Penmyarth Golf Club, Glanusk Park, Crickhowell, Powys. (1897 - 1960s)
The original club was founded in 1897.
The 9-hole course was situated in Lord Glanusk’s deer park on the banks of the River Usk. In the early years there was a railway station at Gilwern 6 miles away. Later on, the nearest station was at Abergavenny which was 8 miles away and thence by Great Western Railway motor bus to the course. Local hotels were the Bear and the Beaufort Arms. Sunday play was not allowed prior to WW1 but was permitted following the war.
Glanusk Park in 1890.
Illustrated London News Saturday 20 September 1890. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Below is the result of a match played at Penmyarth against Abergavenny Golf Club on Thursday 10 April 1902.
| Penmyarth Golf Club | Abergavenny Golf Club | ||
| C Coles (captain) | 0 | Dr. D Steele | 1 |
| J J Watkins | 4 | C Davies | 0 |
| J Edwards | 3 | Mr Price | 0 |
| W Watkins | 0 | O Davies | 1 |
| E Pirie Gordon | 1 | Mr Baker Gabb | 0 |
| R H W Robertson | 4 | E Phillips | 0 |
| W Griffiths | 3 | W Davies | 0 |
| Hon. H Bailey | 0 | Mr Jacob | 6 |
| 15 | 8 |
Entry from the Nisbet's 1905 Golf Yearbook; Penmyarth Golf Club; Instituted 1897; Membership of 45; Hon. Secretary - J Vaughan Richards, Crickhowell; Captain, S H Cowper-Coles; Entrance fee nil and subs £1/1s; Nine-hole course; Amateur record, 38 (nine-holes), 76, (18-holes); Terms for visitors, 2s/6d a week on introduction by a member. Links situated in Lord Glanusk's Deer Park on the banks of the River Usk. It is a short course but very sporting. River and brook as hazards. The club was instituted as a private course, and is now of a semi-private nature.
Brecon County Times Friday 14 April 1905. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In 1906 visitors on introduction paid 1/- a day, 2/6d a week, 7/6d a month.
Open meeting in 1907.
Brecon County Times Friday 24 May 1907. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Brecon County Times Friday 30 September 1910. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Club in decline in November 1913.
Brecon County Times Thursday 27 November 1913. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In 1914 there was no entry fee and subs were £1/1/0.
Report on the annual meeting in April 1914.
Brecon County Times Thursday 9 April 1914. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Club restarting following the war.
Brecon County Times Thursday 25 September 1919. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Match against Hay Golf Club in July 1920.
|
Secretary |
Membership |
|
|
1905/6 |
J Vaughan Richards, Estate Office, Glanonney, Crickhowell. |
|
|
1914 |
W L Michael, Llangattock, Crickhowell. |
37 |
|
1923 |
Thomas Watkins, Great Oak, Crickhowell. |
|
|
1928 |
|
85 |
|
1940 |
Roderick Evans, Cwmdu, Crickhowell. |
170 |
|
1947 |
Roderick Evans, The Firs, Tretower, Crickhowell. |
|
|
Course records a=amateur p=professional |
Professional/Greenkeeper |
|
|
1906 |
B Watkins 76 (a) |
|
|
1923 |
|
S Milett (g) |
|
1928 |
|
H Parsons (g) |
|
1930 - 1940 |
J V Richards 68 (a) |
D C Hill (p) |
|
1947 |
|
G F Lister (p) |
Brecon County Times Thursday 10 March 1921. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In June 1922 Benjamin Watkins won the Bailey Cup.
Result of a match played in May 1923.
In 1923 visitors’ fees were 2/6d a day, 7/6d a week and 15/- a month.
In 1925 a new clubhouse was built on the left of the Crickhowell to Brecon road, about 200 - 300 yards from the Park Lodge. However, the building was burnt to the ground in early June 1928. The alarm was raised by a passing motorist, and although the clubhouse itself was completely destroyed, practically the whole of the contents of the building were saved. Lord Glanusk was quickly at the scene and, aided by the police and a large number of Boy Scouts who were camping in the park, managed to rescue all the golf club’s belongings. Damage was estimated at between £200 and £300 (equivalent to between £8,000 and £12,000 nowadays). Undeterred, the club continued with a full programme of matches.
Report on the club and course in December 1926.
In 1928 the club was listed as Penmyarth Golf Club, Glanusk Park.
Match played in April 1929.
Pictures taken at the third annual County Golf Meeting at Crickhowell in May 1930.
