Amateur Champion. George Henriques organised a match against a team of Old Harrovians at Cavendish was duly thanked for arranging the fixture and entertaining the teams. The visitors were golfers of considerable pedigree and useful opposition for the county team. Among them were Walker Cup player Leonard Crawley and internationals Raymond Oppenheimer, C.D. Gray and George Henriques. Nevertheless the Derbyshire men won by eight matches to two. It should be borne in mind that the country was still recovering from the effects of the war; many foodstuffs were rationed and petrol rationing was introduced, making travel to fixtures more difficult. It was hoped that the restrictions would be relaxed but this was not the case and in the ensuing years the executive arranged fixtures with neighbouring counties at courses which would limit the extent of travelling. Later a scheme of car sharing was introduced to assist the younger members of the teams. George Henriques was elected President of the Union in April 1948, another step on the way to building his reputation as a major player in the running of Midland, and eventually, national golf. The A.G.M. had been delayed until April in case of hazardous travelling conditions a wise move as the winter of 1947 proved to be one of the coldest for many years. The Inter-club Foursomes were played on a regional basis in the early rounds to reduce travelling. The Chesterfield course had still not recovered sufficiently for the Amateur Championship and Burton-on-Trent offered the use of the course at Bretby. The champion was Reg Pattinson, who retained the trophy in the two following years. The Burton-on-Trent club s history records that the four home players performed without distinction. The Buxton Artisans played a prominent part in the county team and some of them applied to the executive requesting payment for their caddies at county matches. It was left to the President to deal with and nothing further was minuted. In fact Henriques rewarded the caddies with 15s.0d. each, with the proviso that they paid for their food. Joe Armitt s son, John, recalls that the caddies were generally fed for nothing by going to the back door of the clubs kitchens. The President also provided his wife s Rolls Royce to transport the caddies and artisan players to away fixtures, generosity not to be countenanced in less democratically run unions! Joe and Eric Ashmore were selected for a very prestigious match when they represented the Artisan Golfers Association against a team from the R&A at Sunningdale. Paired together in the morning they lost to Gerald Micklem and J.C. Lawrie, 4&3. Micklem was the predominant figure in English golf at the time. An international from , President of the E.G.U. in 1965 and Captain of the R&A in 1968, he was a national selector and never overlooked talented golfers whatever their 27

28 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Derbyshire Union of Golf Clubs Amateur Champioship From left: Eric Ashmore, Arthur Robinson and Joe Armitt. background he was a great friend of the Staffordshire miner Charles Stowe, partnering him in the Sunningdale Foursomes, so Joe and Eric would have felt quite comfortable in his company. Separated in the afternoon, Eric and his partner were beaten heavily but Joe and his partner managed to halve with Lord Teviot and the great Cyril Tolley. According to Golf Illustrated s correspondent the match was not in the nature of a serious match but rather as a get-together. He described the golf as a curate s egg as some of the players were not scratch men. Late in 1948 Kedleston Park and Allestree Park Golf Clubs applied for affiliation to the Union and both were unanimously accepted and requests for allocation of Standard Scratch Scores acceded to. The Orr Cup was contested at Derby Municipal Golf Course at Sinfin on 7th July and was won by E. Lester, the Mickleover professional with a score of 141, Eric Ashmore 28

29 Chapter Three The Offspring Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence coming second, one stroke in arrears. The County team beat Lincolnshire convincingly at Chevin, tied with Cheshire at Buxton and High Peak but lost heavily to Yorkshire at Abbeydale, a course conveniently close to a railway station. Harry Bennett earned international honours during the year and his club, Buxton and High Peak, submitted a record of his performances, to be forwarded to the E.G.U. with the recommendation that his handicap be reduced to +1. Bennett had won the county Amateur Championship in 1939 and in 1952 began a run of six consecutive wins in the event. He took the title on two further occasions, 1960 and 61. He remained in the national team the following year and his club s history states that he was still an international in He reached the final of the English Amateur Championship on two occasions, 1951 and 1956, losing to Guy Wolstenholme in the final of the later event. In the first he made a contribution to golfing history when, stymied by his opponent s ball, he missed a putt for a half at the 39th hole and lost the match. Shortly after that incident the stymie rule was abolished, to the relief of golfers all over the world. As well as a course record of 64 at Buxton, Bennett also set a new record at Royal Lytham and St Annes. He began playing while a boy, first with the Artisans and then as a full member of their club. By the age of 21 he was playing to scratch in those days scratch golfers were required to submit 12 cards to scratch or better, of which at least four must have been achieved on an away course. He died, prematurely, aged 48 and was accorded a mention in the Guardian praising his strict iron play. Further evidence of the Union s enlightened approach appears in the minutes of the meeting held on 11th March 1949, which stated that the Artisan clubs could now send members to executive meetings. P.J. Ball took over as Captain for the year but the Annual General Meeting was more impressed by the announcement that George Henriques had been elected Deputy President of the English Golf Union. An agreement was made with the Lancashire Union to support a Northern Boys Championship but the idea subsequently foundered through lack of interest. A full fixture list was produced for 1949, but in the event the Orr Cup was not played. It was not a successful season five of the seven matches were lost, one halved and only Leicestershire and Rutland were defeated, by quite a large margin. The most successful player was R.M. Tickle of Erewash Valley. The players had been awarded 15/- towards their expenses for county matches. The happiest news at the A.G.M. in 1950 was the revival of the County Dinner, to be held on 22nd March in the Assembly Rooms, Derby. The principal guest was the doyen of golf writers and Chairman of the R&A Rules Committee, Bernard Darwin. Charles Flanders was co-opted to the executive in April, beginning a his family s close involvement with the Union. A long running item regarding county ties was finally resolved in August; these were to be presented to past presidents, executive members and players who had represented the county more than three appearances. At the October Council meeting the President stressed the need for greater support for the Individual Membership Scheme if the Union was to continue to function efficiently perhaps easier said than done in Rationing was still in force and members might have preferred not to use their precious petrol on golfing excursions, foreshadowing the events forty years later. Early in 1951 the union s Patron, the 10th Duke of Devonshire, died. He had succeeded his father in that capacity in A letter of sympathy was duly sent to his successor with an invitation to accept the office, which was favourably received. At the Annual General Meeting Mr P.J. Ball was elected President, following a hard-working period as Captain. George Henriques was then congratulated on his election as President of the English Golf Union. The new Captain was Sydney Cartwright (Alfreton and Erewash Valley), who, ten years later, 29

30 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Article from Golf Illustrated

31 Chapter Three The Offspring Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence followed Henriques in that office, the third Derbyshire man to be so honoured, a quartet being accomplished in 2000 when John Flanders took office. Paul Baxter s elevation to that office is recorded in a later chapter. Henriques final request as retiring President of the County Union was to reiterate his request for more support for the Membership Scheme and it was proposed to write to all the club captains requesting their support. One member expressed his concern regarding the lack of uniformity in handicap adjustments. It was hoped that the E.G.U. would address this problem and, indeed, fifty years later they still were. Two clubs, Chesterfield and Bakewell wrote protesting letters regarding the fixing of their courses respective standard scratch scores. In both cases it was agreed that the President and the Secretary meet with the clubs officials to discuss the matter as the Executive seemed very sympathetic to both clubs grievance. They played both courses and recommended that in both cases the scores be increased, Chesterfield by one to 70 and Bakewell by two to 66. Sweepstakes had been a feature of the County s major competitions and Mr Ball was not in agreement and had written to each club suggesting their abolition. Fourteen clubs were in favour of this, four against and six failed to reply. This became a long-running issue. Another problem becoming a hardy perennial was the Individual Membership Scheme cards, it being mooted whether clubs would consider their use at weekends. As far as ladies obtaining them, it was diplomatically decided to allow the ladies to consider the matter themselves. After Mr Ball had somewhat pointedly asked an extra-ordinary council meeting for information the clubs eventually communicated satisfactory responses and it was decided to proceed in At the same meeting the President stated that the players (rather than their executive representatives) would like the sweepstakes to be re-introduced. After further discussion and procrastination it was decided not to permit them in 1952 but seek the opinions of the players at the relevant meetings for future guidance. A vote would be held at the Summer meetings to ascertain the players feelings. The year ended with the resignation of Mellor and Townscliffe from the Union as the club wished to transfer its allegiance to Cheshire. Geographically this made some sense, given the number of other clubs closer to them than the Derbyshire ones, but a near neighbour, New Mills, remained loyal to the Derbyshire Union. John Wiggett, the Cavendish professional and secretary of the county professionals association, met the Union s secretary and informed him that all of the county s professionals should be eligible for the Orr Cup along with the amateurs with handicaps of eight or better who qualified in the first sixteen of the Amateur Championship. Despite this the Orr Cup was won by that outstanding amateur, Harry Bennett, at Burtonon-Trent. Junior golf was gaining more encouragement throughout the country and Matlock offered its course for a Boys Championship in the summer holidays. The club offered to provide the prizes and the Union provided a scratch prize. The age limit was set at 18, with scratch and handicap prizes. Reg Pattinson presented a Challenge Cup. The first winner was T.Woodhouse, (Chesterfield). Mr Pattinson, despite his generosity was named as reserve for the team to represent the County in the national Championship, which was held at Ganton. His place had been taken by a new arrival in the county, Samuel Maxwell McCready, an Irish international and former squadron leader in the R.A.F. He had won the Amateur Championship at Portmarnock in 1949, when Americans were dominating the event, played twice in the Walker Cup and represented Ireland on four occasions. However he, Bennett and Thorpe could not prevent victory by Yorkshire. 31

32 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs McCready was a member of Kedleston Park, the club s history recording that he became something of a legend in the comparatively short time he was at Kedleston. He also joined Cavendish during his short sojourn in Derbyshire, his other clubs included Royal Portrush, Portmarnock, the Hazards Golfing Society and the R.A.F. Golfing Society. Born in 1918 in Belfast, he died in His other sports included boxing, cricket, rugby and badminton. He represented Ireland in the Home Internationals from 1947 to 1954, winning 14 of his 28 matches. He also joined Chevin and caused a slight problem in 1953, when his entry for the championship was filed from two clubs. The Executive decided to accept the entry from Chevin as that one had been completed in McCready s own hand. In the event the international could not halt Harry Bennett s hold on the trophy. The matter of the sweepstakes was finally settled by the players who voted in favour of their retention. They were re-introduced the following year, units of 10 shillings being distributed among the scores for the first two rounds and the aggregate scores. Ilkeston Borough Golf Club applied for affiliation to the union and was accepted. Buxton and High Peak requested that Harry Bennett s handicap be reduced to plus 1 and the E.G.U. agreed to this. The A.G.M. in 1953 provoked no discussion of contentious matters and Sidney Cartwright (Erewash Valley) was duly elected president of the Union, with Mr R.W. Eyre (Chesterfield) as Captain. Mr Ball was thanked for his work as retiring President. The Boys Championship was held at Tapton Park, there being 17 entries, each group of players to be accompanied by a marker. The President, Mr Ball and the Captain each presented a prize. It was decided that the winner would be entered for the British Boys Championship in future years and the same qualifying conditions for that event be in place in Derbyshire. The Reverend Foster Pegg, no longer resident in the county, passed away in November, receiving a brief obituary in The Times. The A.G.M. in March the following year duly honoured his services to the County Union. The President informed the meeting of the revised rules for the Boys Championship and urged all the clubs to attract young people into the game. This led to a discussion about the objects and functions of the newly formed Golf Foundation. The President agreed to raise this with the executive, who resolved that the matter rest with the President. He stressed the importance of support for the younger generation. In June the County Captain, Mr I.A.R. Mackenzie, requested that an allowance be given to players for county match expenses. The Executive agreed that 1 be the allowance, no matter where a match was played. It also realised that this would be a drain on county funds and that extra revenue would have to be sought if they proved insufficient. Subsequently Artisan members of the team were granted ten shillings plus travel expenses. The team for the National Championship was Bennett, Pattinson and Ashmore. This was held at Woodhall Spa and Cheshire were the winners. Another letter was received from Mr M. Brooke-Taylor of Cavendish suggesting a increase in the age limit for the Henriques Cup to 25 but no decision was made. The Brooke- Taylors were a prominent family at Cavendish and a scion of the family achieved national popularity as an entertainer of The Goodies and I m Sorry, I haven t a Clue fame. His golfing ability is not recorded. The question of expenses for county matches arose again in 1955 and it was decided that players would be reimbursed for travel and out of pocket expenses, subject to claims being submitted and lunch and tea tickets would be issued for home matches. This was later amended to travel and hotel expenses only. Erewash Valley put forward a proposal that the number of delegates to the Council be increased in proportion to the 32

33 Chapter Three The Offspring Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence number of Individual Members in each club. As this had not been circulated to clubs prior to the A.G.M. Erewash Valley withdrew the proposal, but this led to a general discussion on the rules of the Union and an invitation to clubs to submit recommendations. The members of the committee were asked to submit their suggestions for revision to the secretary within one month and a sub-committee was formed to consider them. This comprised the President, Mr T.W. Davis, P.J. Ball, S. Cartwright and the treasurer and secretary. The format for the National County Championship was changed on the suggestion of Guy Bigwood, President of Worcestershire. The new format involved regional qualifying in four areas: the South-east, the South-west, The Midlands and the North. Teams of six players would play 36 holes, with all scores to count; thus The Six was instituted, the four winning teams meeting later in the year for the final. Derbyshire s team was Harry Bennett, Roy Booth, H. Peak, the evergreen Pattinson, Eric Ashmore and J.W. Brownhill. The reserve was one J.B. Flanders, who became a major county and national administrator of the game. County colours came under discussion at the end of the year: it was agreed that from 1956 players who appeared in three matches for the first team in one year, or six in all, would be presented with a tie. After twelve appearances the player would receive a blazer badge. Players who had already achieved this number could purchase a badge if they wished. There was a condition, though: the blazer should have plain brass buttons! Only one player qualified, K.D. Smith (Matlock), who won seven of his singles matches. The team only won one match, against Lincolnshire, halved with Staffordshire when only the foursomes were played and lost the other matches by rather distressing margins. The system for awarding colours was kept for fifteen years or so. In 1970 a new system was introduced which has remained until the present day. The new system awarded four possible points per match one for each appearance, one for a foursomes win and two for a singles win. To be awarded his colours a player had to achieve thirty points. The Executive received a letter from Golf Ball Developments of Birmingham, offering demonstrations of a golf ball driving machine but it was decided that it would be difficult to arrange this at a County meeting. The machine was developed by Penfolds, father and son having belonged to Ladbrook Park Golf Club in Warwickshire, where the machine was based. In 1975 Gary Player visited that club to test a new Penfold ball and spent two hours trying to outdrive the machine, which has recently been restored and stands beside the first tee at that club. George Henriques was accorded another honour in 1955 when he was elected the first President of the newly formed Manchester Golf Club Captains Society. The Derbyshire Ladies County Golf Association enquired if its members could join the Individual Membership Scheme and the executive forwarded the request to participating clubs. This was agreed and by February 1956 the ladies were permitted to join under the condition that they could play from Mondays to Fridays for a subscription of 7s. 6d. A draft of the revised rules was discussed and sent to the clubs for their consideration in time for a Special General Meeting in January, where the new rules were accepted subject to amendments proposed by Chesterfield Golf Club. The amended draft was then sent to Chesterfield and to Erewash Valley, at whose suggestion the changes had been instigated. At the A.G.M. the retiring Captain, Mr Mackenzie reported on difficulties in raising teams but a number of young players had been able to take their places in the team. He was succeeded by Mr R. Matthews. Possibly as a result of Mr Mackenzie s report the executive were asked to consider the formation of a junior section. Several counties had already taken this step and in 1950 the Midland Boys Championship had been inaugurated at Blackwell Golf Club in Worcestershire, with sponsorship from The Birmingham Post and Mail. The 33

