The Internet's Most Comprehensive Guide

Moreton Ladies' Golf Club, Leasowe, Wirral. (1894 - 1915)

Moreton Ladies’ played over a 9-hole course which originally belonged to Leasowe Golf Club from 1891 to 1893.

The original course was located near Moreton lighthouse, the oldest surviving brick built lighthouse in Europe. The lighthouse keeper, Mrs Mary Elizabeth Williams, one of England’s few known female keepers, provided refreshments, and continued to do so even after the light was extinguished in 1908. The lighthouse finally closed in 1935.

Members at Moreton Ladies club included; Lottie Dod, all round sportswoman; Miss Muriel Dodd British and Canadian Champion in 1913; Miss M and Miss K Ball were also prominent members. They were sisters of John Ball, jnr., an immensely successful golfer of his time, who won the Open Championship in 1890.

Professionals at Moreton Ladies’ Golf Club – Joshua Bird, 1900/01; Mr Roberts, 1901- 1903; J F Mc McNamara, (Coach)  – 1900  -1903; John Bennett, 1905 – 1914; E Barlow, 1914/15. 

Report on the new club in March 1894.

“Golf" Friday 23 March 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the the famous Miss Lottie Dod at Moreton 1894.

Birkenhead News Saturday 9 June 1894. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the first monthly medal played on Wednesday 8 August 1894. There were 19 entrants; Miss M Ball, 106-23-83; Mrs A Whitworth, 114-23-91; Miss K Ball, 110-18-92; Miss Jackson, 135-40-95; Miss Baxter, 138-40-98; Miss M Wilson, 132-34-98; Miss Bower, 100 scratch.

Leading scores in the April 1895 monthly medal; Miss Dod, 89 scratch; Miss Bingham, 114-23-91; Miss B Laird, 109-18-81; Miss H Evans, 120-25-95; Miss Dempsey, 122-27-95; Miss M Ball, 102-5-97; Miss Spence, 109-10-99.

Results from the first spring meeting in May 1895.

"Golf" Friday 24 May 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the 1895 November medal.

Golf Friday 29 November 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the 1895 December ladies’ monthly medal; Miss K Ball, 95-8-87; Miss Spence, 101-12-89; Miss M Ball, 95-5-90; Miss Jackson, 108-16-92; Miss B Comber, 118-25-93; Miss M Comber, 123-24-99. Owing to the heavy rain only 16 members took part, ten of them made no return.

Result of the January 1896 medal; Miss W Jackson, 105-26-79; Mrs Wright, 108-24-84; Miss M Lea, 108-22-86; Miss Edith Smyth, 114-28-86; Miss M Ball, 93-5-88; Miss K Castle, 116-26-90; Miss Jackson, 110-16-94; Miss Mackee, 117-23-94; Miss Ellen M Smyth, 108-11-97; Miss K Ball, 105-5-100.

Result of the August 1897 monthly medal; Miss Spence, 86-14-72; Miss Adamson, 88-8-80; Miss Mackee, 103-19-84; Miss M Ball, 91-4-87; Miss K Ball, 96-1-95; Miss A Laird, 111-13-98; Mrs W Hulton, 127-25-102; Miss N Stevenson, 126-20-106.

The winner at the spring meeting played on Friday 6 May 1899 was Miss K Ball with a score of 79 scratch.

Results from the autumn meeting played in October 1899.

Field Saturday 28 October 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The Leasowe Lighthouse in the 1900s.

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Moreton Ladies' Golf Club; Instituted 1904; Membership 100; Associates limited to 100; Hon. secretary - Miss I S Spence, Rathmines, Balls Road, Birkenhead;  Captain, Miss Lottie Dod; Nine-holes; Green-keeper, John Bennett;  Entrance fee was members 21/-; associates £2/2/s and subs were £2/2s; Amateur course record, Miss Molly Graham, 72; Visitors fees were; 1/- a day and 5/- a month. The nine-hole course had hazards consisting of whins, bushes and sand bunkers. All competitions are played over 18-holes and the scratch score is 76.

Result of the September 1906 medal; Mrs Crowther, 75+1-76; Mrs D Stott, 84-6-78; Miss Spence, 95-14-81; Miss Wall, 85-3-82; Mrs Wright, 86-3-83.

Liverpool Daily Post Friday 18 October 1907. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Match against Chester Ladies' in March 1908.

Cheshire Observer Saturday 21 March 1908. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the August 1909 monthly medal; Miss J S Spence, 78-2-76; Miss Crowther, 80-3-77; Miss A M Machee, 92-11-81; Miss Spence, 101-18-83; Miss C C Beausire, 110-23-87.

Liverpool Daily Post Friday 15 October 1909. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the March 1910 monthly medal; Class A; Miss Crowther, 79-3-76; Mrs A C Bamford, 89-13-76; Miss A Jevons, 89-12-77; Mrs A W Stone, 97-8-79; Miss M Dodd, 89-8-81; Class B; Miss M S Hannay, 101-30-71; Miss M Royston, 94-19-75; Mrs Gemmel, 99-23-76; Mrs E C Rome, 96-17-79; Miss Jevons, 99-19-80; Miss C Beausire, 108-23-85; Miss Spence, 104-18-86; Miss A Laird, 112-17-95.

Results from the 1910 Spring Meeting.

Birkenhead & Cheshire Advertiser Saturday 30 April 1910. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Results from the 1911 Spring Meeting.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 20 May 1911. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Liverpool Daily Post Thursday 2 May 1912 - "The final rounds for a prize given by the captain of the club, Mrs A C Bamford, were played this week. In the semi-finals Miss M Dodd (2) beat Miss Tarbet (17) by 5 and 4; Miss A Jevons (7) beat Miss Royston (9) by 1up; In the final Miss Dodd beat Miss Jevons by 6 and 4."

Liverpool Courier and Commercial Advertiser Friday 11 October 1912. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Miss Muriel Dodd - The talented young golfer who came into notice during this year's championship at Turnberry.

Ladies' Field Saturday 2 November 1912. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Miss Muriel Dodd wins the Ladies' Golf Championship at St. Annes in 1913. She would go on to complete a double by winning the Canadian Championship in the same year.

Lancashire Evening Post Friday 6 June 1913. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Match against Hoylake in October 1913.

Liverpool Daily Post Thursday 30 October 1913. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of a match played on the Hoylake Ladies' course in March 1914.

Below is the result of a match against Chester Ladies' played at Sealand in April 1914.

Birkenhead News Wednesday 27 May 1914. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The professional prior to WW1 was Ernest Barlow. He was included in a list issued by the Professional Golfers Association in September 1915 of golf professionals serving with the colours. 

The club closed in 1915 and the course was subsequently used as a market garden during WW1.

Birkenhead News Saturday 27 September 1919. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Ordnance Survey Map showing the Golf Course.

O.S. Map Revised 1908 to 1909; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1913}.