The Internet's Most Comprehensive Guide

Fleetwood Golf Club, Lancs. (1861 -1932)

Founded in 1861.

Below is an extract from a report on the first short lived club in 1861. The club was founded on the establishment of the new School of Musketry at Fleetwood.

Fleetwood Chronicle Friday 15 November 1861. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Clearer article showing the result of the first competition.

Preston Chronicle Saturday 16 November 1861. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

We would like to thank Fleetwood Golf Club who provided information for the earlier (pre 1932) golf courses.

In December 1893 Captain J Robertson of Rossall was elected President of the new club. Mr S Woods, J.P., of Parron Hall, vice-president. Membership had increased to 70 and as soon as the membership justifies the step, a professional would be sought.

The current club was founded in 1932 having had two earlier locations prior to its current course. The first, in the area of Laidleys Walk, first appeared in 1893. In 1904 the new course was laid out in the Copse Road and Fleetwood Road area.

Report on the new course in December 1893.

From "Golf" 22 December 1893.

The Ordnance Survey Map below is from the 1890s and shows the location of  the course. It ran from the cemetery along Laidley's Walk to the Mount Hotel.

O.S. Map Revised 1891; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1894}.

The clubhouse in 1894.

Picture courtesy Fleetwood Golf Club.

Report on the first competition played on the new course in 17 March 1894.

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

Result of the May 1894 monthly competition. 

“Golf" Tuesday 5 June 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Below is the result of a match played at Fleetwood against Preston Golf Club in October 1894.

It was reported in February 1895 that the members of the club had enjoyed a splendid meal at the Crown Hotel. The annual meeting was held after dinner. Membership at this time was approaching 100 with about 40 additional lady members. It was confirmed that a clubhouse would shortly be built. Despite the outlay on the course this year the club was still in a good financial position. A silver cup had been presented to the members for competition by the president, Captain Robertson, this was won the previous year by Mr F I Thompson. Dr Penman was elected captain, and Mr S Scott secretary. The club appeared to have a successful future and was to be congratulated on the progress made so far in its first year.

Result of a  one sided match played at Rossall School against Fleetwood in April 1895.

Result of a match played in February 1897.

Golf Friday 5 March 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In March 1898 the monthly competition for the gold badge presented by Mr P P Yates for the lady members was played, result; Miss Cook, 82-2-80; Mrs Addie, 91-11-80; Miss Bond, 145-50-95; Mrs Robinson, 134-38-96; Mrs Fausset109-9-100; Miss N Cook, 103-113-13-100; Mrs Kean, 143-42-101. The fifth round of the juniors’ competition was held on Saturday 5^th March 1898; D F Addie, 95-10-85; Miss M Yates, 133-40-93; A W F Addie, 122-22-100; E Hudson 118-17-101; A R Reed, 117-13-104. On the same day the third round for the President’s Cup was played; F W Wareing, 102-7-95; Henry Curwen, 128-30-98.

Competition results for May 1898; gent’s medal – W R Twitchett, 119-24-95; H J Gibson, 111-12-99; F W Wareing, 110-7-103; fifth round of the junior medal – A Reed, 116-13-103; D Addie, 110-5-105; A L F Addie, 127-22-105; E Hudson, 124-17-107; ladies’ monthly medal – Miss M Cook, 84-2-82; Mrs Yates, 96-10-86; Mrs Robinson, 133-38-95; Mrs Marginson, 112-15-97; Miss Green, 114-14-100; Miss N Cook, 117-13-104.

Result of the fourth qualifying round for the president’s cup played on Saturday 11 June 1898; H F Wilkinson, 104-30-74; R F Addie, 90-6-84; H Curwen, 116-30-86; J F Marginson, 117-28-89; Dr Latham, 108-12-96.

Report on the course in January 1899.

Manchester Courier Tuesday 31 January 1899. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The lady members of the club played for the gold badge in July 1899; Miss Marginson, 92-15-77; Mrs Robinson, 99-18-81; Miss Cook, 83-+3-86; Mrs Addie, 94-6-88; Mrs Yates, 96-6-90; Miss N Cook, 99-9-90; Miss Bond, 130-28-102.