34 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Midland Golf Union took over the running of the tournament in 1986 and several Derbyshire boys participated over the years. As the tournament grew in prestige winners who were to become well-known on the professional circuit won the event, including Sandy Lyle on two occasions, David Gilford and Steve Webster. In 1956 the Henriques Cup was won by Geoff Armitt, son of Joe, playing out of Whaley Bridge. He played twenty-four times for the county and in 1961 turned professional, first at Chapel-en-le-Frith, where he was also steward and then moved to Matlock in 1962 as professional and assistant green-keeper. He won the county s professional championship in 1966 and in the same year scored twos at each of Matlock s five par 3 holes. He died tragically in the clubhouse in 1984 and his ashes were scattered on the course at Buxton and High Peak, where he had learnt the game. As no County dinner had been held in 1955 due to an apparent lack of interest it was decided to make the 1956 dinner a special event. Invitations were sent to Duke of Devonshire, The Captain of the R & A, and the Presidents of the E.G.U., Yorkshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. Under Matthews s leadership the team had a more successful season in 1957, winning two matches and halving with Yorkshire a notable achievement. John Flanders was the leading points scorer, prevailing in six of his singles matches. He was not so successful in 1958, but the team recorded two victories but, unfortunately a heavy loss against Yorkshire at Woodsome Hall. An Artisans section was formed at Cavendish and welcomed into Union. It was stressed that it was not possible to be an artisan member at one club and a member of another club. In the meantime Buxton Artisans had reached the finals of both the interclub foursomes division 1 Devonshire Cup and the division 2 Crompton Cup. Mr. K.W. Drabble presented the F. Drabble Memorial Cup on behalf of his father. The Drabble family were synonymous with the Matlock Club, Fred was Captain from 1924 to 1937 and President from 1946 to

35 Chapter Three The Offspring Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence County first team circa From top left: Jeff Devine, Tony Shaw, Gordon Packham, Derek Cross, Ron Tickle, Ken Smith, Cyril Cantrill, John Thomas. From bottom left: Leo Feeney, Reg Pattinson, Ken Drabble, Cyril Ibbotson, Donnie Mason and John Flanders. 35

36 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Derby s Union Annual Dinner From left: Cyril Ibbotson, Jack Hulley, Duke of Devonshire, Gerald Micklem and Sydney Cartwright. His son Ken was County President in 1963 and the club s Captain in Both were keen supporters of the County Union, Ken serving as Captain in He also served as the County s delegate the E.G.U. in In 1956 he played for the team against Staffordshire at Wolstanton in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent. The members of this short but pretty course were praised by Ken for their hospitality in entertaining the Derbyshire team, presenting both captains with a Staffordshire tea service. He also voiced criticism of the selection for county teams. The Captain, Mr. R. Matthews, replied that he had wished to play younger players, which had created transport problems. On his re-election the following year he reported a disappointing season but the policy of playing younger players was beginning to show a bonus. In winning the Orr Cup with scores of 74 and 67 Harry Bennett set a new record for the Derby Municipal course. Mr C.G. Flanders, another hard worker on the Union s behalf, was elected President in recognition of his efforts. His son John was now a regular player who went on to achieve much for both the County and the national body. The Rolls Royce Golfing Society wrote asking if the society could become a member of the Union. The company had closed its course on Sinfin Moor at the outbreak of the war for agricultural purposes so the society had effectively no home. It was decided that as the matter held many snags it would remain on the table. 36

37 Chapter Three The Offspring Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence George Henriques was congratulated on his re-appointment as the Chairman of the E.G.U. s selection committee and on the team s successful season. England won two out of three matches in The Home Internationals in 1956 at Muirfield and won the event in 1957 at Royal Porthcawl. To assist in financing such events the E.G.U. had instituted a bob-a-nob scheme, levying all members of affiliated clubs, a scheme the Derbyshire Union supported. They also realised that a selection committee of their own would be of great assistance to the team captains, who were aided by the immediate past captain, C. Frost, the President and the Hon. Secretary, the latter being ex officio. The national body also wanted to know what was being done to develop junior golf in the county and it was accordingly decided to write to all clubs to ascertain their progress before responding to the E.G.U. It appears that this took longer than was hoped, as the issue was raised again in At the A.G.M. in 1958 the President reported the temporary closure of Ormonde Fields Golf Club due to opencast mining and congratulated the Captain, R. Matthews on his encouragement of the younger players. In his reply Mr Matthews expressed the opinion that the county had the makings of a very useful side and the younger players were developing well. Blazer badges were presented to K.D. Smith of Matlock and D. Mason of Buxton and High Peak Artisans as both had played the requisite twelve matches, another example of the competitive spirit of the artisan club. Ernest Bonsall of Chesterfield was appointed Captain; in accepting the office he said he would do his best to develop a competitive spirit for places in the team. He continued the policy of selecting younger players and, while admitting the results did not look very good, with further encouragement better progress could be made. Bonsall had joined his club in the thirties. He was the managing director of the firm which carried out numerous minor and major works on the Club s premises. He was the Club Captain in In the 1960s he reprimanded the young Tony Jacklin for wearing the pink trousers in which he had played his morning foursomes match for Lincolnshire, in the main lounge. At the time Ernest was President of the Union which was sufficient for the future Open Champion to go and change the offending garment. Concerns were expressed about the cost of the bob-anob scheme to individual clubs if a further shilling was added for the benefit of the County Union. An increase in the subscription for clubs was proposed of 2 rather than 1 per 50 members. It was agreed to leave this on the table until the clubs had been consulted. Ken Drabble and R. Matthews then offered to purchase a county flag, which was ready by June and flown for the first time at the County Championship at Buxton. The union s thanks to Drabble and Matthews were duly recorded. This led to the exploration of the possibility of county pullovers. A specimen was obtained from Coxmoor Ltd in blue with the county badge and it was agreed to order two and half dozen. Qualification for a pullover was to be discussed later. Although the team finished fifth in the Midland qualifying event for the English County Championship, Reg Pattinson was third in the individual scores with 147 and Leo Feeney fifth on 149. They accompanied three Walker Cup players, Michael Lunt, Alec Shepperson and Alan Bussell to the prize table. The other results had been disappointing but close and it was suggested that a coaching scheme for the younger players and potential players would be very helpful. This would earn the support of the E.G.U. It was decided to approach John Jacobs at Lindrick, who by then was regarded as one of the best teachers in the country. With this development the decade ended on a positive note. George Henriques died in 1961 and his widow presented the George Henriques Memorial Salver. A mixed foursomes competition was arranged and took place at Cavendish. The first winners were N.W.D. Yardley, the former England and Yorkshire cricket captain and Mrs T. Brown. 37

38 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Chapter Four The Family Fathers and Sons It is a truth universally acknowledged that golf is a family game and also transcends class distinctions, particularly in the northern half of our island. Derbyshire has produced its own golfing dynasties: Joe Armitt s success has already been described. His son Geoff inherited the genes and represented the county twenty-four times between 1954 and 1961 before turning professional, becoming the Steward-professional at Chapel-en-le-Frith. This club was undergoing difficulties at this time and Geoff moved on to Matlock Golf Club where he remained for twenty-two years before his untimely death in the clubhouse. He was the county s professional champion in 1966, scoring 144 on the course where he had learned the game, Buxton and High Peak. It was on this course that his ashes were scattered. Geoff was well liked and respected by the members and was a mine of information about golf in the county. The county union also owes much to another family, but not for any golfing achievements. The Dukes of Devonshire had a long connection with golf even though very few actually played. Until the present Duke inherited the title each served as Patron of the Union and made significant contributions to the game. Their connection with game began twenty-six years before the Derbyshire Union came into existence. Chatsworth Estates owned Compton Place in Eastbourne and the 7th Duke, keen to support the development of the town made his land available in 1887 to what very quickly became The Royal Eastbourne Golf Club. The Duke was the first President and his son, Spencer Compton Cavendish, the first captain, although not a particularly distinguished golfer. The 7th Duke died in 1891 aged 83. Spencer Cavendish, Marquis of Hartington inherited the title and maintained his interest in the club despite his busy political life, holding offices under Gladstone and Balfour. He declined Queen Victoria s request that he become Prime Minister. He died, childless in 1908 and was succeeded by his nephew, Victor Christian William Cavendish. Royal Eastbourne s two courses are named the Devonshire and the Hartington. The eighth Duke only played occasionally and apparently not very well. His successor, although keener on cricket persuaded J.H. Taylor to design a new 9 hole course. He was a more frequent golfer. The 9th Duke was Governor-General of Canada from and was responsible for the generous lease granted to the Eastbourne club. His generosity extended to Derbyshire for he ordered the creation of the course that bears his name in Buxton, designed by the man considered to be at the peak of his profession, Alastair MacKenzie. The Duke took an active interest in the course and apparently made a few changes to MacKenzie s plan although a very infrequent golfer himself. After he suffered a stroke his last years were very painful and he died in His son spent most of his time in the south and died in 1950 of a heart attack while chopping down a tree in his garden overlooking the Eastbourne course. His eldest son was killed in the Second World War and Andrew Cavendish inherited the title to become the 11th Duke. Although he did not play the game he was passionate about golf. He restored the course at Chatsworth in 1964, opened up the membership to local residents and his staff and invited the children at the local school, Pilsley. The outcome of this was the resuscitation of the club which continued to thrive. His widow, the Dowager Duchess, nee Deborah Mitford of the famous literary family, in Memories of Andrew Devonshire, noted that he watched every Open Championship on television. He continued his patronage of the County Union and as President of the Eastbourne club. His son is more interested in horse racing and while retaining the Presidency at Eastbourne declined the patronage of the Union. Other members of the aristocracy have also played their part in the county s golfing history, Lord Scarsdale leasing his land at Kedleston Park to the new club formed in Kedleston Hall is now a National Trust property, having been given to them in 1987 in lieu of death duties which arose from the death of Lord Scarsdale in

39 Chapter Four The Family Fathers and Sons Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence When Burton-on-Trent Golf Club moved to Bretby 80 acres were leased from the Earl of Caernavon. In 1894 Glossop and District Golf Club leased farmland from Lord Howard. This was part of his Glossop estates and the club acquired the lease through the offices of one of Lord Howard s land agents, C.A. Abraham, who joined the club and served on the committee. A similar occurrence enabled Bakewell Golf Club to use land owned by the Duke of Rutland, provided the farming tenants agreed. As his land agent was already a member of the club, this did not prove a problem. The Duke and all the members of his family were appointed honorary life members in recognition of the Duke s kindness. Despite the aristocratic involvement in Derbyshire golf, the county union took a very democratic view of the people playing the game. The Buxton artisans had established Six Man Team From top left: Cyrill Cantrill, Ken Smith, Leo Feeney, Martin Curran, Reg Pattinson Ken Drabble and Dony Mason. 39

40 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs County 1st Team circa From left: David Ferguson, John Thomas, Tom Booth, Bob Fletcher, Ron Tickle, David Hancock, Ken Smith, Derek Cross, John Booth, John Flanders, Leo Feeney, Clive Ibbotson, Donnie Mason, Cyril Ibbotson, Ken Drabble. 40

41 Chapter Four The Family Fathers and Sons Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence themselves in the county teams and competitions. When Geoff Armitt left Chapel-en-le-Frith the club was struggling. Then a saviour arrived, Leo Feeney, an Irishman from County Sligo, where he had learned the game. Leo came to Derbyshire in 1958, seeking steady employment and settled in Tibshelf, living with his aunt. He joined Tapton Park and found a job driving buses in Chesterfield. He soon became a scratch golfer and played in the county s first team from 1959 until 1963, when he turned professional. In his four amateur years he won the Orr Cup in each of those years. In December 1963 he left Chesterfield with his wife Pat and two daughters to become professional, head green keeper and steward at Chapel, on the recommendation of Geoff Armitt. Pat acted as stewardess. During his time at the club he won the Derbyshire Alliance Championship on five occasions, was successful in many proams and Derbyshire Professional Champion in He also became a fine and respected teacher. In the winter months he ran an indoor night school in three divisions, depending on the competence of the players. At the end of each course all the pupils played in a tournament Leo organised. He also hired the Constitutional Hall where he installed mats and nets for members to practise indoors in inclement weather. As a result of his efforts the club s membership increased and Chapel was soon a thriving club once again. This enabled the building of nine new holes in 1971, when he gave up the green keeping but continued with Pat as steward and stewardess until 1975, when a full time steward was appointed. In the meantime the family had grown with the addition of four sons, the eldest being Jimmy who eventually became one the county s most celebrated players. It is thanks to him that the details of Leo s career are produced above. Tragedy struck the family in 1977 when Leo was killed in a freak car accident in Ireland. He was only 43; his memorial service at Chapel was attended by over a thousand mourners. Pat continued to run the shop with help of two assistants, one of whom was Andrew Murray who went on to win the 41

