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Pulrose Golf Club, Isle of Man. (1927 - 1949)
The corporation run club and course was founded in 1927 on Pulrose Meadows.
The eighteen-hole course was designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie.
We would like to thank Neil Crafter, renowned expert on the work of Dr Alister MacKenzie, for allowing us to use the following extracts from his archive on the Pulrose course.
In 1925 the Douglas Town Council on the Isle of Man appointed a Special Committee to explore the possibility of establishing a municipal golf course on a site at the Pulrose Estate, just west of the town of Douglas. To assist them in their investigations, the Committee “secured the services of the eminent golf course architect, Dr A. MacKenzie, and his report has been circulated privately to members.”
MacKenzie visited Douglas to inspect the site around the middle of 1925 and submitted his report dated June 1925, as well as a plan, to the Special Committee. By August they were unanimous in recommending to Council that they approve at their next meeting “the laying out of a golf course on the Pulrose Estate, on the lines indicated in Dr MacKenzie’s report, at an estimated cost not exceeding £3,000 including the adaptation of the Refreshment Hut as a golf house.”
While it could be expected that the Committee’s unanimous recommendation might have been sufficient to carry the day at Council, however, that was not to be. One councillor wanted the decision postponed until after the November council elections, while another doubted whether Pulrose was the best site for the course, and another fully supported it. The Mayor was firmly behind the proposal but in the end he did not have the numbers, and the matter was deferred. One local newspaper, ‘Mona’s Herald’, printed the contents of MacKenzie’s report in full in their 19 August 1925 edition, and some extracts are instructive:
“The success of a golf course depends on the following considerations:-
Fistly, accessibility to a large golfing population.
Secondly, suitability for golf.
Thirdly, cost of construction and upkeep.
Fourthly, on the appreciation in value of the surrounding land.
On the whole the suggested ground is very suitable for golf. It is undulating without being excessively hilly, and has some excellent natural features. The turf is not first-class, as it has a large number of daisies, buttercups and weeds, but in time with proper treatment, it should become quite good……
I am sending a plan of the suggested design which must not be taken as final, as further consideration may enable me to improve on this.
It is unnecessary for me to describe the holes in detail, but I may point out that for the purpose of avoiding the refuse tip and to eliminate hill climbing as much as possible I am starting the first three holes on the lower ground. This, at the present time, is very boggy, but there is a good fall and it can be readily drained.
I am suggesting that the hill should be climbed by means of a short hole, the 4th, up a gradual incline. The 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th holes are all fairly level. The 12th is played downhill, and the 13th up a gradual incline. The 14th, 15th, and 16th are fairly level, the 17th is downhill and the 18th home. The suggested design is a very elastic one; the course could be played normally about five thousand yards, but if required on special occasions it could be lengthened to six thousand, or even slightly more.”
There was much ensuing discussion, sometimes quite heated, about where the money was to come from to pay for the course, and it was finally agreed that it would be borrowed, and the decision passed by 14 votes to 6. The new municipal golf course at Pulrose was to proceed.
An opening date was set for 18 July 1927, with the opening to be performed by the Mayor, Alderman Crookall, a staunch proponent of the scheme. Two of the greens, “Nos. 1 and 17, will not be in readiness for the opening day, but play will begin at green No.2, and finish at No.17. A first-class golf professional is to be engaged immediately, and Major Mackenzie, who is constructing the course, is keeping four of his men at the links until the end of September, maintaining and developing the greens.”
However, delays in completion meant that the opening was pushed back until 8 August 1927, and advertisements to that effect were placed in a number of the island’s newspapers. The ceremony was simple and informal, with some speeches at the clubhouse before the Mayor hit the opening tee shot “with great power well up the fairway,” and a gold sovereign was the prize to the man who retrieved the ball. Councillor Quine, chairman of the Golf Links Committee said a few words of introduction to the Mayor, and reminded the spectators that no-one was more suited to the task of opening the golf course “since it was mainly due the enthusiasm and encouragement of Mr Crookall that the links had actually come into being. This interest was all the more commendable when it was remembered that he was actually the owner of another course in the island, and might have reasonably been expected to oppose the project of another course being opened.”
The course at opening was 2,750 yards out and 2,920 home, for an overall length of 5,670 yards.”
The eleventh hole of the MacKenzie designed Pulrose Golf Club course.
First annual competition in September 1929.
Isle of Man Times Saturday 27 September 1929. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Isle of Man Times Saturday 7 June 1930 - "PULROSE LADIES' GOLF CLUB - The Doris Cordiner Cup was played for on the Pulrose Golf Course recently, when Miss Gelling succeeded in winning with a net score of 149. Miss Kennaugh was second with 153, and Miss Pedder third with 159. Miss Kerr retuned the lowest gross score. Five other players tied for fourth place with 162; Mrs Mason, Mrs Kissack, Miss E V Main, Miss Maden and Miss Callister."
From the Golfer's Handbook 1933; Pulrose Golf Club, Douglas; Membership 100; Secretary; E L Watterson, 11 Hilary Park, Douglas; Professional; J Devereau; Visitors, 1s/6d a round, 2s/6d a day, 7s/6d a week, 35s a year (ladies, 25s). The Pulrose Club play over the Douglas Corporation Links at Pulrose.
Competition played in May 1933.
Isle of Man Daily Times Tuesday 9 May 1933. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Isle of Man Daily Times Monday 15 May 1933. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Golfer's Handbook 1937; Pulrose Golf Club; Membership 150; Hon. secretary; R A Corkhill, 5 Railway Terrace, Douglas; The club play over the Municipal Links at Pulrose.
Report and picture at the annual meeting in 1938.
Isle of Man Times Saturday 5 February 1938. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Ladies' match played in April 1939.
Isle of Man Times Saturday 22 April 1939. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Isle of Man Times Saturday 10 June 1939. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Golfer's Handbook 1947; Douglas Municipal Golf Club, Pulrose Park; Professional W R Devereau; 18-holes, Par 75, SSS 71; Pulrose Golf Club play over the Municipal Course.
In April 1949 the Douglas Golf Club re-appears and merges with the Pulrose Golf Club, which then disappeared. The club became known as the Douglas Golf Club playing over the Pulrose course.
Isle of Man Times Saturday 16 April 1949. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.