Fulwood Park Golf Club, St. Michael's, Liverpool. (1914 - WW2)
At the time of WW1 most clubs were struggling to survive, many were lost forever.
To find a club that actually came into being at this difficult time is rare.
As can be seen from the report in the Liverpool Echo in February 1914 it began as St.Michael’s. “St. Michael’s Golf Club, Aigburth. – The financial year now commences January. New members joining will not be required to renew subscriptions until January 1915.”
The following report is from the Liverpool Echo Monday 15th May 1916. “FULWOOD PARK GOLF CLUB – The Fulwood Park golf links were opened by Mr *Max Muspratt, and following the ceremony the competition for the Lord Mayor’s Roll of Honour Fund took place, the entrants totalling over 70. Several good cards were handed in, the best being 75 by George S Miller, who thus won the medal presented by the Lord Mayor. The fund will benefit by about £10.”
*Sir Max Muspratt was a British chemist, businessman and politician from Seaforth Hall, Liverpool.
In the 1920s the secretary was R R Honey. Telephone number Lark Lane 507. The professional was F Greig and the green-keeper R Ingram. The club had a nine-hole course and a membership of 200. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 2/6 a day, 3/- on Sundays. The station at St Michael's was 3 minutes away.
Thanks to Jason Dolman for the following - Pictured below is a Neck Driver by Fred Greig of Fulwood Park Golf Course Liverpool. Fred J Greig was a professional of many clubs, although he remained in the north west of England. Greig began his career as professional at Macclesfield around 1904. He moved on from there to Glossop, Astbury, Thetford, Fulwood Park, Huyton and, ultimately. Allerton.
In addition, he laid out the Childwall Hall course in 1921 for a fee of £7 10s Fred Greig was also the first secretary of the Liverpool Golf Alliance which was one of first in the country and an opportunity for members to take their professional out for a competitive days golf.
The professional from 1924 to 1930 was W Large.
Norman Winders the new professional in 1930.
Report on a hole-in-one for the professional in June 1931.
Ordnance Survey Map from the 1920/30s showing the golf course.
Thanks to David Fletcher who provided the picture below. David’s grandfather was a big contributor to the success of the golf club during the 1920/30s and is the person named on the inscription on the tankard.
Report from the Liverpool Evening Express Thursday 1 June 1939 – “I paid my first visit of the season to Fulwood Park Golf Club last night when the Press Club competition was won by George Noonan who returned a 74 net. As usual the Fulwood members gave us a splendid reception and the captain, Mr G D Paton, came back specially from Ormskirk to meet us.”
Below Victor Harries the professional in the later 1930s with his bride.
From the Liverpool Echo Tuesday 2 January 1940. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From 1932 to WW2 the secretary was still R R Honey, 12a Woodlands Road, Aigburth the professional was Victor Harries and the Green-keeper R Ingram. The 9-hole course had a SSS of 70. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 2/6 a day, 5/- on Sunday.
A team from Fulwood Park played Leasowe at Hoylake in the Colt's Golf Competition in July 1939.
Fulwood Park Golf Club | Leasowe Golf Club | ||
F Fawcett (3 and 2) | 1 | A MacParland | 0 |
R Keffler (at 19th) | 1 | R G Horspool | 0 |
W Smith | 0 | E N Mainwaring (3 and 1) | 1 |
T D Williams (4 and 3) | 1 | M Gillmore | 0 |
C D Smith | 0 | R P Booth (5 and 4) | 1 |
3 | 2 |
Although the club was listed in the Golfer’s Handbook in 1947 it was a repeat of the 1940 entry. It’s probable that the club disappeared at the time of WW2 as there is evidence that the club was selling some of its course equipment in 1942.
A couple of more recent recollections of the golf course.