42 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs European Open in In 1978 D. Stewart was appointed professional. The family donated the Leo Feeney Memorial Trophy, which is played for each year at the county trials by players over 25. Leo s eldest daughter, Rosemary, was captain of the Derbyshire ladies first team in the early nineties and prior to starting a family worked as a rules official for the P.G.A. Her youngest brother, Kevin, enjoys a similar position and has officiated in Ryder Cups and major championships. Brendan was the third of the brothers and won the Derbyshire Boys Championship. He followed Jimmy as Captain of the boys team. A pharmacist, he returned to Ireland and settled at Rosses Point, his father s first club, where he plays off single figures. After Leo s death Jimmy, who had taken up the game at the age of 10, visited Gavin Christie for lessons at Kedleston Park. Christie was a well-respected teacher and coach to Mark James, Ryder Cup Captain in Jimmy made good progress and was soon a member of the county boys team, run by Jeremy Butt of Chevin and Hugh Wylde of Kedleston Park. He captained the junior team in 1982 and then the colts team and made his first team debut in 1981 against Middlesex, aged 17. He holed a chip on the 17th in his singles to win the game and the match. Jimmy attended Loughborough University from , gaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Accounting and Finance, leading to membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants In England and Wales and of Association of Corporate Treasurers, paving the way for his career with Rolls Royce in Derby. In 1985 he went on holiday to stay with his grandmother who lived close to Rosses Point, where the West of Ireland Championship, one of the four regional amateur championships run by the Golf Union of Ireland, is held annually. Jimmy entered, scored 65 in the qualifying strokeplay event and progressed to the semi-finals of the match play, where he met the experienced Irish international, Declan Brannigan, and beat him by 2&1. His opponent in the final was Gary Moore from Northern Ireland. In a close match Jimmy was one down after 13 holes, then consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th gave him a lead he did not relinquish. He was immediately promoted to the Irish junior squad and booked on a week-long trip to Valderrama for training a week later. He did well enough to be selected for the six man team for the European Championship which was to be played at Halmstadt in Sweden later that year. Ireland qualified comfortably in the first flight, both of Jimmy s scores counting in the five out of six strokeplay section. Jimmy s feat was reported in the history of County Sligo Golf Club, where he had made a rather special impact on the annals of the West. The Irish Times also reported the event, which is quoted in the book: The moment of victory was a mixture of delight and sadness as Feeney was embraced by his widowed mother, Pat. Both were in tears, as were the other relations and friends of the late Leo Feeney, who was born locally before emigrating to England where he took up an appointment as professional at Chapel-en-le-Frith. The shy, bespectacled hero had certainly done his father proud in a tense match which also reflected enormous credit on Moore who, at 16, was the youngest finalist in the history of the event. The entire exercise was the culmination of a remarkable few months in Feeney s life. Unknown in Irish golf until he was brought to the attention of the Connacht selectors early this year as English and Welsh University champion, he represented his province against Ayrshire last week. And is now set for a place in the junior interprovincial side at Clandeboye though accountancy examinations will preclude him from competing with the senior side in Lahinch next month. Jimmy said afterwards: this has all been a bit too much some kind of a fairytale. I played so poorly for the first twelve holes that I thought I had no chance of winning. 42

43 Chapter Four The Family Fathers and Sons Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence In the first knock-out stage Ireland met England and were heavily beaten, Jimmy losing to Graham Homewood, a recent finalist in the English Amateur Championship. Also in the England team were Peter Baker, Peter McEvoy and John Hawksworth, while Jose Maria Olazabal played for Spain, Colin Montgomerie for Scotland and Jesper Parnevik for Sweden. As Jimmy was now studying accountancy, exams caused him to be unavailable for the Home Internationals. Chapel-en-le-Frith immediately accorded him Honorary Life membership. Between 1986 and 2008 Jimmy was Derbyshire Amateur Champion and Open Champion a record six times each and between 1984 and 2003 was Matchplay Champion four times. In the first of these at Burton-on-Trent there was a three-way tie on 145 with Gary Shaw and Keith Brown (Breadsall). In the 18 hole play-off Gary was leading Jimmy by two shots and Keith by four on the 18th tee. His drive found the trees, while Jimmy hit his driver well down the fairway on this tight par 4. Gary recovered from the trees but missed the green with his third shot, failed to get up and down, while Jimmy parred the hole. His 15 foot birdie putt on the first extra hole was sufficient to take the title. He was Derbyshire s County Captain and Captain of Midland Counties He set course records at Notts Golf Club, Hollinwell, scoring 67 (-5) and Kedleston Park, which he joined in 1988, recording a seven under par score of 65. His other winning performances will be found in the appendix. Jimmy remembers an exciting friendly match with Yorkshire in 1992 which was played at Lindrick. The morning foursomes was played in torrential rain and Yorkshire took a 4-2 lead. In the singles Jimmy was paired with the previous year s Brabazon Trophy champion, Mark Pullan, who was not happy with the condition of the course. To the amusement of the Derbyshire team and annoyance of his Yorkshire colleagues Pullan took just five clubs out with him and was two under par after 16 holes, beating Jimmy by 3 and 2. Jimmy recalls it was not his proudest moment. In the 36 hole Kedleston Goose in 1995 Jimmy score 71 (-1) and 64 (-8) a new course record, tying with Mark Foster of Worksop, the English Champion and future tour player. In the sudden death play-off Foster went birdie, par, eagle to take the trophy against Jimmy s birdie, par, birdie. Another future tour winner, David Lynn of Trentham Park was third. A better result was achieved at Kedleston in 2003 in the Derbyshire Open, which he describes as his finest day on a golf course apart from the West of Ireland. Rounds of 67 and 66 added up to eleven under par, eight strokes clear of the field and reduced his handicap to +4. It is interesting to note that two of the five Derbyshire players who have achieved international status played for Ireland! Another family closely involved with the playing and organising golf in the county had begun their association with the Union before Leo Feeney s arrival. Two members of the Flanders family have had a massive impact, while the third served briefly on the Executive. This was Major Charles Flanders of Cavendish Golf Club who was elected to the committee in He was the Captain of his club, which was in the throes of purchasing their course and clubhouse from the Chatsworth Estates. A nine handicap golfer, he was a born raconteur and a fine amateur actor and producer, putting on shows at the Buxton Opera House. He was re-elected as Captain in 1954 and again in His club duties prevented him giving full time service the Union and his spell on the Executive finished in His brother Cyril was appointed assistant secretary in 1950, the same year Charles was elected. He took over the role of treasurer in 1952 and continued in the capacity during his presidency of the Union in He was awarded a Vicepresident s role the following year and became the county s delegate to the E.G.U. in In 1962 he resigned and moved to Devon. A member of Chevin his lowest handicap 43

44 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs several occasions, as well as other trophies but this was not the sum of his service to the club as he became the club s treasurer in succession to his father and served on a number of committees. John joined the County Executive in 1965 and was elected Captain in 1967, serving a three year term. He won the Derbyshire Open in 1970 He formed a formidable foursomes pairing with Paul Baxter when the latter moved to Chevin from Sherwood Forest to take up the appointment of Secretary. They played together 48 times and never lost a match. Their partnership later took on a different aspect when they became involved in the English Golf Union s move to Woodhall Spa, which will be described in a later chapter. John was the national body s President in 2000 and the County s President in J. B. Flanders. President EGU President DUGC 2007/8. was 7. He was the club captain in By this time his son, John, a Chartered Accountant, had made his mark in the County team, having joined Chevin in 1947 as a fifteen year old. He reduced his handicap to 1 and played off that mark for 25 years. He was also a fine cricketer and was often urged to give up golf to improve his cricket and also to give up cricket to improve his golf! He made the first of over 150 appearances for Derbyshire s first team in 1954 spread over 26 years. He won his club s championship on Another father and son combination to give the County long service are the Ibbotsons. Cyril and Clive were members of Mickleover Golf Club. Cyril was Club Captain twice, in 1953 and 1955, match secretary from 1963 until 1985 and was elected President in 1991 for life. He served on the board for forty years, mostly as Vice Chairman. He played for the County s Second Team, which he captained in1961 and 62, taking over the First Team a year later, playing in one match when his son was taken ill overnight. Although he won the sweep for the biggest winning margin in the singles he did not play for the first team again! His next appointment was as County President in1964/5 after which he became assistant secretary with Ken Drabble and then secretary. Although minute book entries are normally brief, dry and factual the minutes of the meeting on 9th August,1982 are worth quoting. Cyril left Sandy Morrison, a High Court Judge and a man of some wit, to write the minutes. In Any Other Business Sandy began: Mr Ken Drabble began to dilate on his experience at the English Amateur Championship, but was reasonably politely interrupted by the President, who wanted Mr John Flanders 44

45 Chapter Four The Family Fathers and Sons Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence Kedleston Derbyshire 1st Team comprises of: Michael Piggott, Mel Orme, Richard Payne, John Annable, John Thomas, John Flanders, David Wigglesworth, Clive Ibbotson, Mike Cowman, Nick Rogers, Frank Rogers and Tim Nicholson. to dilate upon the latest news of the new handicap scheme (which many members and their Club Secretaries feared to be both imminent and inexorable.) Mr Flanders confirmed these fears. Mirabile dictu, the various components of C.O.N.G.U. had been able to agree and the scheme was definitely to be introduced on and with effect from 1 January The scheme, explained Mr Flanders, was so comprehensible and easy to administer that even he, as an experienced and distinguished Chartered Accountant, had not been alarmed by its complexities, which he had studied with all the zest of a Golf Club committee man and experienced Chartered Accountant. Clubs must however be warned (and Mr Drabble agreed) that they should on no account feel any obligation or need to invest in even the least sophisticated of micro computers, whatever the solicitations of their secretaries. After all, why should they when the accountancy profession was ever ready to assist? 45

46 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs 1973 Annual Dinner. From top left: Mike Piggot, John Beddington, Richard Payne, Nick Rogers, Chris Packham, Bill Easson, Alan Tune, John Thomas, Brian Barkes and Cyrill Ibbotson. Bottom row: Alan Champion, John Flanders, Clive Ibbotson, David Wigglesworth and Paul Baxter. 46

47 Chapter Four The Family Fathers and Sons Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence So, Derbyshire was prepared for the change and now, of course, the computer has taken over. A further purple passage was recorded in a following minute which again reveals Sandy Morrison s rather devilish sense of humour: The Honorary Secretary was visibly, and in the opinion of the committee reasonably, upset to have been the innocent victim of an imputation that the Sayers Cup had been awarded to the wrong man. The award had in fact been made by the President with the assistance of Mr Nicholson and Mr Morrison, each of whom was glad to note the views of the Committee that the correct Derbyshire procedure for the resolution of ties in the event in question had been applied and would be applied in future (unless formally altered), whatever be the unofficial practice at Kedleston Park, Yorkshire or any other fount of eccentricity. Mr Ibbotson was acquitted without stain on his character and the Committee hoped to hear no more. That did not prevent Mr Flanders (who happened to be the winner whose title was in question) from declaring as a beau geste that he didn t want the cup anyway. This piece of self-denial was promptly and firmly countermanded by the Committee who resolved that whether Mr Flanders wanted the cup or whether he didn t, he was jolly well going to have it and no nonsense. These minutes continued in a similar vein and included a long discussion in an exceptionally protracted meeting when a breathless Captain arrived with a series of complaints about pin placings, clubs failures to encourage juniors It seemed that an emergency UN peacekeeping force might have to be constituted. The next meeting was arranged for 22nd November when more entertaining debate was happily to be anticipated. This meeting approved the previous minutes as a true record insofar as they purported to record facts (but not as to any comment of descriptive quality therein contained) Cyril was the County s delegate to the EGU for nearly thirty years. In 1966 he helped found the Society of Derbyshire Golf Captains and was the first Captain. He later became President of the Midland Golf Union. 47

48 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs DUGC Captain, Clive Ibbotson receiving Midland League Trophy from Bill Dudley Evans in

49 Chapter Four The Family Fathers and Sons Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence His son Clive made his county debut for the second team in 1962, having won the Boys Championship and was soon a regular first team member until 1995, when he returned to the second team until Clive won the Derbyshire Open in 1969, and was runner-up on two other occasions. He won the Derbyshire Matchplay three times, 1978, 80 and 85. He captained the first team in two separate decades, 1972/3 the year the County won the Midland League, and led them to victory again Derbyshire had joined the league in 1973 six years after its formation. The Executive had previously decided not to join as it feared some regular matches would have to be abandoned. This proved not to be the case as some counties already in the league played Derbyshire in friendly matches. To win at the first attempt was a great achievement. Clive was well supported by a good team including John Flanders, Paul Baxter and John Beddington. Between the two years Clive led the team to first place, results were variable and will be discussed later. Clive believes he played in 210 first team matches, not including those against the Ladies and the Professionals. Derbyshire did not top the league again until He was County President in 1995/6, playing in the winning team against Yorkshire in the first of those years, his last first team match. It was Derbyshire s first victory over Yorkshire for many years. His service to Derbyshire golf was not finished in 2001 he became the Union s secretary, continuing until 2007 when he became assistant to Peter McGrath. He remains on the executive committee, on which he first served in He Captained the Midland Golf Union and his home club in His record at Mickleover over 58 years includes more than twenty occasions when he has won the Club Championship and the 36 holes Scratch Cup. Clive s son Neil was Second Team captain from Another family with even longer association with the County Union is the Drabble family of Matlock. Fred Drabble was captain of the club from 1924 to 1937, seeing it through difficult times. He presented the county with two trophies competed for annually, the Drabble Cup for the Spring Competition and the trophy for the Professional and Amateur Alliance. He became President of the club in 1946, remaining in office until His son Ken joined the County executive in 1956 and was elected one of Derbyshire s delegates to the E.G.U. Council, later serving on the Junior Golf Committee from He became County captain in and President in He had seen the club through the dark days of the war in partnership with Lewis Edwards and richly deserved the honours conferred upon him Club Captain in 1955 and President from 1979 until Ken began his golf in 1920 at the age of four; by 1939 his handicap had fallen to 4 and he won the Midland Area Final of the Daily Telegraph and Morning Post Trophy at Sherwood Forest, finishing eighth in the final at Wentworth. He played occasionally for the county first team but apparently gained more satisfaction from his appearances in the second team where he could encourage the younger members of the team. His grandson Chris made his debut for the Boys team in 1996 and two years later played in the second team. He played four times for the first team in 1999, didn t play in 2000 and only once the year after. Subsequently he has been a regular in the second team. John Rawson (Chevin) played for the first team from 1975 until 1983, serving as Captain in An effective foursomes player, he achieved a commendable record in county matches. His son Mark made his first team debut in 1992, his results in singles matches being particularly impressive. He played in the six man team in the E.G.U. qualifier for the national finals, when it was held at Brocton Hall in Although Derbyshire finished a lowly eighth, Mark, along with Neil Vowles, returned the County s best scores 149. His last appearance was in Another father and son combination were Gordon Packham and his son Chris. Gordon represented the first team in the 1950 s and Chris from the mid 1960 s and 70 s including playing in the team which won the Midland league. 49