It was reported in January 1901 that the course had been commandeered by the Government for military purposes and the club was almost defunct. Only two or three holes were being maintained by the members for practice. Many members of the club had decided to move to the recently opened course attached to the Cleveleys Hydro in Blackpool.

The large white building at the top of the above picture was Farmer Gregson's Farm and the land before it was the golf course. It continued at this location until 1904 when the ownership of the land was taken over by the Fleetwood Estate Company who intended to use the land for housing, resulting in the club needing to move to a new home. 

Report on the proposed new course in October 1903.

Lancashire Evening Post Friday 2 October 1903. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It was reported in April 1904 that golf links were being laid-out by the Fleetwood Estate Co. in the vicinity of Broadwater Wood.

Ordnance Survey Map from the 1900s showing Broadwaters Wood, location of the new course in 1904.

O.S. Map Revised 1909-10; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1914}.

The first monthly competition was played on Saturday 5 November 1904 for a prize presented by Tom G Lumb. Result; J Moody, 97-25-72; S Champ, 112-18-94; A A Cordner, 113-18-95; Dr. Penman, 102-6-96; A J Fife, 105-6-99; Dr. Robinson, 123-18-106.

From the Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook 1905; Instituted 1904; Station Wyredock, half-mile; Hon. secretary – Lawrence Fraser, Sunny Lea, Bold Street, Fleetwood; Captain – Dr. P Mitchell Penman;  Entrance fee nil and subs £1/1s, ladies 10s/6d; Professional - W Smith (Semi-final Open Tournament at Trafford Park, 1904); Nine-holes; Terms for visitors, 1s a day, 5s a week, 10s/6d a month. The course covers an area of about 45 acres and contains some good hazards. It was laid out under the supervision of George Lowe of St Annes, and has two men are constantly employed, it is in good condition. The holes vary in length from 120 to 420 yards. There is a good clubhouse. 

Extract from a report from the Fleetwood Chronicle Friday 10 February 1905; "FLEETWOOD GOLF CLUB -First Annual Report - The annual meeting was held at the Mount Hotel on Tuesday evening, Mr D Abercrombie presided. L Fraser, hon. secretary, in his first report, stated that membership of the club comprised 53 gentlemen and twenty ladies. The club took over the links on 30 June last. A professional and a boy were engaged, and a considerable amount of money was expended on the purchase on mowing and other machines etc., and on building a professional's  hut. A pavilion much smaller than was at first suggested, but quite large enough for the requirements of the club had been erected. The question of furnishing the pavilion was considered and the matter was left to Dr. Penman the captain, and the secretary to make arrangements. Mr Lumb suggested that the members might send things to furnish the room, this was supported by several members. D Abercrombie was re-elected president; Dr. Penman, captain; L Fraser, hon secretary; J Brown, hon. treasurer; committee - R F Addie, A J Fife, J Moody, R C Ward, E H B Berwick, T G Lumb and Dr. Morrison. The chairman considered the future of the club very bright." 

Report on the annual meeting held in March 1906.

Fleetwood Chronicle Friday 23 March 1906. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This portion of the history of the club is not well recorded other than negative comments regarding the suitability of the land. With the course being lower than the level of the road and railway line drainage was always going to be a problem and for much of the time the land was flooded or boggy and for extended periods golf was not possible, the use of course cutting equipment was almost impossible. Dr Penman was again a prominent member at the clubs new site and held the role of captain for the first three years. Because of these problems the search was on for a new course. Unfortunately most of the suitable golfing land was being considered for housing development. 

It was reported in the Fleetwood Chronicle Friday 16 May 1913 that "Today is the ninth anniversary of the formation of the Fleetwood Golf Club."

The current Knott End Golf Club was established in 1910.

Prior to WW1 the Fleetwood Golf Club amalgamated with the new club and the Knott End and Fleetwood Golf Club appears. This title continued until the early 1930s when the current Fleetwood Golf Club came into being.

Many prominent members of the Fleetwood club "crossed the river" to play on the Knott End course.

Below is a competition result from May 1914 for the Knott End and Fleetwood Golf Club.

Fleetwood Chronicle Tuesday 26 May 1914. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the opening of the present Fleetwood course in 1932.

Fleetwood Chronicle Friday 1 January 1932. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The Google Map below shows the area around Laidleys Walk, location of the golf course in the 1890s.