Sheffield's Hillsborough Golf Club publishes history of its first 100 years

Hillsborough Golf Club is celebrating its centenary with the publication of a book looking back on its history.
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Hillsborough Golf Club, the First Hundred Years looks back at what it describes as “one of the jewels in the Sheffield golfing crown” from its beginnings in 1919 as a respite from the First World War.

An old ganister quarry site owned by farmer Charles Bramall at the side of Wadsley Common was chosen by a group of local church-goers, led by the Rev George Cherry Weaver, Vicar of Wadsley.

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He became the first president of the club but later resigned over the issue of playing on Sundays.

The newly-built clubhouse at Hillsborough Golf Club in 1936The newly-built clubhouse at Hillsborough Golf Club in 1936
The newly-built clubhouse at Hillsborough Golf Club in 1936

Conditions were initially pretty basic, with broken walls, ditches, evidence of ganister working and pools of water to negotiate round.

The first wooden clubhouse, lit by oil lamps, was only built in 1922.

A decade later, the club members finally managed to purchase the land and in 1936 a new clubhouse was opened, the occasion marked by a visit from Ryder Cup player Charles A Whitcombe.

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Women were involved from the start and Coun Ann Eliza Longden, a founder member, opened the new clubhouse in the same year that she became the city’s first female Lord Mayor.

Young caddies at Hillsborough Golf Club in 1925Young caddies at Hillsborough Golf Club in 1925
Young caddies at Hillsborough Golf Club in 1925

During World War Two, food was grown on part of the course and Wharncliffe Hospital used part of the clubhouse for storage. Home Guards were made honorary members.

The snooker stars Joe and Fred Davis both played exhibition snooker and billiard games in the clubhouse.

In 2018 the clubhouse had a facelift and the original bar area was updated for the first time, as part of efforts appeal to a wider public.

Hillsborough Golf Club architects, from left, Tom Williamson. T S Sykes and G S HarrisonHillsborough Golf Club architects, from left, Tom Williamson. T S Sykes and G S Harrison
Hillsborough Golf Club architects, from left, Tom Williamson. T S Sykes and G S Harrison
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The book is full of interesting pictures and snippets, such as a ban on crisp sales in the 1930s, problems with animals from moles to horses and various mishaps involving wayward buggies and golf balls.

It is priced £14.99 and available from the club.

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