50 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Chapter Five County and Country The County Union has made a strong contribution to the English Golf Union since its formation in Ireland (1891), Wales (1895) and Scotland (1920) had already established national associations and the Ladies Golf Union was formed in 1893 ten years before the suffragette movement began its activities. This was achieved with the help of Mr Laidlaw Purves, designer of the Royal St George s Course at Sandwich. His efforts to form an English Golf body had been frustrated by the indifference of the southern counties so he cast his lot with ladies, who were led by the imposing Isette Pearson. Finally, on 11th February, 1924 a meeting was held at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, at which it was agreed to form the English Golf Union. Representatives from fifteen county unions were invited and these were mainly from the Midlands and the North. The Rev Foster Pegg represented Derbyshire and continued to do so for over a decade, being elected President in The objective of the Union were: (a) To further the interests of Amateur Golf in England; (b) To assist in the setting up of a uniform system of handicapping; (c) To arrange the English Championships with regional Competitions and such other matches and competitions as may be authorised by the Council; (d) To co-operate with the R&A through the medium of the British Golf Unions Joint Advisory Council (C.O.N.G.U.) (e) To co-operate with other National Unions and Associations in such manner as may be decided. The constitution was approved on 24th May and J. Rayner Batty was elected the first President. The first English Championship was held a year later at Royal Liverpool and in 1926 the first English Counties Championship was contested. The format for this has been changed more Joint President of England Golf 2012, Paul Baxter. than once over the years; currently teams of six compete in each of the four regions for a place in the finals. Derbyshire sent a team each year, with varying success. Although the smaller counties may be seen to be at a disadvantage when pitted against those with over a hundred clubs occasionally a smaller county emerges triumphant. The E.G.U. set up the Sports Turf Research Institute at Bingley in 1931 and in 1932 the first Triangular Home Internationals was played. The first Derbyshire player to be selected for England was George Henriques in 1930 in a single match against Scotland, winning one game and losing another. The matches against Scotland began in 1924 and between 1925 and 1931 five matches were played against Ireland. Henriques became involved in various E.G.U. committees and was elected President in After his death his widow presented 50

51 Chapter Five County and Country Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence 51

52 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs G.L.Q. Henriques, President of the DUGC and E.G.U. President Sydney Cartwright, President of the DUGC 1954 and E.G.U. President the George Henriques Salver which is awarded to the player under twenty years of age who returns the lowest 72 hole score in the English Amateur Stroke Play Championship, The Brabazon Trophy. Stuart Davis is the only winner from Derbyshire so far, tying with Steve Webster in

53 Chapter Five County and Country Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence Ten years after Henriques Sydney Cartwright of the Alfreton and Erewash Valley Golf clubs was accorded the honour of E.G.U. President. In 1948 Harry Bennett was awarded his first England cap and was joined in the team the following year by Reg Pattinson who had retained his Derbyshire affiliation despite working in the south. Unfortunately he lost both his matches while Bennett won two, halved one and lost three. Pattinson relinquished his Derbyshire links in 1966 when he was appointed captain of Bucks, Berks and Oxon. He died suddenly in Much has already been recorded about the career of John Flanders but it is his work for the E.G.U. for which he will be most remembered. He joined the executive in 1967, became treasurer, then Chairman in The Union s activities had expanded considerably; new clubs were being formed and more people taking up the game. By now the Union s offices were in Leicester. John was joined there by Paul Baxter, formerly secretary at John s club before moving to Sherwood Forest, then to the E.G.U. as deputy secretary in 1985, becoming secretary in The need for a national golf centre was seen to be essential, with facilities for coaching at the highest level and a championship course. John Flanders was a good friend of Neil Hotchkin, owner of Woodhall Spa golf club, rated one of England s finest courses. Negotiations were set in motion and in 1994 it was announced that the English Golf Union had acquired the course and land for a second eighteen holes for the sum of 8 million. This was funded by a loan and increased levies on affiliated members. Donald Steel was commissioned to design the new Bracken Course and the old course became the Hotchkin course. The deal was sealed when John arrived at Neil s home with two bottles of Meursault; Hotchkin protested that he should provide the wine but John insisted and two bottles later the deal was done. Between them Derbyshire s two stalwarts had secured the future of English Golf. John s efforts were recognised by the presidency in 2000, while Paul, after serving a secretary and Chief Executive, retired and was elected as President for The momentous decision to amalgamate with the English Women s Golf Association was approved in Despite the dire financial position of the country, this should help in securing more government funding for the game, make administration easier and ensure conformity with laws of equality. While the Union s headquarters was still in Leicester Paul was joined by another Derbyshire man, Nigel Furniss from Matlock, another very capable golfer. He and clubmate Andrew Hession won the Central England Foursomes in 1990 and both served as County Captain. Nigel was appointed Assistant Secretary to the E.G.U. in After the move to Woodhall Spa he continued as Assistant Secretary until 2002 when he became the World Class Performance Manager and a year later Director of that department. England s finest young golfers were competing successfully worldwide and several graduated to the professional game, where many continued to build on their earlier achievements. Nigel left the E.G.U. in 2004 and in 2006 Peter Mattson from Sweden was appointed as Director of Coaching, taking the national team to further honours. He resigned in 2011 to return to his native land. Nigel is now Derbyshire s Development Officer and Performance Director. The E.G.U. supports the County Golf Partnerships such as Derbyshire s; and awards the GolfMark to clubs providing full support to members, particularly juniors and their welfare. The county had fourteen clubs attaining this award by the end of 2012, with nine more working towards the award. Truly, Derbyshire has played a major role in the history of the national body. 53

54 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Chapter Six The Extended Family Despite winning the Midland League at the first attempt in 1973, the County team did not equal this achievement until 1987, and fared little better in the Midland Qualifying event for the National County finals. The larger counties tended to dominate this event with the larger pool of players from which to select the best teams; they also had greater incomes to fund the coaching and welfare of the players. In many counties players were still paying for their own team kit and received minimal expenses, the honour of representing one s county being deemed sufficient reward. Derbyshire had a pool of experienced players for Clive Ibbotson to call upon in 1973, including Paul Baxter who had moved from Nottinghamshire to work in Derby. He joined Chevin in 1967 and was soon a member of the county team. He won the County s Amateur Championship three times, the Match Play five. He became the secretary of his club in 1973 remaining there until 1978 when he moved to Sherwood Forest as secretary/manager. He writes, The 10 years I spent with Derbyshire from 1967 to 1977 were the happiest and most successful golfing years and I have many fond memories of people like Cyril Ibbotson who did so much for the county. He won the Scratch Medal in the 36 hole Notts Journal Golf Trophy finals at Burton-on-Trent with 132 gross. His second round of 65 would have been a course record had it not been for a shortened hole. John Beddington taking the handicap prize with 137 less 8 for 129. Reporters regularly mentioned Paul s 5 6 stature, while his moustache invited comparison with Mark James. In 1969 he broke the course record at Chevin with a 64 to win the club championship, the Wheatley Trophy. He suffered from hay fever in 1972 and only just scraped into the draw for the match play championship but defeated a distinguished field at Kedleston Park. A year later he set a 36 hole record at Chevin in the Amateur Championship, his score of 135 beating Reg Pattinson s 1948 score by four strokes. He also was instrumental in Chevin s victory in the Union Shield, supported by Clive Ibbotson and John Flanders. 54

55 Chapter Six The Extended Family Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence Amateur Championship From left: Gordon Gray, Dereck Brindley Captain of Cavendish and Jimmy Feeney. 55

56 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs His partnership with John Flanders in foursomes has been mentioned; his singles record was also in credit. He was awarded Honorary membership of Chevin in recognition of both his playing record and service to the game, which had still many years to run. John Beddington made his debut for the second team in 1965 and established a good playing record.; despite this he remained in the second team until 1968, when he defeated Clive Ibbotson and other favoured players in the County Championship at Burton. Promotion to the first team followed and John had another successful season. In one memorable first team league match against Shropshire and Herefordshire in 1973 at Shifnal John was paired with Chris Packham (Mickleover) in the morning foursomes and drawn to play against a young Ian Woosnam. The Derbyshire pair won 3 and 2. John achieved the same result against Ian in the afternnon singles. Subsequently family and business commitments reduced his availability and his last second team matches were in Both his parents came from Matlock where they were members of the Matlock club before moving to Derby, joining the newly formed Kedleston Park. John joined in 1955 and was taught by his aunt, Jean Burns (nee Vallance). Jean played for Derbyshire Ladies for many years winning the Derbyshire Ladies Championship in 1962 at Erewash Valley. John s mother died in 1959 and his father remarried in the 1960s. Taught initially by John his stepmother became a Derbyshire Ladies county player and was County Ladies Captain. She became very much involved with the administration of the ladies game at both county and national levels becoming Chairman of the English Ladies Golf Association in 1984/5. John won the County s Henriques Cup in 1966 at Mickleover and became Kedleston s Club Champion in In 1968 he was the leading amateur in the Derbyshire Amateur/ Professional Alliance Championship at Buxton and High Peak when Leo Feeney pipped him by one shot by holing his second shot to the 36th hole! He obtained his County Colours in In 2006 he won the County s Division 2 Championship at Horsley Lodge together with the Sayers Cup played for by the County s Club Captains in their year of office. John has played for the county seniors team since 2002 and became the County President in 2009/10. In his second year in office he was awarded the Barry Kay Memorial Salver. This was presented by the Kay family to commemorate Barry s outstanding service to golf from club through to national level. Outside the county John Beddington won the East Anglian Foursomes at Hunstanton in 2000, playing with a former Kedleston colleague, Stuart Rowland who also played for the Derbyshire second team in the 1970s. He played in the Old Reptonians team in the Halford Hewitt from the 1970s until The county s hopes were high in 1974 when they were joined by John Lawton, a scratch golfer who had already played for Lancashire. He won eight of his nine singles matches, but was less successful in the foursomes. The captain s report for the year congratulated him on obtaining 28 points out of a possible 30. He left the county for business reasons in 1983 and later became a valuable member of Warwickshire s senior team. James Annable, John Flanders, Mel Orme and Richard Payne were regulars and three league matches were won and two lost with the result that the league title was narrowly out of reach. The county s fortunes then experienced a decline; the league results were disappointing and the positions in The Six varied from moderate to poor despite the experience of the county s representatives. The best players were not always available and there were losses of form by some of the more reliable men. There was an encouraging improvement in 1980 four league victories were rewarded with second place and the county finished fourth in The Six at Trentham, Robin Davenport 56

57 Chapter Six The Extended Family Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence 1968 Amateur Championship at Burton won by John Beddington (left). Alan Champion (right). 57

58 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs returning a score of 142. This was the best result until a similar position was achieved in 1987, sadly not reflected in the Midland League table. Younger players had replaced the stalwarts by this time; Gary Shaw made his debut in 1981, Jimmy Feeney a year later as did Andrew Hession and Nigel Furniss. Jimmy played seven times for the team and in The Six. Gary s father had been a professional at Tapton Park prior to his untimely death. Andrew represented the County from 1981 until 1998 and was Captain twice, from and He was also the Captain of his club, Matlock in Nigel served as County Captain in Nigel and Gary represented Derbyshire in The Six at Erewash Valley the following year, Gary returning a score of 143 in assisting the County to third place. This improvement was reflected in the league results. Clive Ibbotson was serving his second term as Captain and led the team to first place after tying with Warwickshire but winning on goal average. Derek McJannet made a sterling contribution to this success. He moved to Nottinghamshire but later returned to Matlock Golf Club as Head Greenkeeper. Another player who played 51 times for the team was Mick Grundy (Ashbourne), who won the Boys Championship in 1985 & 86. Sadly he contracted leukaemia and died in May 1998, aged 29. Gary Shaw first played for the youths team and recalls a match against Yorkshire at Bingley St Ives. I was drawn to play a large fair haired lad from Ilkley Golf Club. As I walked to the tee one of the players who played him in the foursomes in the morning told me I would have no problem defeating this character as he hit the ball with a slice. In those days only Trevino hit a cut shot so as I walked to the tee I felt things were looking up. Gary hit his customary draw from the first tee but his opponent was unfased as he played his fade to the centre of the fairway, the approach faded into the heart of the green. The lad was Colin Montgomerie and he beat Gary 5&4. After coaching from Peter Cowen, teacher of many successful tour players, Gary felt, if I played well I could beat anyone. Unfortunately Phil Wood of Yorkshire disabused him of that theory! A year later things improved when he drew Wood again and this time beat him 9&8. There were also wins over Lee Westwood and Mark Foster, the future tour players from Worksop, both still young and on the way up. Peter McEvoy was still playing for Warwickshire in the 1980s and he and another England international, Andrew Carmen were drawn to play Gary and Robin Davenport, whom Gary considered Derbyshire s best player. A Warwickshire official kindly informed Gary and Robin that their opponents had never been beaten in foursomes, which I noticed made Robin s neck bristle. As the match went on the same official came and asked the score and it was indicated that Derbyshire were one down. An error was made at this point by the official who asked quite loudly who was able to hold them to only one up, not recognising Robin (who had played and done well in the Open Championship as a professional in 1967) as someone to be unduly worried over. This spurred the Derbyshire pair to an inspired burst of exemplary golf and an eight foot putt for victory on the 18th. Robin s advice was Knock the bloody ball in the hole. Gary did as instructed and Warwickshire players had to comfort the official! Gary also had a fair run in the Derbyshire Matchplay, reaching the final on a number of occasions and winning a number of times. He has vivid memories of two such finals: One was at Cavendish and his opponent was his good friend Jimmy Feeney. It was a typical September day in Buxton which meant a normal winter s day for the rest of the country We walked to the first tee in our six layers including woolly hats. I had expected just two or three spectators On the first tee in a cold twenty mile an hour wind with rain around locals stood by ready to watch the game. The match went to extra holes: The wind was now a howling gale. 58

59 Chapter Six The Extended Family Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence 1st Team 1992 at Erewash Valley. Top row from fleft: Ian Whyatt, Paul Eastwood, Clive Ibbotson, Mick Gundry, Nigel Furniss, Clive Radford, Gary Shaw and Richard Fletcher. Bottom row from left: Jimmy Feeney, Gordon Gray, Cyrill Ibbotson and Andrew Hessian. Not one spectator had left. Jimmy won on the 20th hole. Gary also recalls a final at Matlock against Simon Churchman, which he won with an amazing wedge shot. Some years later a Matlock member asked if he still had the wedge, as he was prepared to make an offer for it. He was disconsolate when Gary told him it was long gone. It says much for Derbyshire golf that club members were prepared to suffer unpleasant conditions to support their champions. In 2011 Gary s son Cameron made his debut for the county first team while still a junior, having won the Boys 59

60 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs English County finalists 1999: Back row from left: S Humpston, G Shaw, C Axon, M Rawson, S Davis. Front row: J Feeney, N Furniss and P Gration. championship at Kedleston Park with a score of 139. His first round of 64 broke the white course record by one shot it was Jimmy Feeney s record which had stood since The late 1980s and the beginning of the following decade saw the second major golf boom, echoing that which occurred around the turn of the previous century. Farmers were told to set aside land to avoid over production. They decided to build golf courses, quite often on land not suitable for the purpose. Between 1985 and 1990 the Derbyshire Union affiliated eight new clubs, including Blue Circle at the cement factory in the Hope Valley. This became the Lafarge Golf Club, but is now Hope Valley Works Golf Club. 60

