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Bridgwater Golf Club, Somerset. (1908 - WW1)

Bridgwater Golf Club opened in 1908 and was established on the basis of mutual membership with Cannington Park. Land at Durleigh in the vicinity of Haygrove Farm was leased from Mr Bouverie who opened the course in October 1908. The Bouverie Cup is still played for at Enmore Park. British Open Champion J H Taylor, who was the professional at Royal Mid Surrey, advised on the layout. The 9 holes covered 2512 yards, and the bogey was set at 40 to begin with. Family subscription was available at £2.2s  and there were 61 gentlemen, 21 ladies and 9 families, giving a total of 98 members. The club’s annual income was about £100. Authorised caddies were allowed to charge 4d for 18 holes, and a Mr Goldsmith was the professional.

Report on a general meeting held on Monday 12th October 1908.

 

Bridgwater Golf Club, Somerset. Report on a general meeting in April 1908.

Central Somerset Gazette Friday 16th October 1908. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The Bridgwater Mercury contains a report of the inaugural match played on Thursday 15th October 1908. Mr Bouverie officiated and J H Taylor and E Foord (professional at Burnham and Berrow) played an exhibition match. Foord took 78 strokes against Taylor’s 80. After this, the “ladies and gentlemen of Bridgwater” took tea in a marquee, erected at the entrance gate.

The death was announced in March 1911 of Arthur Basil Cottam, a prime mover in the foundation of the early Bridgwater Golf Club.

It seems that the club was still in existence in 1915. A monthly medal was played by the Bridgwater Golf Club in April 1915, the winner was Mr J Hughes Cornish with a score of 73, the bogey score for the course was 74.

The Google Map below shows the location of the early Bridgwater Golf Club.