Compiled and Written by
EDWARD FARRER
All communications respecting advertisements in this catalogue should be addressed to
E. J. BURNETT and Co., LTD. Cheltenham.
The Ancient Borough of Kirkbie-Kendall, now known as Kendal, received its Charter of Incorporation at the hands of Queen Elizabeth; but long before that, the town was noted for its woollen industry, and more particularly for the special green cloth, in which Shakespeare's “three misbegotten knaves in Kendal Green” were clothed. Now it is perhaps best known commercially as the home of the "K" Boot industry, though many devotees of "My Lady Nicotine" are most familiar with it as the place where Kendal Brown Snuff comes from.
In spite of its small population of 14,000, Kendal has always been a sporting little town. Its Cricket and Rugby Football Clubs (the latter of which formerly produced several fine International players) have for many years matched themselves successfully against the best clubs in the North of England. Consequently, when Golf spread over the Border, it was not long before Kendal had a Golf Club. This was formed in 1891, and play was over the disused Race Course hid above the town, the old actual Course, between firm by much galloping, providing several beautiful Greens. This was the original Kendal Golf Club. At first it consisted of twelve holes, but later six more were added on the other side of the main road. Later again these new holes were abandoned.At the end of 1893 another Club of a somewhat more democratic character was formed and was called from its habitat the "Cunswick Golf Club." The land taken allowed of only nine holes, some of which were pretty, but none were long. Both Courses were, however, somewhat inaccessible, and in 1897 the Cunswick Club obtained a lease of about 88 acres of land belonging to and quite near the town. On its removal, the name of the Club was changed to the...
“Serpentine Golf Club." From the fact that the land lay in close proximity to a public pleasure ground as well as the "Serpentine Walks." Here a comfortable Club House was erected, and the number of members rapidly increased. In the meantime the original Club was declining, and finally, in 1907, closed its doors. The younger and more energetic Club absorbed the membership and adopted the title of its defunct senior, and is now known as the Kendal Golf Club.
During its early years the Club was much indebted to Mr. G. E. Moser, Mr. R. O. Pennington, the late Mr. B. J. Lawlor, Mr. R. F. Chorley, Mr. S. Turner, and the late Mr. Chas. Pollitt, Dr. W. R. Parker and Mr. L. Gardner Thomson, who with a number of others spared neither time nor money to advance its interests. Mr. B. J. Lawlor, who had learned his Golf at St. Andrews, was for a long time the only Scratch man of the Club, and naturally set the local standard of play. In later years Mr. John Hall well known as a Notts County Golfer, was resident in Kendal for some time and did the Club good service. The Captains have also taken a keen interest and a full share in the management of the Club’s affairs. Mention must also be made of the untiring efforts of the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Thomas Haslam, who has been in charge since 1901; no amount of work or trouble is too much for Mr. Haslam, and he has long held the grateful esteem of the members. The accounts are in the hands of the joint Hon. Treasurers, Messrs. E. B. Hargreaves and B. W. Squire, who unfortunately are generally the guardians of a debt, rather than a credit, balance.
The President, Col. J. W. Weston, is one of the busiest and best known men in Westmorland, he is Chairman of the County Council, of the Board of Guardians, and of his own District Council, C. O. of the, of the local Territorial Forces, and an important member of the County Bench. With all his engagements, however, he finds time to play a frequent and very steady round, and there is no more popular partner or opponent in the Club.
1900-1 G. E. Moser.
1902-3-4-5 Cecil Braithwaite.
1906-7-8 C. J. Cropper.
1909-10-11-12 Col. Weston.
1899-1900 G. E. Moser.
1901-2 R. O. Pennington.
1902-3 H. W. Baron.
1904 Dr. W. R. Parker.
1905 Henry Hoggarth.
1906 Edward Farrer.
1907 F. B. Pollitt.
1908 John Hall.
1909 J. D. Blackburn.
1910-11 Charles Middleton.
1912 Daniel McNeill.
The Course is on the heights to the west of the town, and consists of what is locally called "fell" land. Although it has been truly said that "scenery is not golf," it is not possible for even the keenest of match players to go round the Kendal Course without noticing the magnificent views which are unfolded as the game progresses. From the Clubhouse verandah the spectator looks down upon the lower part of the Kent valley with Arnside Knott, the Fairy Steps Hill, and Morecambe Bay in the distance. The early holes command all the upper valley, including the ofttimes purple recesses of Kentmere. Later in the round the player should pause to enjoy an unparalleled view of the Lake Mountains. Beginning in the far west with Black Combe on the Cumberland coast, the eye follows the jagged line of horizon past Coniston Old Man, The Scafell Range, Bow Fell, Great Gable, Langdale Pikes, and Kentmere High Street, to the more rounded summits of the Yorkshire Pennines in the east. A finer range of mountain summits is not to be found in England.
The greater part of the land, played over, has never been cultivated; other portions have been ploughed, but not within the memory of living man. It is consequently covered with a thick carpet of strong "fell" turf upon which the ball sits up enticingly. Only over a small part of the land is the turf the soft variety found in the “field” or “park” of most inland courses. Eighteen holes were laid out originally, and, perhaps, with the land available, the work was as well done as was possible; but the holes...
were too short and a certain amount of crossing did not add to the comfort or safety of the players. Large extensions have been made on each side of the course, and few of the original holes remain, with the result of increased length and the entire absence of crossing, or dangerous proximity between the holes. At the present time it is not felt that finality has been reached, and the Committee has been considering some proposed alterations, which would add considerably to the total length.
The limestone formation naturally offers some disadvantages, but these, by the application of much “capital” and “labour” have been largely overcome. On the other hand it has the great advantage that surface water is very rapidly absorbed, rendering the Course dry and playable all through the year. Casual water is almost unknown, and even after heavy rain the grass dries very quickly.