61 Chapter Six The Extended Family Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence One of the most interesting developments was the creation of an eighteen hole par three course at Broughton Heath, which opened in1988. The course measures over 3,000 yards and contains many interesting hazards. It has hosted PGA qualifying events for that body s Short Course Championship and regular junior inter-county events. A former Cheshire county golfer, watching his son compete, commented that he was glad he wasn t playing as he thought the course was too tough! Grassmoor Golf Centre opened in 1990 and in 2008 became the first Derbyshire club to attain the GolfMark. By this time a young player was making his mark on the county scene. Stuart Davis won his first title in 1987 when he became the Derbyshire Schools Champion. He played for the boys team in that year, and captained the team in 1991, having made his first appearance in the Men s team in 1990 and remained in the team until He was selected for the England mens squad from 1993 until 1999, the Youths team 1993/94 and was captain of the England Boys team in 1991, his second year in the side. In 1997 he was the Derbyshire Open Champion and match play champion in 1991 and While at university in 1992 he became English, British and European universities Champion and leading British player in the World Student Games a year later. In 2005 he came second in the Nations Cup while representing his country. Stuart won several Midland and County events, capturing nine Midland Order of Merit titles. He turned professional in 2001 and won the Mastercard Open. He graduated to the European Challenge Tour and achieved six top 3 finishes out of a total of sixteen top tens. It was somewhat inevitable that he would soon earn his European Tour card and succeeded in this in 2009, becoming the first Derbyshire player to do this. The 1990s proved to be a most successful decade. In 1991 the county team was second in both the Midland League and The Six. Ian Whyatt made his hundredth appearance for the county in a team which included Jimmy Feeney, Stuart Davis, Gary Shaw, Andrew Hession and Nigel Furniss. Two years later Derbyshire won the Midland League, the Second Team League and the Junior League. The Second team repeated their success in the next two years. The first team, led by Andrew Hession won the league in 1997 helped by Gary Shaw, Stuart Davis and a new player, Sam Humpston from Matlock. He had played for the Boys team in1985 and was Captain in 1987 when he made his second team debut. In 1995 he beat Jimmy Feeney in the Leo Feeney Trophy at Mickleover in an exciting play-off. This earned him first team recognition and he held down a regular place, becoming captain for a three year tenure beginning in He then stepped down in order to pass on his experience to the up and coming second team players. Sam claims the icing on the cake was playing in the National County Finals at Seaton Carew in Colin Axon s team had qualified at Rothley Park, Leicestershire: Stuart Davis, Jimmy Feeney, Paul Gration, Mark Rawson, Gary Shaw and Gareth White. Gareth was not available for the final from 1st-3rd October and Sam Humpston and Nigel Furniss were selected. (The finalists are allowed to name seven players to cover injury etc). Sam describes it as an amazing experience and a fantastic event. The first match was against Yorkshire who had possibly the strongest team they had ever fielded: Simon Dyson, Arun Wainwright and Richard Finch to name but three. Sadly Derbyshire failed to win a point; the team did a little better in the second match against Sussex and finally suffered a narrow defeat by Gloucestershire. Sam recalls a great course, great fun, serious golf played in the right spirit. Since then the County s nearest attempts at qualifying have been second place in 2001 and He regarded his County captaincy as a great honour and is full of enthusiasm for the County s future in view of massive strides in coaching both on and off the course. The inclusion of three Matlock players in the team underlines 61

62 Bradley Moore, Reid Trophy winner 2011, courtesy of Tom Ward. 62

63 Chapter Six The Extended Family Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence the club s great contribution to the Union over the years. The fifth member of the club to become the county s President was Barry Kay who took office in He was second team captain from in a non-playing capacity. He played once in his first year as captain, securing a half in a singles match. A year later his one appearance resulted in a foursomes win and a lost singles. His one appearance in 1988 was less successful and it appears his responsibility was building a stronger team to feed into the first team. On relinquishing the captaincy he took over from Bill Rose as county secretary, assisted by Peter McGrath, Erewash Valley s delegate to the Executive. In 2002 he handed over to Clive Ibbotson following his selection as Deputy President. Barry joined Matlock in the 1950s and served on several committees, becoming the club s captain in This led to his appointment on committees with the E.G.U. and the Midland Golf Union, of which he was President in Barry and his wife Shirley joined the British Golf Collectors Society and they supported the society s events, becoming popular members and participating in events played with hickory clubs. He arranged one such event at his own club in celebration of its centenary and recorded the club s hundred years in a delightful book, which has been of assistance in producing this one. Sadly Barry suffered a fatal heart attack on 1st January, St Helen s Church, Darley Dale was filled to capacity for his memorial service, members of the club, county union and collectors society in attendance. They then proceeded to Matlock Golf Club to continue celebrating the life of a much loved and respected man. In 2002 Clive Ibbotson was appointed secretary with the assistance of Peter McGrath who took over in 2007, with Clive as his assistant. By now the E.G.U. was well established at Woodhall Spa and new initiatives were regularly proposed for the consideration and action of the county unions. Derbyshire has always had a strong executive, tasks being delegated as appropriate. Two such initiatives were County Golf Partnerships and the GolfMark. This is awarded to clubs who ensure that their junior golfers enjoy a safe environment at the club, receive coaching and are integrated into the club. Tapton Park was another club in the county to gain the award, having increased junior membership from 12 to over 100. The Derbyshire Golf Partnership was launched in 2010 under the supervision of Nigel Furniss, with Peter McGrath as Chairman, setting up management committees, an academy, a junior order of merit, a coach development programme and several other initiatives. County members are kept informed of these developments in an excellent magazine. Stuart Davis, touring professional and former England amateur, became the first ambassador for Derbyshire Golf, followed a year later by Melissa Reid, a rising star on the Ladies European Tour, former Curtis Cup player and a member of a winning Solheim Cup team. Morley Hayes chose not to affiliate to the Union, but applied for a Rangemark under the guidance of the Partnership. The course had been designed by the late Ray Baldwin, doyen of Midlands golf, the MGU s Development Officer. He worked, without pay 24/7, advised on course construction, Articles of Association for new clubs and handicaps. The Partnership encourages new golfers and supplements the work done by the County s junior organisers, which had begun in earnest many years previously. 63

64 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Chapter Seven The Boys As a result of the Second World War golf clubs nationally were suffering from a shortfall in membership. It was realised that new blood was essential if the game was to survive. The solution was to make the game as attractive as possible to the younger generation. Although the British Boys Championship was inaugurated in 1921 it was a somewhat elitist event players were identified by the names of their schools, not their clubs. This was reflected in 1950 when the Midland Boys Championship was held for the first time at Blackwell Golf Club, Worcestershire. It was run by members of that county s executive and sponsored by The Birmingham Post and Mail, who donated the prizes. Players were identified by their schools, or occasionally by their clubs. For the first few years handicaps were high; now it is a highly competitive event contested by low single figure golfers. Lancashire attempted to start a Northern Boys Championship, inviting participation from Derbyshire, but the project was dropped from a lack of interest. This is understandable, given the austere post-war conditions. Rationing of many commodities continued into the 1950s. Then in 1952 Matlock Golf Club proposed a County Boys Championship and gained the support of the County Executive. Reg Pattinson, a schoolmaster, presented a trophy for the winner. The following year seventeen boys entered the event at Tapton Park. Markers were arranged to accompany each pair and prizes for gross and nett scores were awarded as well as age group prizes. By 1954 it was agreed that the age limit conformed with national rules and every endeavour should be made to enter the winner in the national event. This was the Carris Trophy, inaugurated in 1935 at Moor Park, the annual venue until 1988 when the E.G.U. decided it should move around the country. Further support came from the newly formed Golf Foundation, created when a business man perceived the problems outlined above. The Foundation began by targeting a number of public schools but soon expanded its work, with the help of Sir Henry Cotton. In 1958 the E.G.U. wanted to know what clubs were doing to encourage juniors and Mr Fletcher was instructed to write to the County s clubs to find out. The replies were rather slow to come in and the E.G.U. tried again three years later. That standards were improving was demonstrated when Mr Parnell of Buxton Artisans raised the question of juniors playing in Union competitions. As the Orr Cup and Boys Championship were played on the same day it was agreed that an eligible boy could compete in both events. Derbyshire has always produced some lady golfers of outstanding ability and one of them, the Hon. Joan Gee, suggested in 1962 the formation of a junior section. Ken Drabble convened a sub-committee, aided by T.W. Davis, Cyril Ibbotson and H. Rose. This led to discussions with the northern representative for junior golf, the President feeling that contact was easier with the north despite the county being in the Midland group. Promising juniors could then benefit from advanced coaching. A further development indicating increased awareness in junior golf came with a letter from Derbyshire s Director of Education, Jack Longland, the host of the BBC s popular panel game My Word, requesting names and addresses of professionals in the county willing to coach schoolchildren. Acting on behalf of the secretary, the President, Cyril Ibbotson, replied with the full details. A Derbyshire Junior Golf Society had been formed and Hugh Wylde (Kedleston Park) offered spare finance to sponsor more coaching. Matches were arranged with other counties, the boys beating Lincolnshire and losing to Nottinghamshire in 1979 the first record of the boys matches in the annual report. A year later the team won the Four Counties Junior Tournament. Boys were now filtering through into the second and colts teams under the guidance of D. Ferguson, who retired from his role in

65 Chapter Seven The Boys Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence U18 s Team won Midland Junior County Qualifier 2010 at Horsley Lodge. Top row from left: Jake Harrison, Jamie Boler, James Burton, Craig Young. Bottom row: Joe Biggs, Nick Newbold and Sam Claypole. U18 s Team at Goswick From left: Josh Thorley, Nick Newbold, Jamie Boler, Joe Biggs, John Jenkins, Alex Weare, Craig Young and Jack Cope. 65

66 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Junior County golf was now expanding through the country and by the mid 1980s Derbyshire Boys, managed by Jeremy Butt, (Chevin), were playing eight matches, travelling as far as Northamptonshire as well as to closer counties. Jeremy was proposed as second team captain in 1983 and Hugh Wylde took over. Jimmy Feeney remembers both with affection for their support and encouragement. Hugh Wylde was very active, recruiting assistants and organising two meetings a year for club junior organisers. His enthusiasm was rewarded when in 1986 the boys qualified for the national finals of the GRE National Junior Team Championship, in which they finished third out of four teams. This was the forerunner of the boys Six which was inaugurated by the E.GU. in 1986 and won by Worcestershire at Sandy Lodge. The Midland Golf Union had formed a junior league in two sections, East and West Midlands. Derbyshire were placed, for numerical reasons in the east division, playing Northants, Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Leicester. The west division comprised Shropshire and Herefordshire (whom Derby boys played in friendly matches) Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. When the Cambridgeshire and District Golf Union expressed a wish to join the league in 2002 Derbyshire were moved into the west sector, as winners of the Eastern League. Opposition proved tougher and Derbyshire finished bottom, having enjoyed considerable success in the Eastern division under Colin Davis. U14 s winning Midlands 10 Counties at Broughton Heath From left: Alan Benson, John Slater, Liam Ellis, Josh Thorley, Bradley Moore, Chris Rippon, Mark Porter, Nathan Lee and Gerald Turner. 66

67 Chapter Seven The Boys Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence He took over in 1989 and, recognising various problems, undertook a programme of introducing more opportunities for young golfers. A policeman, Colin insisted on the highest standards of etiquette and behaviour on and off the course. In his first year as organiser 42 boys had been offered financial assistance for coaching. Less successful was his request to institute a tie for junior team members. By the end of the season he was able to report that the second team contained a good proportion of juniors. He then set about enlarging the coaching scheme and was granted a further 500 towards the cost, provided that the progress of each player was monitored and reported to the executive. 24 players from every part of the county were selected and the Golf Foundation contributed 200 to the cost. This bore fruit in 1990 with victory in the East Midland league but the team lost to a very strong Shropshire and Herefordshire in the final. This began a long run of success until the move into the West Midland League. Further encouragement came in 1991 when Mike Ronan, the popular Erewash Valley professional, offered to arrange a match with the juniors in the summer holidays. By 1993 Colin was able to select a team with twelve boys of 6 handicap or below twenty years later this may not seem impressive but as more and more importance was being placed on junior golf nationwide, with more sponsorship and opportunities for participation, boys achieved category one handicaps on a wider basis. A handicap of one is no guarantee of entry into such events as the Carris or Peter McEvoy trophies. The boys were now being selected for the first as well as the second team. Derbyshire boys were receiving M.G.U. coaching and Michael Boothroyd, the junior captain, gained an England Schoolboys cap. Colin s efforts were rewarded in 1996 when he was elected President of the Union. He wished to continue with the boys team and had recruited assistance. He proposed the formation of a Junior Committee, with organisers from the north and south of the county. Fixtures for U16s were now being arranged and it was not to be long before the U14s came under discussion, leading to a Four Counties Tournament at Broughton Heath in 2006 involving Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Cheshire and Worcestershire. The M.G.U. then realised the potential of this venue and the ten midland counties met for an U14 Six. The Junior committee met on 15th January, Barry Kay was responsible for the Boys Championships, Graham Taylor assisted Colin with county matches, taking over a year later in a caretaker capacity. Gerald Turner of Chesterfield made up the six man sub-committee and followed Graham after Colin Davis resigned as President, having disagreed with a procedural item. Gerald continued with the team building process and when John Slater took over in 2004 he had a squad of enthusiastic players. In 2009 the boys won the Midland Golf Union s U14 6 man 36 holes Team Championship at the difficult par 3 Broughton Heath Golf Club, beating the other nine Midland counties by some 15 shots. Two of the new generation tied first for the individual prize Broughton Heath s Josh Thorley and Kedleston Park s Bradley Moore on 115 one under standard scratch! Josh took the trophy on a countback from Bradley who was only 12 years old was a tremendous year for the U18 team: they started the year with an amazing victory over Yorkshire boys at Chesterfield. Yorkshire had done them the honour of bringing a virtually full strength side. One point down at lunchtime after the foursomes, Derbyshire s lads won the first seven singles in the afternoon and when the eighth match was halved the match was won. Yorkshire got their revenge a year later at Abbeydale. Nick Newbold (Kedleston Park), who won the county boys stroke play title and retained that for the match play title, which he had won in 2008, was chosen for the E.G.U. s U16 squad. He was selected for England s Boys for The Home 67

