Photographs relating to this article, including those in this extract, may be found in Gallery 2.8
Prudhoe Golf Club was started in 1930 as a nine hole course and covered an area of land from what is now Homedale, down through Oaklands, Paddock Wood to the land on the main road now covered by Waterworld. This land was owned by the Co-op and was rented out to the golf club.
The founder members were: Mr Sidney Bates (Chairman), Father Walsh (Vice Chairman), George Anderson, T Hirst, Archie Wilson, Walter Bolam, Mr Barker, F McMahon, KB Hood, Bob Hall, Dr McCoull, Norman Chariton and Robert Crowe. Its female members were Mrs Bolam, Isa Murrey, D Bell, Dolly Douthwaite, Rene Douthwaite, Mary Chariton, Rita Waugh, M Appleby, Mrs McMahon and Mrs O Stobbart. (John Currey also cites Jim & Hannah Currey as founder members).
The first green keeper was Mr J Clarence and his assistant was Mr R Brown. The first grass cutter was towed by a Bullnose Morris car which had been stripped down to its engine, front seats and chassis.
Caddies were provided and were paid 4d for nine holes. Each caddie wore a bronze badge engraved “P.G.C.”.
The first trophy was the Curry Cup presented by Mr John Curry, Turf Accountant, and the first winner of this cup was Mr K Hood who beat Mr J Hall 3 and 2 over 36 holes.
The club moved to West Wylam in 1933/34 still as a nine-hole course on land owned by the Duke of Northumberland. The land was leased by the Duke to Mr J F Bell of Broomhouse Farm, who in turn sub-let it to a person unknown who in turn rented to the golf club. (It appears that the Duke had no knowledge of this latter arrangement). The land was later leased direct from Mr Bell who had the land for grazing sheep so that players wanting to play a round had to do so with sheep in the vicinity. One fatality in this arrangement is recorded. While playing in a junior match a Mr R M Outerside drove off just as a sheep lifted its head from grazing. The golf ball struck it straight between the eyes killing it outright and causing great consternation amongst the players!
It is recorded that when the new course was being constructed, the 1st 5th 8th and 9th greens were made with the help of patients from Prudhoe Hall.
The land was rented from Mr Bell until his death in 1957 when his widow released the land back to the Duke who then leased it direct to the golf club, the first lease being signed in 1959 for twenty one years. In 1971 extra land was acquired to enlarge the course to 11 holes and from then further land was acquired to enlarge the club to its present size and to include a larger car park in 1974, a shop (1975/6) and a practice area (1979). The clubhouse was built in 1968.
The first major honour won by the club was in 1951 when Neville Dunn won the British Boys Championship at Prestwick. This was followed by: 1981 Janet Soulsby (an English International) won the Ladies British Open Stroke Play Championship; 1984 Sarah Longstaffe won the Junior Girls Northumberland Match Play Championship; 1986 David Curry became British Amateur Champion and 1987 Shaun Phillipson won the British Mid-Amateur Championship and Kevin Robson became Northumberland County Junior Stroke Play Champion.
1993 was a particularly good year for the club, becoming Newcastle & District League Champions for the third successive year and winning the Northumberland County Teams Championship for the first time. They held this trophy continuously until 1996 and then won it again in 1999. Individual successes were: Helen Wilson won the Ladies County Championship, Shaun Phillipson became Northumberland County Champion, Chris Hunter became Junior Northumberland County Champion and Jason Richardson won the Junior Northumberland Stroke Play Championship.
It will be noticed in the honours won that there were a number of junior players involved which is in keeping with the Club’s policy.
The founder members were: Mr Sidney Bates (Chairman), Father Walsh (Vice Chairman), George Anderson, T Hirst, Archie Wilson, Walter Bolam, Mr Barker, F McMahon, KB Hood, Bob Hall, Dr McCoull, Norman Chariton and Robert Crowe. Its female members were Mrs Bolam, Isa Murrey, D Bell, Dolly Douthwaite, Rene Douthwaite, Mary Chariton, Rita Waugh, M Appleby, Mrs McMahon and Mrs O Stobbart. (John Currey also cites Jim & Hannah Currey as founder members).
The first green keeper was Mr J Clarence and his assistant was Mr R Brown. The first grass cutter was towed by a Bullnose Morris car which had been stripped down to its engine, front seats and chassis.
Caddies were provided and were paid 4d for nine holes. Each caddie wore a bronze badge engraved “P.G.C.”.
The first trophy was the Curry Cup presented by Mr John Curry, Turf Accountant, and the first winner of this cup was Mr K Hood who beat Mr J Hall 3 and 2 over 36 holes.
The club moved to West Wylam in 1933/34 still as a nine-hole course on land owned by the Duke of Northumberland. The land was leased by the Duke to Mr J F Bell of Broomhouse Farm, who in turn sub-let it to a person unknown who in turn rented to the golf club. (It appears that the Duke had no knowledge of this latter arrangement). The land was later leased direct from Mr Bell who had the land for grazing sheep so that players wanting to play a round had to do so with sheep in the vicinity. One fatality in this arrangement is recorded. While playing in a junior match a Mr R M Outerside drove off just as a sheep lifted its head from grazing. The golf ball struck it straight between the eyes killing it outright and causing great consternation amongst the players!
It is recorded that when the new course was being constructed, the 1st 5th 8th and 9th greens were made with the help of patients from Prudhoe Hall.
The land was rented from Mr Bell until his death in 1957 when his widow released the land back to the Duke who then leased it direct to the golf club, the first lease being signed in 1959 for twenty one years. In 1971 extra land was acquired to enlarge the course to 11 holes and from then further land was acquired to enlarge the club to its present size and to include a larger car park in 1974, a shop (1975/6) and a practice area (1979). The clubhouse was built in 1968.
The first major honour won by the club was in 1951 when Neville Dunn won the British Boys Championship at Prestwick. This was followed by: 1981 Janet Soulsby (an English International) won the Ladies British Open Stroke Play Championship; 1984 Sarah Longstaffe won the Junior Girls Northumberland Match Play Championship; 1986 David Curry became British Amateur Champion and 1987 Shaun Phillipson won the British Mid-Amateur Championship and Kevin Robson became Northumberland County Junior Stroke Play Champion.
1993 was a particularly good year for the club, becoming Newcastle & District League Champions for the third successive year and winning the Northumberland County Teams Championship for the first time. They held this trophy continuously until 1996 and then won it again in 1999. Individual successes were: Helen Wilson won the Ladies County Championship, Shaun Phillipson became Northumberland County Champion, Chris Hunter became Junior Northumberland County Champion and Jason Richardson won the Junior Northumberland Stroke Play Championship.
It will be noticed in the honours won that there were a number of junior players involved which is in keeping with the Club’s policy.