The Club House is within ten minutes walk from the centre of the town, and not more than twenty minutes from the Railway Station. The Hotel ‘buses, which meet all trains, will deposit the visitor within two minutes walk of the Club.
It will be seen that the total length is not great, as Courses go now, but it may be pointed out that there is no really level hole, and that the sporting lie of the land requires greater resource and accuracy, and generally more strokes, than would the same length on a flat "park" Course.
The up-keep is in the hands of a professionaland three groundsmen, a liberal "pretty" is kept thoroughly well mown, the Greens are of good size and in good order. A number of the Greens have been levelled, whilst others follow the contour of the...
land and require clever putting, but in no case are they so difficult as to make skill and sound judgment the plaything of chance. The membership numbers 280, and includes 80 ladies. The Ladies' Club is affiliatedto the Ladies' Golf Union
The Entrance Fee is One Guinea, the Subscription for Men £1 11s. 6d., and for Ladies £1 1s. 0d. Juniors and non-resident Members pay easier rates.
The Professional, John Shiells, is a native of Dirleton, and came to Kendal in May, 1907, after gaining experience at Silloth and Maryport. He is a sound player, a particularly patient and successful coach for beginners, and also has the useful faculty of seeing at once why a more experienced player is "off" a certain club or stroke.
The Club has not as yet produced any eminent players, but three or four members are on a plus mark. The youngest of these, Mr. Wilfred Reed (not of Banstead), when sixteen years of age played a beautiful 67, the Course being at the time not quite at full stretch. Shiells, the Professional, has done 68 several times from the Medal Tees.
Numerous Competitions are played each year, the season usually beginning with the Braithwaite Challenge Cup on Easter Monday. 36 hole scores play. The Trophy was presented by Mr. Cecil Braithwaite, of London, a member of an old Kendal family and a past President of the Club. During the Summer a Knock-out Handicap Tournament is played for prizes given by the President: this invariably produces a good entry, and excites great interest.
The Captain’s Prize (Handicap) and the Club Scratch Prize are played for in one competition of 36 holes score play. The recent winners of the Scratch Prize are:—
1907 and ’08, John Hall; 1909, Thomas Haslam; 1910 and ’11, Wilfred Reed. In the Autumn the Bagot Medal is decided by One Round against Bogey. This Medal has been given for many years by Col. J. F. Bagot, of Levens Hall, M.P. for South Westmorland. In addition there is the usual Monthly Medal and a Mixed Foursome Tournament, and the Ladies have the Edmondson Cup and other Competitions.
The Club also holds an Annual Open Meeting on the first Monday and Tuesday in August. Two large Challenge Trophies and a number of valuable prizes are competed for in the different events. The Corporation of Kendal has presented a large Silver Bowl to be played for at this Meetings, and another Silver Bowl of antique design, called the "Kirkbie Kendall Bowl," is the principal prize for the second day. The events are always well contested, and the Meeting is generally felt to be thoroughly enjoyable. The winners of the Scratch Prize at the Open Meetings have been:—
1908, Edward Farrer; 1909, ’10 and ’11, C. F. Pennington.
The recently formed Union of Cumberland and Westmorland Golf Clubs held its first meeting at Silloth in 1910, and the second at Kendal during the hottest week of Summer of 1911. On both occasions Kendal won both the Individual and Club Championship. Mr. C. F. Pennington winner at Silloth and Mr. Wilfred Reed at Kendal in the single event.
At the close of the Meeting at Kendal a County Match was played. Cumberland and Westmorland in Lancashire. The latter proved too strong for its weaker neighbours, but the above move-named Kendal players all won their matches. From these results it will be seen that the Kendal Club is taking an active and successful part in North-Western Golf!
A number of the big Professionals, including H. and T. Vardon, J. H. Taylor. A. Herd and Ben Sayers, have played at Kendal, but not since the Course has been extended, consequently their scores are not now of interest. The last occasion was in 1906, when Harry Vardon and Sandy Herd played an exhibition match. The day, unfortunately, proved very wet. and Vardon played the second round, and played very well, too, in an overcoat.
Visitors are always welcome at the Kendal Club. and Officials will gladly endeavour to provide matches for the solitary off-comer. The Club House is not palatial. nor is a chef employed, but it is quite adequately comfortable and there is a resident Stewardess whose cooking is not to be despised by the hungry golfer. Visitors need not fear that they will depart hungry, thirsty or overcharged. The Professional has a shop on the premises and is always available for playing or teaching. Caddie fees are: First Class 10d. Second Class 7d.
There is no Sunday play. This question was fully discussed a few years ago at the Annual Business Meeting of the Club, when the decision was adverse, and has not been raised again. The feeling amongst a great many of the members is that business hours in Kendal not being very exacting, most of the players are known to get as much golf as they desire during the week, and the fact that the Course is very near to the town and is a favourite Sunday walk of the inhabitants with also considerable influence.
The Ladies' Club is a Section and not a separate, formal organisation, but they have their own Captain, Committee and Secretary. Miss Maud Brun was elected first Hon. Sec. in 1906 and still holds position.
1907 Mrs. J. W. Baron.
1908 Mrs. E. B. Hargreaves.
1909 Miss T. Wilson Wilson.
1910 Miss R. Pennington.
1911 Mrs. P. P. Manning.
1912 Mrs. E. S. Catlow.
KENDAL PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WESTMORLAND COLLECTION.
No. 1320
CLASS #42 (796.352)
Presented by: ___________________
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Phone
Locations
The Heights,
High Tenterfell,
Kendal
LA9 4PQ
