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Branston (Branstone) Golf Club, Burton-on-Trent. (1907 - WW1)
The Burton Golf Club moved to Branstone from Stapenhill in 1897 and stayed until 1907.
In 1907 Branstone Golf Club took over the course vacated by Burton Golf Club when they moved to Bretby.
In 1907 Branstone Golf Club took over the course vacated by Burton Golf Club when they moved to Bretby. This course was situated in the vicinity of what is nowadays the Branston Depot. The Branstone club moved to a new location on the opposite side of the road in April 1911, this 9-hole fairly flat course was more of a challenge than the old one. There was an excellent clubhouse, formerly Beehive Farm, with accommodation for ladies and gents. The first tee was close to the entrance to the clubhouse. The clubhouse was requisitioned during WW1 and was probably used to house staff at the nearby ordinance depot. There were stations at Branstone ¼ mile and Burton-on-Trent 1 ½ miles away. A tram service ran to within a ¼ mile of the course.
From 1906 to 1908 the secretary was J Husband, 84 Malvern Street, Burton. The captain was H C Cherry and the professional was V Richards. Membership of 115 with 40 ladies. Entrance fee was 42/- for gents, 10/6 ladies, subs 30/- and 10/6 respectively. A 9 hole course on pasture land with gravel soil and hazards of hedges, ditches and sunken trenches filled with sand. Course records; professional A Lewis 72, amateur F Ballingall 72. Visitors' fees 1/- a day, 4/- a week and 10/- a month.
The picture below shows golfers that played in a club match on 12 May 1909. The result of the match appeared in the Burton Chronicle on Thursday 20 May 1909. It stated that the match was played on the Branstone course.
Picture of the players who took part in the Ashby v Branstone match played on 12 May 1909. Image courtesy of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Museum.
| Branstone Golf Club | Ashby Golf Club | ||
| E P W Davies (2 and 1) | 1 | A Potter | 0 |
| J J Henderson (4 and 3) | 1 | J H Sutton | 0 |
| A Davis (6 and 5) | 1 | A H Wells | 0 |
| F R Paterson | 0 | T W Davenport (2up) | 1 |
| W Renwick | 0 | W P Musson (5 and 3) | 1 |
| R Benstead | 0 | R J Carruthers (1up) | 1 |
| J C Webb (2 and 1) | 1 | A Timins | 0 |
| A G Abrahams (half) | 0 | G Bullen (half) | 0 |
| 4 | 3 |
The following report regarding the “New Course” is from the Staffordshire Sentinel Monday 3 April 1911:-
On Saturday afternoon the Mayor of Burton, Councillor Jenkins, formally opened the new course of the Branstone Golf Club in the presence of a large number of members and friends. The members have hitherto played on the north side of Branstone Road, but having to give up the ground, they secured a site on the south side, and here a nine-hole course, with a charming outlook across the Trent to wooded Drakelow, has been formed, with an ample supply of natural bunkers. A big crowd of golfers lined up at the first tee as the Mayor came on to drive the first ball. Amid cheers the club’s chairman, Councillor Tarver, hoisted the new flag, and after an appropriate speech, presented the Mayor with a silver mounted cleek. His worship made an excellent drive, and was followed by Councillor Tarver, both of whom played a round of the course.
In 1911 the professional was Tom Forrest.
In 1912 the secretary was A W Garrett.
Competitions played in April 1912.
Burton Daily Mail Monday 22 April 1912. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
R B Rickman, the Derbyshire County cricketer, won the June 1912 monthly medal with a net score of 76.
The club go back across the road to a "New Course" to be opened in March 1913.
Burton Observe and Chronicle Thursday 27 February 1913. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The annual meeting was held in February 1913, R F Peach presided. The balance sheet showed that the revenue had been adversely affected by the wet weather. Since the new course was opened, there had been almost record attendances and many new members were now joining. Officers elected; President, Marquis of Anglesey; vice-president. Col. R F Ratcliff M.P; captain, R F Peach; vice-captain, J J Henderson; hon. secretary, A E Brown; hon. treasurer, W C Riley.