68 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Internationals against Ireland and Scotland. He also came very close to winning the McGregor Trophy at Radcliffe on Trent. He was in a tie for first after four rounds but eventually lost in the five man play off, he came second in the Midland Boys Championship and won the M.G.U. Boys Champion of Champions. Mark Porter (Chesterfield) and Josh Thorley (Broughton Heath) were selected for the E.G.U. and M.G.U. U16 squads with Josh playing for the E.G.U. U16 team against the South East, Yorkshire and the U18 teams. Individual successes continued into 2010 for the juniors with Nick Newbold being chosen for the England U18 s European Champion Team and the Boys Home Internationals. Mark Porter won the English Schools U16 s Championship and played for the English Schools U18 team against Wales. In the E.G.U. s 6 man regional qualifier for the national finals at Maxstoke Park the U18 team came second by just one shot. They then went on to win the West Midlands League by winning the first three games against Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Shropshire and Herefordshire. In the Midlands League play-off final against Lincolnshire at Gog Magog they lost by the odd point to very strong opposition. In 2010 the boys went one better in the E.G.U. qualifier at Horsley Lodge, qualifying for the first time in the County s history for the National County Finals, by five shots from a strong Lincolnshire team. The finals were held at Goswick, the magnificent course just south of Berwick on Tweed, where every hole is a masterpiece of James Braid s design. The eventual winners were Hertfordshire whose 6 man team in the final had a combined handicap of +12. The Derbyshire boys were always going to find it hard against such opposition but they competed admirably. Although Derbyshire lost all three matches the County s top pairing of Nick Newbold and Craig Young were a match for all comers and achieved a better than 50% win record with all their matches both foursomes and singles being against English international players. The team was Joe Biggs Captain (Chevin), Jamie Boler (Tapton Park), Alex Weare (Cavendish), Jack Cope (Matlock), Josh Thorley (Burton on Trent), Craig Young (Ashbourne), and Nick Newbold (Kedleston Park) As West Midlands Coaching Officer for the E.G.U. John handed over to John Jenkins. The boys now play in a league for U16s, in which four team members must be U14 years of age. This gave Bradley Moore the chance to join such players as Nick Newbold in gaining national recognition. The County s boys recorded further successes in 2011: Jack Barker-Sabido (Tapton Park) became the National U8 champion and won the EGU s National Skills Challenge and Josh Thorley represented England in the E.G.U. Boys and Girls team against Spain, while others performed superbly in the Midland Schools Championship at Hollinwell. Bradley Moore became the youngest player to win the event with a score of 146; Jamie Boler of Chesterfield College was joint 3rd and Joe Dean of Eckington School was sixth. Stepping up to national level Bradley won the Reid Trophy, the E.G.U. s U14 Championship, at Porters Park. The Reid in question was the late Malcolm Reid, a member of the host club and a committed advocate of junior golf. He served as the E.G.U. s Junior Golf Chairman until his death in Many winners of his trophy have gone on to record further achievements in our game. Bradley had already won Kedleston Park s men s championship and scratch knockout in Still U14 he became the Derbyshire match play champion and won the Henriques Cup for the U25 Championship. His record earned Bradley national selection in 2012, when he came fourth in the Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath, 20th in the McGregor Trophy at Trevose. His international career took off with 5th place in the European Young Masters in Hungary, 11th place in the Italian U16 Championship at Biella. He then helped England win the Canadian Junior Team Challenge at Oslerbrook, Ontario, taking the second individual 68

69 Chapter Seven The Boys Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence Boys Championship, taking the John Preston Memorial Trophy as leading player U16. Back home in Derbyshire he tied 3rd for the Henriques Cup, was also third in the County s Amateur Championship and tied for best gross in Midland Boys qualifier at The Leicestershire. In the Derbyshire Schools Championship he recorded the best gross score, winning the Will Sheppard Memorial Trophy for the third consecutive year. Another encouraging sign was that not all the boys who graduated to senior teams rushed off to join the professional ranks: Darren Coop, Liam Sinnott, Jack Lynch and George Thacker have all represented the county in the men s Six. In 2012 Nick Newbold formed a very successful foursomes partnership with Craig Young and together with good results in the M.G.U. Order of Merit events resulted in Nick winning the M.G.U. Order of Merit and Craig finishing in third place. This was the first time a Derbyshire player had won the M.G.U. Order of Merit. Craig Young just missed out on success in the M.G.U. Youth s Championship played annually at Stock Rochford, he tied first after 72 holes but lost in the play off. Another junior achieved international success for the first time when George Bloor (Cavendish) was picked to play for the England School Boys versus Scotland. Nick Newbold, Boys Matchplay Champion 2008/9. place. Bradley achieved an unbeaten record in three U16 International matches against Spain, Scotland and Ireland and was one of the three players to win the Nations Cup Team Event at Trevose. He is now a member of England s U18 squad. It would appear that the future of Derbyshire golf is in safe hands and the centenary year could be a successful one, under the surveillance of Gordon Gray, President Elect. Gordon served in this capacity in , coincidentally at the same time as Bob Davies of the Shropshire and Herefordshire Union, of which he is also the long serving secretary and has been recognised as that Union s Centenary President which also falls in To mark this, a match between the executives of the two Unions has been arranged. Another special event will be a match against the British Golf Collectors Society, playing with hickory shafted clubs at Ashbourne, Derbyshire s oldest club. He qualified for the British Boys Championship, losing in the second round. He took seventh place in the North of England Boys Stroke Play. In the Midlands he was third in the Midland 69

70 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Acknowledgements: The author would like to thank the many people who have assisted in compiling this history: Colin Annison, John Armitt, Richard Atherton, John Beddington, Dick Durran, John Flanders, John Outram, Peter McGrath, Sam Humpston, Gary Shaw, Jimmy Feeney, Clive Ibbotson. Library and the secretaries of all the clubs who responded to the request for information; the authors of the club centenary histories; the secretary of Royal Eastbourne Golf Club. My apologies for any inadvertent omissions. The archivist at Chatsworth House and the National Archives. The staff of Derby Local Studies Library, Birmingham Central Derbyshire Golf Clubs: Clubs in bold are still in existence followed by last known date. Clubs marked * attended founding meeting Ashbourne * Moved 1893? 1887 Buxton and High Peak 1890 Baslow Grand Hotel (1917) Chatsworth Lea Hurst (1907) 1892 Derbyshire* (1947) Alfreton 1893 Sudbury Park 1894 Hardwick (1907) Burton-on-Trent* Chevin* Glossop and District 1895 Markeaton* (1938) Melbourne Mellor (1907) 1897 Ilkeston ( Erewash Valley) Chesterfield* 1898 Sickleholme (Bamford) 1899 Bakewell Isaac Walton (1907) [current club in Staffs from 1993] Burbage (1921) Dovedale (1912) # Dove Valley G.C. at founding meeting, Darley Dale (1907) 1902 Borrowood (1947) Matlock Bath and District * (1920) 70

71 Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence 1905 Tideswell (1912) Ashover (1923) 1905 Erewash Valley Chapel-en-le-Frith 1906 Matlock* North East Derby (1915) 1907 New Mills 1908 Townscliffe (1914) 1909 Heanor and District (1914) 1921 Ripley (1922) 1923 Mickleover Derby (public) 1925 Cavendish 1926 Ormonde Fields 1929 Wirksworth (1930) 1947 Kedleston Park Wingerworth 1949 Allestree Park 1969 Pastures 1976 Marriott Breadsall Priory 1977 Shirland 1985 Blue Circle (Hope GC) 1988 Broughton Heath 1990 Grassmoor Horsley Lodge Maywood 1992 Birch Hall 1991 Bondhay 1994 Brailsford 1934 Stanedge 1936 Tapton Park Max Fauknew opening Pastures Golf Course in

72 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Some recent Presidents of the Derbyshire Union of Golf Clubs John Outram John Beddington Gerald Turner J.B. Kay G.B. Skelston

73 Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence D. Hartley C. Davis C.R.J. Ibbotson P. Whyatt T.S. Oddy

74 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Appendix: Derbyshire Affiliated Clubs Clubs in bold are still in existence. The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Alan Jackson for providing the information about defunct clubs. ALFRETON GOLF CLUB Oakerthorpe, Alfreton. Founded Affiliated to Midland Counties Golf Association holes, 5452 yards, SSS 66, par 67. Originally laid out in a field belonging to a Mr J.G. Wilson, c1900 the club moved to adjacent land. Prominent member: Mr S. Cartwright: President D.U.G.C ; English Golf Union ASHBOURNE GOLF CLUB Wyaston Road, Ashbourne. Founded 1886; Founder member D.U.G.C. 18 holes 6365 yards, SSS 71, Par 71. The Club began as Ashbourne and Dove Valley Golf Club and attended the founding meeting under that name. The first course was of six holes and not very accessible. The club moved to Boothby Farm and subsequently to Lodge Farm in 1928, where James Braid designed the original nine holes. More land was purchased in 1996 and David Hemstock was commissioned to lay out an 18 hole course. ASHOVER GOLF CLUB Ashover. Founded holes, 2355 yards, bogey 38. Tom Williamson of Hollinwell laid out the course on grazing land with gorse 900 feet above sea level. The course was maintained for visitors to the Hydro. It closed c1927. ALLESTREE PARK GOLF CLUB Allestree Hall, Allestree, Derby. Municipal course. Founded holes, 5714 yards, SSS 68. The Derbyshire Golf Club (q.v.) moved to the course, designed by H.S. Colt, in 1930 from a site in Mackworth. The Club disbanded in 1947 and the Derby Borough Council took over the course. After some modifications to create a public park area, the course reopened it in The original course and club were profiled in The Derbyshire Advertiser by Maude M. Mugliston in August, BAKEWELL GOLF CLUB Station Road, Bakewell. Founded holes, 5244 yards, SSS 65. The first golf in the town was played on Calton Pasture ten years before the formation of the club on land leased from The Duke of Rutland who later wished to terminate the lease and a move back to Calton Pasture was discussed with Rev Foster Pegg in favour. However, in the 1920s more land was acquired by Mr. V.R. Cockerton and the course was extended, remaining on that layout until further extensions in the1980s. 74

75 Appendix Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence BASLOW GRAND HYDROPATHIC HOTEL GOLF LINKS Baslow. Founded holes, 1860 yards, bogey 36. The club had 60 members and catered to the needs of hotel guests. The course had many hazards and lay between Yeld Wood Pastures and the Old Sheffield Road. The course closed c1917, the hotel in BIRCH HALL GOLF CLUB Sheffield Road, Unstone. Founded holes, 6505 yards, SSS 71, Par 73. The club closed in BORROWOOD GOLF CLUB Borrow Wood Farm, Borrowash. Founded holes. Last mentioned in golfing annuals more holes were planned in 1907 but do not appear to have been built. The course was on 40 acres of farmland, with small but good greens. The club s professional, L.G. White moved to the newly opened Erewash Valley Club in BROUGHTON HEATH GOLF CLUB Bent lane, Church Broughton. Founded Proprietary Club: 18 holes, 3125 yards, SSS 53, Par 54. Described as Possibly the longest 18 hole par 3 course in the country, the club has over 500 members, many of who also belong to other clubs but prefer a shorter round of golf. It is used by the PGA as a qualifying course for the Short Course Championship and regularly hosts county boys under 14 events. There is a driving range. It was laid out by Ken Tunnicliffe who had realised that the land was ideal for such a venture. BURBAGE GOLF CLUB Burbage, Buxton. Founded Closed holes, 1226 yards. This was the course of the Burbage Ladies Golf Club which broke away from Buxton and High Peak Golf Club when concerned about their future standing at that club. With the blessing of the 8th Duke of Devonshire and the Duchess the course was built, possibly to the Duke s design. When the 9th Duke ordered his agent to build a new course at Edgemoor, Cavendish Golf Club was formed, Alister MacKenzie commissioned to design the course (q.v) and the ladies were welcomed into the new club, resulting in the closure of Burbage. BRAILSFORD GOLF CLUB Pools Head Lane, Brailsford. Ashbourne. Founded Proprietary Club 12 holes, 5758 yards, SSS 68, Par 68. The club has 325 members. The course was designed by Ray Baldwin on behalf of the English Golf Union. He was the secretary, treasurer and development officer for the Midland Golf Union until a few days before his death. BURTON-ON-TRENT GOLF CLUB Ashby Road, Burton-on-Trent. Founded holes, 6579 yards, SSS 72, Par 70. Founder member of D.U.G.C. Often referred to as Bretby where the club moved after having begun at Stapenhill, then moving to Branston and in 1970 to the present site. As the other courses would have been in Staffordshire, it was a beneficial move for the as yet unfounded D.U.G.C.! The Earl of Carnavon was the first President of the Club. Denis Hartley, Club Captain in 1986 and a former club secretary was President of D.U.G.C. from

76 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs BUXTON AND HIGH PEAK GOLF CLUB BUXTON AND HIGH PEAK ARTISANS Townend, Buxton. Founded Artisans 1892 as Fairfield Working Men s Golfing Society. 18 holes, 5997 yards, SSS 69. Although not represented at the meeting in 1913, it is believed the club immediately became affiliated to D.U.G.C. The Artisans were affiliated in March, 1931 but could not have a delegate on the Executive Committee. The course was laid out by Jack Morris, professional at Hoylake, the nephew of the legendary Old Tom Morris. The 8th Duke of Devonshire was elected the first President of the club; its patron in the centenary year was the 11th Duke. The club has produced many fine golfers, several from the Artisans section, one of whom achieved national recognition: Harry Bennett. George Henriques also represented his country and was prominent in the organisation of Derbyshire golf, becoming President of the Union in 1948, holding office until The following year he was elected President of the English Golf Union, both honours having previously been held by another Buxton member, the Rev. Foster Pegg. Other members prominent in the county were Charles Thorpe, Joe Armitt, Cyril Ashmore and Ken Holmes. CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH GOLF CLUB The Cockyard, Manchester Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith. Founded holes, 6434 yards, SSS71, Par 72. The course was of nine holes until 1973, the first layout lying on the north side of the Manchester Road. In 1912 new land was acquired on the opposite side of the road and a new nine holes opened on new Year s Day, This is still a major part of the current outward nine holes. Dave Thomas designed the new holes. Further development occurred, beginning in 1997 when a further parcel of land was acquired. The new course was opened by the Duke of Devonshire in Leo Feeney was professional from 1963 until his untimely death in His son Jimmy became County Champion on several occasions. The Club achieved national distinction in 2009 when it was named GolfMark Club of the Year. The GolfMark is awarded to clubs providing facilities and care for junior members in accordance with strict guidelines regarding the treatment of children. CAVENDISH GOLF CLUB Gadley Lane, Buxton. Founded Club not represented at founding meeting of D.U.G.C. 18 holes, 5833 yards, SSS 68. For the foundation of the club, see chapter 2. George Henriques was a member of the club as well as Buxton. Charles Flanders was President of D.U.G.C. in , while several members have represented the county. Sir John Cradock-Hartopp was a scratch golfer, while his sister Gwen was an England international, as was Bridget Newell. In July 1951 six American lady professionals, including the legendary Babe Zaharias played an exhibition match at the club. In 1943 George Henriques organised an exhibition match to raise funds for the British Red Cross, successfully partnering Jimmy Adams against Henry Cotton and Charles Thorpe. Over 250 was raised for the charity. CHATSWORTH GOLF CLUB Chatsworth House. Founded c1880? 9 holes, SSS 66. The original course was laid out for the 8th Duke of Devonshire and his family, with 18 holes but only 16 greens. The Duke invited many famous professionals to play there, including Harry Vardon and Ben Sayers. His heir closed the holes near the house and a 9 hole course was created out of the remaining holes. It was ploughed up during World War II then reinstated in 1964 by the 11th Duke, who opened it up to estate workers, tenants and associate members. The Derbyshire Boys team has an annual match there with the club. 76

