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Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. (1904 - 1950s)

Founded in 1904.

The original 9-hole course was situated among the beautiful Breconshire Hills and was laid out by the Lewis brothers, professionals at King's Norton Golf Club, Birmingham. The course had been extended to 18-holes measuring 4,514 yards by 1907. The later 18- hole course was 4,970 yards in length and at its highest point, was about 900ft above sea level, a really good challenging course with natural hazards and manufactured bunkers. There were commanding views of the miles of beautiful surrounding countryside. A proud boast of the club in the 1930s, “Experienced golfers who have visited it declare it to be one of the most beautifully situated courses in the UK. The clubhouse which is only about 15 minutes walk from the station is a nice and convenient structure. The climate is bracing and for those in search of a good course and an invigorating atmosphere it would be difficult to find a more suitable place”

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Early postcard showing the former golf course.

The Llangammarch Wells golf course. Image courtesy of Frank Accleton.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. The early Clubhouse.

Postcard of the early Clubhouse. Authors Collection.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Clubhouse in the 1990s.

The Clubhouse. Picture taken by the author in the 1990s.

 

Peter Rainford, born in 1878, was the professional at Llangammarch Wells from 1910 to 1914. He was a very successful tournament player and won many challenge matches and competitions, amongst them the Welsh Professional Championship in 1911. This was the first time Rainford had won the Welsh Professional Championship, although he had been runner up on no less than three occasions. He had also held the professional record for quite a number of Welsh courses including Ashburnham, Swansea Bay, Llangammarch and Llanwrtyd. A native of West Kirkby, his connections with Wales went back to at least 1902 when he was engaged as professional at Pontnewydd; after this he went to Caernarvon, subsequently transferring his allegiance to Llangammarch.

The annual Breconshire County Golf Championship was held on the Llangammarch course in June 1933. A full report can be seen lower down the page. Included in the report is an interesting insight into the early history of the club.

Entry from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Hon. secretary - F Long Price, The Rectory, Llangammarch; Captain, M Tennant; Nine-holes; Entry fee £2/2s and subs £1/1s ; Professional, R Lewis; Station 10 minutes. The course is over moorland with natural bunkers, hedges, valleys, dingles etc. It stands on a plateau approached by a gradual ascent until you come to the highest green 900 feet above sea level.

In 1906 the visitors’ fees were 1/- a day.

The O.S. Map below shows the location of the golf course in the 1900s.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, O.S. Map from the 1900s showing the location of the golf course.

Ordnance Survey Map Revised 1902 to 1904; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1905}.

 

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Peter Rainford the Llangammarch Wells professional.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News Saturday 10 October 1908. Image © Illustrated London News Group.

 

Professional match played at Llangammarch in June 1909.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Professional match played at Llangammarch in June 1909.

Westminster Gazette Thursday 24 June 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

There is a mention in "The Golfer" 10 July 1909 that James Braid had played at Llangammarch during the month, his second visit, and recommended that charcoal be put on the greens. It doesn't mention whether he made any other recommendations.

Early 18-hole course scorecard.

Hole Length Bogey Hole Length Bogey
1 182 4 10 170 4
2 135 3 11 162 4
3 353 5 12 165 4
4 291 4 13 260 4
5 290 4 14 310 5
6 336 5 15 164 3
7 161 4 16 317 5
8 176 4 17 340 5
9 382 5 18 320 5
  2306 38   2208 39

In 1913/4 the entry fee was £1/1/0. Subs for gents were £2/2/0 and ladies £1/1/0. Visitors’ fees were 2/6d a day and 10/6d a week. Sunday play was allowed without caddies.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Early picture of golfers.

Golfers on the Llangammarch course in the early years.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. The course in the 1990s.

Picture taken by the author in the 1990s from a similar position to the image above.

 

 

Secretary

Professional/Greenkeeper

1906

 

R Lewis (p)

1913/4

H R Fry, Builth, Brecon..

P Rainford (p) (1910/14)

1914

 

S Davies (p)

1923-57

Frank Lironi.

Isaac Williams (g)

 

Course Records; 1906; F Long Price (amateur) 92;  R Lewis (professional) 71; 1923; S Davies (professional) 69; 1940-57 Major Donaldson (amateur) 67; I Williams (professional) 65.

 

Matches against Llanwrtyd Wells played in May 1924.

 

Llangammarch  Wells Golf Club. Competition results from May 1924.

Brecon County Times Thursday 29 May 1924.

 

The Breconshire County Championships were played at Llangammarch in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Report on the Breconshire County Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Report on the Breconshire County Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Report on the Breconshire County Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Report on the Breconshire County Championships played in June 1933.

Brecon County Times Thursday 1 June 1933.

 

Results from the Breconshire Championships played on the Llangammarch course in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Results from the Breconshire Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Results from the Breconshire Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Results from the Breconshire Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Results from the Breconshire Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Results from the Breconshire Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Results from the Breconshire Championships played in June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Results from the Breconshire Championships played in June 1933.

Brecon County Times Thursday 15 June 1933.

 

Llangammarch Wells Golf Club, Powys. Course location (1950s).

Location of the course in the 1950s.

 

From 1940 to its disappearance in about 1957 the 18-hole course had a SSS of 67 and Par 68.