Result of a club match played at Tamworth Golf Club in March 1913.
| Tamworth | Branstone | ||
| A E Smith (captain) | 0 | J J Henderson (1up) | 1 |
| J W Colley | 0 | R F Peach (3&2) | 1 |
| Rev D Fraser | 0 | J W D Wyley (5&3) | 1 |
| S S Mundy (3&1) | 1 | H G Abraham | 0 |
| W T Oliver | 0 | W Renwick (2&1) | 1 |
| L J Owen | 0 | H Beasley (3&1) | 1 |
| R P Percival (5&4) | 1 | A E Birch | 0 |
| J E Combe | 0 | J A Sadler (2&1) | 1 |
| H V Argyle (4&2) | 1 | H S Tebbitt | 0 |
| R H Hicklin (4&3) | 1 | H Mayger | 0 |
| 4 | 6 |
Result of the Harrison Cup played in July 1913.
Sports Argus Saturday 26 July 1913. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1913/4 the secretary was A E Brown, Torrington House, Branstone Road, Burton on Trent. The professional was James Thorburn, who had joined the club in 1911, he stayed until 1914, he was previously at Lenzie Golf Club. The club had a membership of 100. Entry fee for gents was £1/1/0 and ladies 10/6d. Subs for gents were £1/10/0 and ladies 15/-. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day, Sunday 1/6d, 4/- a week, 10/- a month. Sunday play was allowed without caddies.
The annual meeting of the Branstone Golf Club was held in February 1914, the hon. treasurer (W C Riley) reported that they now had a balance in hand of £25. The chairman (R F Peach) said a suggestion for enlarging the course to 18-holes was under consideration. Officers for the year; President, Lord Anglesey; vice-president, Col. R F Ratcliff, M.P; captain, R F Peach; vice-captain, J J Henderson; hon. secretary, A E Brown; hon. treasurer, W C Riley.
Below is the result of a match played in May 1914 between Stapenhill Golf Club and Branstone Golf Club on the Stapenhill course for the “Robertson Cup”.
| Stapenhill Golf Club | Branstone Golf Club | ||
| H Faulkner (half) | 0 | R F Peach (half) | 0 |
| H Tooby | 0 | H H Cornforth (2&1) | 1 |
| W Lambrick (4&3) | 1 | A Fox | 0 |
| G H Wheway (6&5) | 1 | J A Sadler | 0 |
| A Dodsworth (5&4) | 1 | W Renwick | 0 |
| Dr C Thompson (5&4) | 1 | A E Birch | 0 |
| G R Sparrow (3&2) | 1 | H S Tebbitt | 0 |
| Read Samble (2&1) | 1 | H Mayger | 0 |
| J Dunnicliff (8&7) | 1 | G B Hesp | 0 |
| H White (5&4) | 1 | A E Brown | 0 |
| T E Hanson | 0 | A West (8&7) | 1 |
| F Robinson | 0 | T S Joyce (2&1) | 1 |
| J C Bullock (4&2) | 1 | F W Platts | 0 |
| A J Feeny | 0 | J J Henderson (5&4) | 1 |
| 9 | 4 |
The Captain's Cup competition was played at Branstone on Saturday 9 May 1914, there were 22 entries. There was a tie for first place with J A Sadler and W Renwick scoring 82 net; F W Platts scored 83, and H H Cornforth, 86.
The Ratcliffe Cup mixed foursome competition was played on Saturday 1st August 1914 and was won by Miss C Bott and E E Kind with a score of 103-23-80.
Below is the result of a mixed foursome played in July 1915.
From the Evening Despatch Tuesday 6 July 1915. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Below sad news, a reflection of the difficult times during war.
From the Birmingham Daily Gazette Wednesday 11 Aug 1915. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The Old Golf House on Branston Road, it continued with the name until 1970, the building still stands today and is a private residence. In the 1900s it was “close to the first tee”, some way from the current course. The earlier Burton/Branstone course (1897 to 1911) was to the north near Branston Depot.
The Google Map below pinpoints the former clubhouse.
The current Branston (note new spelling) Golf Club was founded in the mid 1970s.
When new owners took over in the 1990s the name was changed to The Branston Golf and Country Club.