77 Appendix Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence CHESTERFIELD GOLF CLUB Walton, Chesterfield. Founded Represented at D.U.G.C. founding meeting. 18 holes, 6281 yards, SSS 70, Par 71. The first course was of nine holes on land between Walton Lane and Somersall. When this was required for building the club moved to its present course at Walton, of which the first nine opened in The second nine holes were completed in The club sent two members to the first County Executive meeting. In 1937 the firm of Colt, Alison and Morrison were commissioned to lay out holes on newly acquired land on the lower half of the course. Henry Cotton and A.G. Beck played Arthur Lees and Jack Jacobs in an exhibition in aid the Red Cross in 1942, winning by 8&7. E. Bonsall was President of D.U.G.C. in , having just completed two seasons as County Captain. Peter Whyatt was the County President in , and Gerold Turner 2005/6 and John Outram in John Thomas represented the English Seniors team against Scotland and Wales at Burnham and Berrow in May, DERBY GOLF CLUB Wilmore Road, Sinfin, Derby. Founded holes, 6185 yards, SSS 70. The Club plays on the municipal course. Maude Mugliston wrote a short profile for The Derbyshire Advertiser in 1938, when three members were in the county team. Originally 9 holes, it was due to be enlarged at the time of the article. The Corporation also ran two pitch and putt courses, one at Sinfin, the other in Markeaton Park, which covered 15 acres and is the finest in the county. DERBYSHIRE GOLF CLUB Founded 1892; Closed c Represented at founding meeting. 18 holes, 6328 yards (1938); SSS 76. The club was one of the prominent clubs in the county. The first course, of nine holes, was in Osmaston Park. Due to the expansion of the town in that area the club moved in 1898 to a site on Littleover Common. This club had to close in 1907, again due to the expansion and development of the town and amalgamated with the existing Markeaton Golf Club on Kedleston Road. The two clubs split in 1909, with the Derbyshire Club moving to a course at Humbleton Farm, Mackworth, off the Ashbourne Road, where Tom Williamson laid out 18 holes. As a result of this the Markeaton Golf Club was reformed whilst remaining at its same location. The only clue nowadays to the location of the course at Mackworth, which was developed for housing in the early 1930 s is Humbleton Drive, close to the modern A38 and named after the original farm. On the death of Mrs Johnson of Allestree Hall the club moved again in 1930 as the lease on the Mackworth course was running out. Harry Colt designed the new course of 6210 yards which opened on 31st May, By 1938 it had extended to 6328 yards but in 1947 the Derbyshire Club disbanded and the Derby Borough took over the park. The course was reopened as a municipal course, Allestree Park (q.v.) in1949. The club s activities prior to World War I were reported in The Midland Golfer, including the news that Ted Ray and Tom Williamson had been engaged to an exhibition match in May, 1912 and other stars were expected. A member of the club, Dr. Hugh Barber won the inaugural County Championship and in1934 was elected President of the Union. He was succeeded by another member, A.V. Nutt. CHEVIN GOLF CLUB Duffield, Derby. Founded Represented at D.U.G.C. founding meeting. 18 holes, 6057 yards, SSS 69, Par 69. Originally 9 holes designed by William Lowe of Buxton and High Peak, it was later extended to 18 holes. The course was opened in 1894 by James Braid and Tom Williamson. John Flanders represented the county on many occasions, served on the executive committee and was President in , having already served as President of the English Golf Union in 2000 on completion of his term of office as treasurer, during which he negotiated the purchase of Woodhall Spa. DARLEY DALE GOLF CLUB Matlock Bridge. Founded 1901, instituted by Darley Dale Hydro Hotel. 9 holes. Closed c Now part of St Elphins School. 77

78 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs EREWASH VALLEY GOLF CLUB Stanton-by-Dale. Founded 1905, represented at founding meeting. 18 holes, 6434 yards, SSS 71, Par 72. The original course of 9 holes was laid out at Willows Farm by a John Harris. Membership grew and it was felt that an extension to 18 holes was necessary. The club called in Tom Williamson, who was very critical of Harris s work. Williamson designed most of the midland courses within a 50 mile radius of Nottingham and had already acquired a solid reputation as a designer, paying frequent visits to Derbyshire. Standards of play improved to the extent that in 1913 the club s team won the Team Champion in the Union s inaugural meeting. The first county event to be held at the club was the Championship of 1923 and a home member, B.W. Maltby deprived the favourite Rev Foster Pegg of the trophy after the Chaplain had scored a very fine 76 in the first round. He faltered in the second and Maltby returned 77 and 79. In the early 1960s the motorway construction impinged upon the club, land was acquired. C.K. Cotton retained to design a new layout and the new course opened in Subsequently Fred Hawtree was engaged to make further refinements. Extra holes were provided to create a Winter Course when the two Quarry holes were unplayable. The club has always been a strong supporter of the Union and has provided many county players and officials. Presidents from Erewash were: C.O. Stacey, B.V. Barkes and G.B. Skelston. Brian Barkes was also the County Captain in 1976/7 and represented the 1st team on several occasions. In 2008 the Club s Centenary Captain, Peter McGrath became the County Secretary, winning the inaugural Seniors Match Play Championship in GRASSMOOR GOLF CENTRE North Wingfield Road, Grassmoor, Chesterfield. Founded Proprietary course. Affiliated to D.U.G.C holes, 5721 yards, Par 69. The course was designed by F.W. Hawtree and has a 26 bay driving range. HARDWICK GOLF CLUB Formed in 1894 in Hardwick Park by permission of the Duke of Devonshire for the use of his guests. It ceased to exist in There were 9 holes. HEANOR AND DISTRICT GOLF CLUB Founded 1909, Closed in 1914 on outbreak of war. The course was seven minutes from Heanor station on the Great Northern Line. 9 holes. Nisbet s Golf Year Book, 1912 records just 53 members. No Sunday play was permitted. GLOSSOP AND DISTRICT GOLF CLUB Sheffield road, Glossop. Founded Affiliated to D.U.G.C. mid 1930s first competition entry holes, 5800 yards, SSS 68, Par 68. The Club began on a six hole course on Woodcock Farm, in the area named Coldharbour. The club moved from its headquarters in the Royal Oak inn to the farmhouse in 1902 and George Lowe redesigned the course. A new lease was negotiated from Lord Howard in 1907 and the course was extended to a similar layout to today s. All the founder members played cricket for Glossop and some for Derbyshire. Much of the course was ploughed up for agriculture during World War I and was gradually reinstated after the armistice. The next war brought sheep to the course. Members who have made their mark include Tom Booth who was runnerup in the British Boys Championship at Dunbar in 1953 and John M. Booth, Derbyshire Amateur Champion in HOPE WORKS GOLF CLUB Lafarge Cement, Hope Works, Hope Valley. 9 holes, 5341 yards, SSS 66. Founded 1960 as Earles Golf Club; taken over 2003 by the Lafarge Company. Affiliated to D.U.G.C. and E.G.U Golf was first played in the early 1930s on four greens, later six, some of which survive today. From Welfare Golf Section Earles Golf Club; 1965 A.P.C.M. Golf Club.1981 Blue Circle Golf Club; 2003 Lafarge Golf Club. G & T Earle owned Portland Cement. 78

79 Appendix Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence HORSLEY LODGE GOLF CLUB Smalley Mill Road, Horsley. Founded 1990, affiliated to D.U.G.C holes, 6418 yards, SSS 71, Par 70. The course was designed by G.M. White of Coxmoor Golf Club and Peter McEvoy. In 1999 the club hosted the Five Counties Junior Mixed Foursomes tournament. A Worcestershire player, Chris Bromley, witnessed an accident as he was leaving home for the event and had to make a statement. He arrived five minutes prior to his starting time and the Derbyshire Ladies organisers kindly put back his start to permit him to prepare. He and his partner, Nichola Driscoll, played the course, which they had never seen before, in 71 strokes. Worcestershire Juniors took all the prizes, witnessed by the Hon Joan Gee, one of the county s most distinguished players. It was the venue for the Midland Golf Union s boy s qualifying event for the English County Finals in 2010, when Derbyshire boys prevailed over the other nine Midland counties, the first time the County qualified for the boys final. IZAAK WALTON GOLF CLUB (AFFILIATED TO STAFFORDSHIRE) Dovedale. Founded 1901, in connection with the Izaak Walton Hotel. 9 holes, 2175 yards, bogey 41. Holes varied in length from 140 to 350 yards. Course laid out by George Lowe. It closed during World War I, the hotel closed in ILKESTON BOROUGH GOLF CLUB Founded c1936, affiliated to D.U.G.C. Municipal course. 9 holes, SSS 63. A club was formed in Ilkeston in 1897 on a six hole course, which closed in 1905 when the members moved to the newly opened Erewash Valley Club. The Council opened its course in the mid 1930s and by 1936 members were playing in county competitions. Known as the Peewit course. KEDLESTON PARK GOLF CLUB Kedleston, Quarndon, Derby. Founded 1947, affiliated to D.U.G.C The expansion of Derby led to the closure of Markeaton Golf Club in The club had commissioned James Braid to design a course in the grounds of Kedleston Hall with permission from Lord Scarsdale. War prevented construction but in 1946 Kedleston Park Golf Club was formed, John Morrison was appointed to plan the course, using Braid s plans, with modification and Braid s old colleague, John Stutt and Franks Harris were approached to construct the course. The club acquired the plant for course maintenance from the Markeaton Club, whose clubhouse was still in existence and hosted the Club s Annual General Meeting in 1949 at which Lord Scarsdale was elected President. The club has produced four County Presidents John J. Nicholson ( ), A.J. (Sandy) Morrison (1977-8), Gordon Gray (1991-2) and John Beddington ( ). Gordon Gray is President Elect for the Centenary Year, County Champions from the club include John Beddington (1968) and John Lawton (1975), who was formerly a Lancashire County player before moving south. After representing Derbyshire for many years, including a spell as County Captain, John moved to Moor Hall G.C. in Sutton Coldfield and represented Warwickshire s senior team. David Ferguson won the Orr Cup for the Derbyshire Open at Chesterfield in In 1975 the club hosted the EGU s County Champions Tournament which was won by the Hertfordshire champion, a young Nick Faldo. Others in the prestigious field included Mark James (Lincolnshire) and Ian Woosnam (Shropshire and Herefordshire). 79

80 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs LEA HURST GOLF CLUB Cromford. Founded Closed holes. A bunkerless course in Lea Hurst Park, the home of Florence Nightingale. The course had a number of natural hazards; a conveyance met trains at Whatstandwell. LITTLEOVER GOLF COURSE The Derbyshire Golf Club moved to Littleover in 1898 after leaving its original location at Osmaston Park. It was 18 holes and covered an area by the edge of Derby Borough which later became Manor Road and Chain Lane to the west with Uttoxeter Road and Burton Road to the north and south. The only clue to there ever being a golf course in Littleover are the Golf Link cottages in Middleton Avenue. MARKEATON GOLF CLUB Kedleston Road, Derby. Founded 1895, closed holes, extended to 18 in 1913; SSS 71 (1938). A founder club of D.U.G.C., the course closed in 1938 due to the expansion of Derby. The club amalgamated with The Derbyshire Golf Club in 1907 and reformed in 1910 when The Derbyshire G.C. moved to Ashbourne Road. Dr Mackenzie remodelled some holes and six holes were remodelled in 1930 by A.D. Peacock. James Braid later visited the course and presented plans for a new course, which became Kedleston Park after World War II. Due to large housing developments no sign of the course remains however, the location of the clubhouse, which remained as a bowles club for many years was located on Kedleston Road at the east side of what is now the entrance to the University of Derby. MATLOCK BATH GOLF CLUB Upper Wood, Matlock Bath. Founded 1903, closed Represented at Founding Meeting. 9 holes, bogey 39. A sporting inland course, the longest hole measuring 380 yards. The course record was 34. MATLOCK GOLF CLUB Chesterfield Road, Matlock Moor, Matlock. Founded 1906, Represented at Foundation meeting. 18 holes, 5996 yards. SSS 69. The 9th Duke of Devonshire was the Club s President from 1907 until He was succeeded by the 10th Duke Tom Williamson designed the course and it was opened in September 1907 by him, Harry Vardon, Alex Herd and George Duncan. The County Championship was held at the club in 1927, when Rev. Foster Pegg had the best first round (74) He faltered in the afternoon and was overtaken by Charles Thorpe. Five members of the club have been the President of the County Union, E.H. Bailey in 1933, K.W. Drabble (1963), R.K. Bonsell (1983-4), W. Mills ) and Barry Kay in Barry also served as County Secretary from , having been Captain of the County Second Team from He also wrote the history of the club for the centenary year. He was elected President of the Midland Golf Union in 2007 and sadly passed away on New Year s Day, MARRIOTT BREADSALL PRIORY HOTEL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Moor Road, Morley, Derby. Founded Priory course: 18 holes, 6120 yards, Par 70. Moorland Course: 18 holes, 6028 yards, Par 70. The hotel and courses are owned by the Marriott Hotel group. There is a driving range. The courses were designed by Donald Steel, David Cox, John Flanders and the club s former professional Richard Lambert. MAYWOOD GOLF CLUB Rushy lane, Risley, Derby. Founded 1990; Proprietary club affiliated to D.U.G.C. 18 holes, 6424 yards, SSS 71, Par 72. MELBOURNE GOLF CLUB The Emo Estate, Caulfield. Founded holes. The club was five minutes from Caulfield Station; the first Patron was the Earl of Hopetoun. It was described in The Golfing Annual as a difficult course, with a spacious clubhouse. MELLOR GOLF CLUB Cobden Edge. Founded 1895, closed c holes between yards. A new club was formed in conjunction with Townscliffe Golf Club (founded 1895) and joined the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs. 80

