City of Newcastle
Golf Club
Founded -
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HISTORY
1891 -
The City of Newcastle Golf Club was formally founded in October
of 1891, playing on a course on the town Moor on land leased from the Freeman of
the City and the Corporation of Newcastle upon Tyne. The old mill on Claremont Road
became the clubhouse and was rented from W B Reid, a well known local brewer
Moving to Gosforth:
After a while playing golf on the Town Moor became a problem,
due mainly to unrestricted public access and to damage caused by animals. It was
therefore decided that a new site would be sought and in 1907 land was leased from
a Mrs Bainbridge of Grange Farm, Three Mile Bridge, Gosforth.
The Town Moor Course
and the clubhouse on Claremont Road were then handed over to the Newcastle United
Workmen's Club, whose members had also been using the Town Moor Course.
Harry Vardon:
Harry Vardon was engaged to design the new course and in the following
year, 1908, he played a challenge match against James Braid over his new layout.
The course length then was 6068 yards with a par score, or in those days bogey sccore
of 82.
Inaugural Match:
During the inaugural match on the new course a very strange thing
happened. While playing the very first shot on the first hole, the then Secretary,
Mr. James Potts, hit a crow with his ball and killed it. The actual bird was stuffed
and remains on display in a glass case in the clubhouse.
1962 -
In 1962 part of the course bounded by Broadway West was purchased
by Northumberland County Council to make playing fields and to build a school. New
land was provided to the west and nine new holes were constructed. At the same time
Gosforth Urban District Council became the Club's landlord with the lease being for
a maximum term of 52 years.
1974 -
In 1974, due to changes in, and reorganisation of local government,
Newcastle City Council, the successor to Gosforth UDC, became the Club's landlords.
City of Newcastle Golf Club Ltd.