Western Mail Monday 26 May 1930. Images © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Brecon County Times Thursday 14 May 1931. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a match played at Monmouth in July 1932.
| Monmouth Golf Club | Penmyarth Golf Club | ||
| L I Arnott | 0 | J N V Richards | 1 |
| G Murrell | 0 | G F Cummins | 1 |
| F E Coomber | 0 | W J Thomas | 1 |
| M Holmes | 0 | M Thomas | 1 |
| E W Colwell | 0 | T Roberts | 1 |
| W L Bowen | 1 | F E Sutton | 0 |
| H Cater | 0 | P Wilks | 1 |
| H Matterfree | 0 | J V Richards | 1 |
| F Tyler Taylor | 0 | R Evans | 1 |
| 1 | 8 |
Report on the annual meeting in April 1933.
Result of a club match played against Hay in March 1934.
| Penmyarth Golf Club | Hay Golf Club | ||
| L J Lindsay | 0 | T J Madigan | 1 |
| T T Roberts | 1 | W W Hughes | 0 |
| W V Jones | 1 | Lt Com R C Ryman | 0 |
| P Wilks | 0 | H R Grant | 0 |
| W J Thomas | 1 | T D Nutt | 0 |
| M Thomas | 1 | A E Bramley | 0 |
| B Evans | 1 | A C Grant | 0 |
| R Evans | 1 | H R Jones | 0 |
| G Shellard | 1 | H R Jones | 0 |
| 7 | 1 |
Below, result of a match played at Penmyarth on Saturday 11 April 1937 against Monmouth Golf Club.
| Penmyarth Golf Club | Monmouth Golf Club | ||
| W Barlow Evans | 1 | D E Pope | 0 |
| Trevor T Roberts | 1 | H R Howell | 0 |
| W J Thomas (half) | 0 | Major Appleby (half) | 0 |
| C A Gwenlan | 1 | G H Coles | 0 |
| L W Thomas | 1 | E Jarvis | 0 |
| A Townsend | 1 | Col Dunlop Hill | 0 |
| R Evans | 0 | J G Meredith | 1 |
| Percy Wilks | 1 | J T Vizard | o |
| J Vaughan Richards | 1 | F Tyler-Taylor | 0 |
| W E Morgan | 1 | H Matterface | 0 |
| W Rosser | 0 | H G Hodges | 1 |
| 8 | 2 |
Ladies' competition played at Glanusk in June 1937.
Western Mail Tuesday 15 June 1937. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Result of a match played at Cilsanws in July 1937.
| Cilsanws Golf Club | Penmyarth Golf Club | ||
| J R Jones | 1 | C A Gwenlan | 0 |
| E J H Hughes | 0 | L J Lindsay | 1 |
| W J Stephens | 1 | W J Thomas | 0 |
| D R Phillips | 1 | P Wilks | 0 |
| A J Marshall | 1 | J V Richards | 0 |
| W N D Thomas | 0 | H Kerr | 1 |
| G O Williams | 1 | R Evans | 0 |
| E R Hughes | 1 | W Rosser | 0 |
| F D Marshall | 1 | H Kerr | 0 |
| W R Edwards | 1 | J W Farrington | 0 |
| W Howells | 0 | J Kerr | 1 |
| 8 | 3 |
Report on the annual meeting in March 1938.
Western Mail Saturday 26 March 1938. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In 1940 the 9-hole course had a SSS of 72. Visitors’ fees were gents 2/6d a day, ladies 2/-, 10/- a week, 15/- a fortnight and 20/- a month.
It was reported in November 1946 that G Lloyd Fister, son of the Pontypool professional, had been appointed professional to the Penmyarth club. He served part of his apprenticeship at Royal Porthcawl.
In 1947 the SSS had been revised to 70. Visitors’ fees were gents 3/6d a day, ladies 2/6d, 15/- a week, 25/- a fortnight and £2 a month.
The course is marked on the Ordnance Survey Map below.
The club finally disappeared in the late 1960s, when the secretary was Dr A P Brown, Glencree, Llangynidr. The 9-hole course of 2,500yds had a SSS and Par of 68.Club membership was about 100. Course records were amateur J V Richards (68), professional G F Lister (68). Visitors’ fees were 5/- a day. Visitors were restricted at weekends. Local hotels were now the Bear and Gilffaes Country Club.
Location of the Crickhowell & Penmyarth Golf Club
Grid reference SO18920,20020, co-ordinates 318920,220020.