81 Appendix Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence MICKLEOVER GOLF CLUB Uttoxeter Road, Mickleover. Founded 1923, affiliated to D.U.G.C. 1920s. 18 holes, 5708 yards, SSS 68. J.R.C (Bob) Fletcher was the County Secretary for 10 years immediately before Cyril Ibbotson. E.N. (Nix) Gray served as County Treasurer and as President (1971-2). As well as the Ibbotsons another father and son who played for the county were Gordon Packham ( ) and Chris Packham ( ). Other County players were Tony Simms, who won the Henriques Cup in 1964 and the Orr Cup in the following year, and Paddy Harkins. The careers of the Ibbotsons appear in chapter 4. THE NEW MILLS GOLF CLUB Shaw Marsh, New Mills, High Peak. Founded Affiliated to D.U.G.C. 1920s. 9 holes extended to 18 in 2000; 5604 yards, SSS 67, Par 69. The earliest listing of the Club was in Nisbet s Golf Year Book for 1914, where it appears under the heading Stockport, suggesting the course may have originally been in Cheshire and the Ashton under Lyne Reporter published a long account of the opening of the course on 15th June, 1907, describing it as a splendid course. The Club has participated in county events since the 1920s with some success. The second nine holes were designed by David Williams and a refurbished clubhouse opened in time for the Club s centenary. NORTH EAST DERBY GOLF CLUB Beighton. Founded 1906, closed holes, from yards, par 40; later extended to 18 holes. The course adjoined Beighton Station and had a commodious clubhouse, formerly a farmhouse. OCKBROOK GOLF CLUB Founded Course designed by Tom Williamson. Defunct before MORLEY HAYES GOLF CLUB (NOT AFFILIATED) Main Road, Morley. Founded Not affiliated to D.U.G.C. Proprietary course which has no members. Manor Course: 18 holes, 6953 yards, SSS 72, Par 72. Tower Course: 9 holes, 1614 yards, par 30. The complex has a driving range, hotel and conference facilities. ORMONDE FIELDS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Nottingham Road, Codnor. Founded Affiliated to D.U.G.C. 1026/7. 18 holes, 6504 yards, SSS 72, Par 71. The club was formed after the closure of Ripley Golf Club (q.v.) and soon participated in County events. 81

82 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs PASTURES GOLF CLUB Pastures Hospital, Mickleover. Founded Affiliated to D.U.G.C holes, with 2 tees on each hole : Pars: 64, 67. The course is set in the grounds of a former psychiatric hospital. Max Faulkner opened the course in RIPLEY GOLF CLUB Street lane, Ripley. Founded 1920, closed c holes. The course was 20 minutes from the station. STANEDGE GOLF CLUB Walton Hay Farm, Chesterfield. Founded 1934, affiliation date holes, 5786 yards, SSS 68. A letter requesting an adjustment of the SSS was received by the County in The club did not participate in county events prior to World War II. SUDBURY PARK GOLF CLUB Sudbury Park. Founded 1893 for residents only 9 holes. Play was only possible on the pasture and parkland course from October to May. ROLLS ROYCE GOLF CLUB Sinfin Moor, Derby. Founded 1930, closed 1939 for wartime agriculture. Affiliated to D.U.G.C holes, 2801 yards SSS 73. The Club took over the Sinfin Moor (q.v.) course, leasing 9 holes to a farmer. The club participated in county events until its closure. TAPTON PARK GOLF CLUB Tapton Park, Tapton, Chesterfield. Founded mid 1930s affiliated to D.U.G.C Municipal course. The Club entered County competitions from its inception. SHIRLAND GOLF CLUB Lower Delves, Shirland. Founded 1977, affiliated to D.U.G.C on foundation. Proprietary course. 18 holes, 6072 yards, SSS 70. SINFIN MOOR GOLF CLUB Derby. Founded 1926, disbanded holes. On the closure of the Club the course was sold to Rolls Royce, (q.v.) TIDESWELL GOLF CLUB Chesterfield Road, Nr. Benster. Founded 1905, closed c holes, 2542 yards, bogey 45. The course was about 10 minutes walk from Tideswell Church. The course was 1100 feet above sea level. WHALEY BRIDGE GOLF CLUB Stoneheads. Founded 1906, closed holes, 2599 yards. SSS 72. The club affiliated to Derbyshire but after World War II moved to the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs. James Braid designed 9 holes to extend the course to 18, but only three were completed, in the 1930s. WINGERWORTH GOLF CLUB Clay Cross. The club applied for affiliation in It was a nine hole course. It was listed in the notice for the 1950 AGM, but is not mentioned thereafter. WIRKSWORTH GOLF CLUB Wirksworth. Founded 1929, closed The course was on a hill above the town; no other information available. 82

83 Appendix Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence Past Captains, Presidents and Secretaries Year President Captain Secretary Year President Captain Secretary S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed S. H. Evershed Sir S. H. Evershed Sir S. H. Evershed Rev.WH Foster-Pegg EH Bailey Dr. H Barber AV Knutt FC Hodges Capt.HM Peacock FM Jones JC Harrison JC Harrison JC Harrison JC Harrison JC Harrison JC Harrison JC Harrison GW Allen GW Allen GLQ Henriques GLQ Henriques GLQ Henriques PJ Ball PJ Ball S Cartwright S Cartwright TW Davis TW Davis CG Flanders CG Flanders CO Stacey CO Stacey E Bonsall E Bonsall KW Drabble CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson JJ Nicholson JJ Nicholson JJ Nicholson S Barrington S Barrington EN Gray EN Gray F Rodgers MBE Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg GW Allen GW Allen GW Allen GW Allen RN Harrison RN Harrison RN Harrison RN Harrison RN Harrison RN Harrison RN Harrison C Thorpe PJ Ball PJ Ball S Cartwright S Cartwright RM Eyre IAR Mackensie IAR Mackensie R Mathews R Mathews E Bonsell E Bonsell KW Drabble KW Drabble KW Drabble CF Ibbotson H Rose H Rose H Rose JB Flanders JB Flanders JB Flanders E Ashmore E Ashmore CRJ Ibbotson CRJ Ibbotson ATB Bamford ATB Bamford ATB Bamford ATB Bamford ATB Bamford ATB Bamford ATB Bamford Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg Rev.WH Foster-Pegg AB Clayton AB Clayton AB Clayton AB Clayton AB Clayton AB Clayton AB Clayton AB Clayton M Wells M Wells M Wells M Wells M Wells M Wells RE Fryer RE Fryer RE Fryer RE Fryer RE Fryer RE Fryer RE Fryer RE Fryer RE Fryer JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher JRC Fletcher CF Ibboson & KW Drabble CF Ibboson & KW Drabble CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson F Rodgers MBE H Rose H Rose AJH Morrison AJH Morrison FB Peach FB Peach TS Oddy TS Oddy RK Bonsell RK Bonsell W Rose W Rose BV Barkes BV Barkes P Whyatt P Whyatt TG Gray TG Gray W Mills W Mills CRJ Ibbotson CRJ Ibbotson CH Davis CH Davis D Hartley D Hartley GB Skelston GB Skelston JB Kay JB Kay G Turner G Turner JB Flanders JB Flanders J Beddington J Beddington J Outram J Outram TG Gray DC Wigglesworth DC Wigglesworth BV Barkes BV Barkes JB Flanders JK Lawton JK Lawton JP Rawson JP Rawson RRW Davenport RRW Davenport N Ward N Ward CRJ Ibbotson CRJ Ibbotson N Furniss N Furniss JP Feeney JP Feeney A Hession A Hession I Whyatt A Hession A Hession C Axon C Axon C Axon W Steel W Steel W Steel I Glover I Glover I Glover I Glover S Humpston S Humpston S Humpston P Tatlow P Tatlow P Tatlow CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson CF Ibbotson JB Kay JB Kay JB Kay JB Kay JB Kay JB Kay JB Kay CRJ Ibbotson CRJ Ibbotson CRJ Ibbotson CRJ Ibbotson CRJ Ibbotson P McGrath P McGrath P McGrath P McGrath P McGrath P McGrath P McGrath 83

84 Derbyshire Union Of Golf Clubs Champions and Major Trophy Winners Amateur Champion Open Champion Matchplay Champion Dr. H Barber No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship G Nutt EPW Davis RW Maltby TGM Ward JC Harrison C Thorpe C Thorpe TB Farrington C Thorpe C Thorpe C Thorpe C Thorpe J Long C Thorpe A Robinson E Ashmore A Robinson J Armitt H Bennett No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship J Armitt R Pattinson R Pattinson R Pattinson J Armitt R Pattinson H Bennett H Bennett H Bennett H Bennett H Bennett H Bennett R Pattinson D Mason H Bennett H Bennett R Pattinson JM Booth R Pattinson DP Cross WT Easson JC Thomas J Beddington PM Baxter TJ Hanson JC Thomas N Rogers PM Baxter D Mason JK Lawton R Davenport JE Roberts PM Baxter R Davenport JC Thomas RJ Hall R Davenport R Davenport G Shaw R Davenport JP Feeney R Green N Wylde PM Eastwood RP Fletcher JP Feeney JP Feeney G Shaw JP Feeney G Shaw JP Feeney AS Humpston I Walley JP Feeney N Vowles P Gration P Gration E Vernon DL Clarke G Woolgar G Woolgar J Booth JP Feeney M Gayes C Young S Claypole D Tomlinson T Barber J Fallon J Armitt J Armitt C Thorpe A Norton J Armitt F Jowle A Norton A Norton No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship No Championship C Thorpe J Armitt E Lester No Championship W Walker H Lester H Bennett SM McCready WW Walker WW Walker H Bennett WW Walker H Lester D Ferguson LJ Feeney LJ Feeney LJ Feeney LJ Feeney RI Tickle AF Simms D Mason JC Thomas H Lester CRJ Ibbotson JB Flanders R Lambert E Darcy E Darcy MJ Ronan A Ellis MC Orme R Davenport R Lambert R Davenport I Gretton R Davenport R Davenport C Radford JP Feeney M McClean N Furniss S Smith G Shaw DL Clarke M Deeley JP Feeney JP Feeney JP Feeney D Thompson JP Feeney DJ Russell SK Davis P Gration DJ Russell D Boon T Millington D Walker JP Feeney A Oates I Glover J Lynch G Woolgar P Wesselingh L Sinnott I Walley P Wesselingh I Walley JC Thomas PM Baxter PM Baxter PM Baxter AT Bird PM Baxter PM Baxter CRJ Ibbotson N Rowland CRJ Ibbotson N Rowland MP Higgins G Shaw G Shaw CRJ Ibbotson JP Feeney G Shaw MP Higgins G Shaw RP Fletcher SK Davis G Shaw G Shaw G Shaw DL Clarke JP Feeney CD Radford JP Feeney JP Feeney SK Davis R Giles S Clare G Coppen DL Clarke G Woolgar A Oates S Knighton J Booth M Gayes G White B Moore L Sinnott 84

85 Appendix Golf in the Duckeries. Celebrating 100 years of golfing excellence Boys Champion Boys Matchplay Champion Seniors Champion Seniors Matchplay Champion T Woodhouse D Moss S Bickerdike No Championship CRJ Ibbotson FN Hill AV Simms FR Parry FR Parry M Cox P Cash N Rogers JE Roberts JE Roberts TL Parker No Championship MH Pigott N Richardson M Walsh A Coulson A King DT Howard/N Rowland I Gretton J Annable MP Higgins DL Clarke JP Feeney C Radford JP Feeney M Grundy M Grundy R Fletcher T Gillard D Londge R Martin C Cross D Thompson L More M Smith R Cox P Gration G White G Bowers J Prince J Prince S Clare J Lynch D Coop L Mason G Thacker T Corke C Young J Burton N Newbold T Hamson C Shaw J Bagshaw S Higginbottom I Walley M Marriott G Bowers N Vowles D Coop L Mason L Mason J Northard R Rooney L Sinnott C Young N Newbold N Newbold J Cope S Buck T Hamson G. Armitt P. Irvine J. Gouldsworthy L. J. Feeney R. Sharpe D. Moss J.H. Kirk F.R. Parry A.F. Simms C.G Packham J. Beddington N. Rogers P. A. Owen P. F. Creswell T. J. Hanson J. Annable R. J. Ling M. H. Pigott M. Walsh J. E. Roberts J. E. Roberts A. E. Kirk C. D. Hall/S. Brook I. Whyatt M. P.Higgins James Annable J. Feeney J. Feeney G. Glynn S. Hibbert M. Mansell S. Hibbert J. Allsop Henriques Memorial Trophy BV Barkes T Blood J Thomas J Thomas G Stewart JP Rawson J Thomas No Championship J Thomas Y Wittingham SR Belcher D Guthrie D Wall D Guthrie T Mullins R McGregor K Francis G Coppen S Jones D Kerr Delworth R. P. Fletcher. D.Longden D. Bartlett N. Wylde M.Rawson S. Hibbert R. Essex A Dalton D. Bartlett G. White P Gration D. J. Walker J. Prince J. Whatley R.Duff G Woolgar J Lynch and A Willis N.Taylor D.Coop S Glossop / G Thacker J Booth D Tomlinson & L Sinnott & J Booth N Newbold B Moore J Strutt P McGrath G Coppen Leo Feeney Trophy I. Whyatt G. Shaw G. Shaw G. Shaw A.S. Humpston A. Oates G. Shaw A. S. Humpston P. Eastwood P. Gration P. Gration J.Whatley A.Oates J.Bishop J.P.Feeney J.Prince J Feeney / G Shaw / A Oates D Coop M Gayes J Booth D Tomlinson J Bishop 85

86 Derbyshire Union of Golf Clubs 36 Ilkeston Road, Stapleford, Notts, NG9 8JL Tel: E:

87 We deliver Brand Creation from ConCept to production brand identity, brochures, leaflets, print, exhibitions & events, mailers, websites, campaigns, advertising, photography, signage, illustration, retail pos. We would love to hear from you and to discuss your next project. creative silverbirchcreative.com T Silver Birch Creative limited, st alkmunds house, 103 belper road, derby, derbyshire, de1 3es, uk marketing through print tel: LITHO & DIGITAL PRINT / DESIGN / OUTDOOR DISPLAY BANNERS POSTERS / PULL UP BANNERS / PROMOTIONAL GIFTS PROGRAMMES / STATIONERY / ANNUAL REPORTS Riverside Court, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8JN

88 No other game combines the wonder of nature with the discipline of sport in such carefully planned ways. A great golf course both frees and challenges a golfer s mind. Tom Watson the kedleston experien ce Kedleston Park Golf Club is an 18 hole private members course laid out in 155 acres of mature parkland surrounding the magnificent Kedleston Hall. Opening in 1947 and designed by James Braid, the original course measures some 6731 yards, and is a Par 72 course. The front and back 9 s conveniently play away from and return to the club house. The course provides a tough but fair test to golfers of all standards. The addition in 2010 of several new tees, provide an extended course of 6926 yards, SSS73. This makes Kedleston Park Golf Course the longest course in Derbyshire. A truly challenging test for low handicap amateur golfers and professionals alike. A National Trust property, Kedleston Hall is a Palladian Mansion built by Robert Adam in the 18th century for the Curzon Family. The course enjoys many scenic views over the surrounding park, its lakes and architecture. Visitors The course is open to visitors and we would encourage those interested to check the details on our website, where you may find exciting offers. We welcome enquiries from those wishing to organise Corporate Golf Days and Societies. Kedleston Park Golf Club, Kedleston, Quarndon, Derbyshire DE22 5JD Tel secretary@kedlestonparkgolfclub.co.uk