Heswall Golf Club

The Hotel Victoria, now demolished, was the venue on 12 June 1902 for a meeting of prospective Heswall Golf Club members. The meeting was summoned by Mr G Bradstock Lockett and following the unanimous decision to form the club he was appointed Honorary Secretary. By 31 July 1902 a total of 66 Members and 45 Lady Associates had joined. As with many other courses, the railway was a major factor as regards location and Heswall station on the old London & North Western Railway provided a convenient access for the members. Today the old line, now a public footpath known as the Wirral Way, acts as a barrier between the East and West sections of the course and must be crossed to complete the round. Unlike most courses Heswall started as 18 holes and although new holes have been added and the layout changed over the years the essential parkland features have remained. The original course was designed by Jack Morris, the professional at Royal Liverpool, who was involved in the layout of many local courses during that era.

Lady Associates were encouraged from the start and at the course opening on 6 September 1902 the first Captain, Mr E Twigge, stated “One of the objects of the club is the abolition of golfing widows in the district.” His philosophy has endured to this day as Heswall still has one of the largest ladies sections in the locality. Gladys Temple Dobell (nee Ravenscroft) is by far the best remembered lady member having won the English and the American Ladies Championships in 1912/13 as well as featuring in many other international golfing events.

In the early days rooms were rented from Gayton Hall farm but these were soon given up following several outbreaks of diphtheria. On 13 February 1904 the members approved plans for the construction of a wood and iron clubhouse on a brick foundation at a cost of £1,500 and they also approved a new 21 year lease for the course. This clubhouse, together with all club records, was destroyed by fire on 20 January 1924 and two years later the first stage of the present building was constructed. There are few golf courses that can boast a location that the Heswall clubhouse enjoys. Sitting on rising land above the 18th green with views down to the River Dee and the mountains of Wales, the present clubhouse has been extended over the years. Its most popular feature is the outside terrace, sheltered from the winds, where an evening drink can be taken whilst watching the sun set over the Clwyd hills.

On 21 December 1948 the Council took the opportunity to buy the freehold of the land financed by promissory notes from members. Frank Pennink reviewed the course in 1968 and made suggestions for improvement including the construction of new holes. More recently, Donald Steel drew up and supervised the plans for the new land purchased in 2000 and opened for play in 2007.

On the administrative side, Heswall has had two Presidents of the English Golf Union, Stuart Cookson in 1994 and Fred Caroe in 2006 and both have also served as President of the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs. Other Cheshire Presidents have been Frank Harkins and Stuart Gorman. As far as the Society is concerned, Frank Harkins in 1988 and Robert J Carter in 2013 have served as Captain.

Heswall Golf Club Captains

Year Captain Year Captain Year Captain
1902 E Twigge 1943 H V Evans 1984 A C Craig
1903 C MacIver 1944 H V Evans 1985 D I Hewitt
1904 E Johnston 1945 P L Davies 1986 M A Meakin
1905 E Johnston 1946 E H Peters 1987 G S Gorman
1906 E Johnston 1947 J Escolme 1988 C B M Kenrick
1907 R Brancker 1948 R W G Scott 1989 B B Wright
1908 R Brancker 1949 J B Dowler 1990 J A Teare
1909 W T Lee 1950 W Rose 1991 B T Ridge
1910 T W Baker 1951 A Hughes 1992 R May
1911 A W Stone 1952 C L Ball 1993 F W Taylor
1912 R H Hooper 1953 J B Dowler 1994 F W Spencer
1913 T H Forgan 1954 E G Thomas 1995 P J Dowell
1914 C P Coulevas 1955 F B Cope 1996 A Brooker
1915 C P Coulevas 1956 W D Armstrong 1997 S A Allen
1916 C P Coulevas 1957 A N Lockier 1998 P J Thomas
1917 C P Coulevas 1958 E L Wiard 1999 J Deakin
1918 C P Coulevas 1959 F Hiscocks 2000 R J Carter
1919 C F Anderson 1960 C A Leggett 2001 K J Davies
1920 H Williams 1961 A Batty 2002 J H Roberts
1921 C E DeWolfe 1962 G C Lees 2003 P G Lees
1922 R H Anderson 1963 J M Harvey 2004 A R Williamson
1923 G Q Dinn 1964 C L Overton 2005 J Darbyshire
1924 A Barrett 1965 J B Tomkinson 2006 W J P Smith
1925 W M M Forwood 1966 G Bancroft 2007 P M Higgins
1926 W M M Forwood 1967 R J Critten 2008 D Holgate
1927 F J Cope 1968 H B Kelly 2009 K Housley
1928 E E Hough 1969 E Woodhead 2010 H J Sharman
1929 R E Roberts 1970 R C Blair 2011 H P Jones
1930 G Bradly 1971 C W Berry 2012 P D Rogers
1931 J P Wardle 1972 S P H Cookson 2013 C I Hornsby
1932 J E Roberts 1973 R G H Binney 2014 M G Greaney
1933 J R Fleming 1974 R J Keating 2015 P Rodgers
1934 P B Hughes 1975 N E Kitchen 2016 C T Hillock
1935 P B White 1976 C F Caroe 2017 T Moon
1936 F A Reece 1977 B H Keenan 2018 T Cornford
1937 C Band 1978 D J Jardine 2019 R Christian
1938 T N White 1979 E A Wilson 2020 J Tank
1939 J P Wardle 1980 E Raspin 2021 J Tank
1940 J P Wardle 1981 P H Kenney 2022 S Carter
1941 J P Wardle 1982 F Harkins 2023 K H Morrison
1942 J P Wardle 1983 J I I Bissett 2024 P Jamieson