“Oh, give me Kendal town and Fells,
The dothering grass and blown blue-bells.”
Definitions of Golf.
Hitting a ball in the morning and looking for it all the rest of the day.
The idle man’s business, the busy man’s idleness.
A combination of contemplation, excavation, and exclamation.
A pursuit in which the ball usually lies badly and the player well.
Now-a-days, no holiday resort of any pretensions can afford to be without its Golf Links, and Kendal is to the fore in this respect. It is one of the principal recreations which the visitor to the grey old town may enjoy, not only in the summer months but throughout the winter.
The links are undoubtedly an acquisition to Kendal and attract many visitors. Few towns can boast of a better course at such a short distance from the centre of the town.
The 18 Hole Course, with capital lies, greens, and bunkers, of the Kendal Golf Club, is situated on The Heights to the west of the town, 10 minutes’ walk from the Town Hall.
The course runs in a measure somewhat parallel to the main street of the town; the north-west, the centre and the south-west of the town are almost equally distant from the Club House.
There are two Club Houses, one for ladies and the other for gentlemen, both very commodious and comfortable, with a resident Stewardess from whom lunches and teas can always be obtained at moderate charges. The Professional, John Shiells, who is an excellent coach, has his Club Shop on the premises, and he supplies every requisite for the game. All particulars as to terms may be obtained from him.
As to the course itself, it commences between the two Serpentine Woods, and from here it turns northwards to the top of Helsfell Nab, and then, turning round by the west, comes south to the top of Kendal Fell Quarries, near Boundary Bank, and along the north side of the further wood.
Not the least of the charms is the picturesque approach to the links through the Serpentine Walks on the summit of Kendal Fell, the unconventionality of everything, the winding paths running amid trees allowed to grow where and how they please, form a wild, sylvan and almost ideal access to the Links, and always charm those who have not been there before. The Club’s Course is close to the back of this wood, and occupies a lofty, breeze-swept plateau commanding the most magnificent views, including a wide range of the Lake Mountains. The very keenest of match players could hardly go round the Kendal Course without commenting on the series of lovely views which are unfolded as the game progresses.
From the Club House verandah the spectator looks down upon the lower part of the Kent Valley, with Arnside Knott, the Fairy Steps and Morecambe Bay in the distance. The early holes command all the upper valley, including Staveley, Burneside, and 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, round to the summits of the Yorkshire Pennines in the east. No finer range of mountain summits is to be seen in England.
The course has been much improved lately and undergone considerable alterations, the surface and texture of the greens have had great care bestowed upon them, and compare very favourably with many seaside links, in fact, among inland links they are remarkable for the fineness of the turf and the good lies players obtain. Heavy rains affect the links but little, thanks to the porous nature of the subsoil, and few courses in the kingdom are kept in better condition. Between the greens the grass is cut with a horse mower.
Three of the holes are 400 and odd yards long and the others of proportionate length.
Most of the holes are of a decidedly sporting character, and the players who do not keep straight are often in trouble.
Some of the greens have been artificially levelled, but the majority follow the contour of the ground, though none of the latter are on unfair slopes, intelligent putting being consequently well rewarded.
The total length of the course is about 5,000 yards, and is of an extremely diversified character. There are no two holes alike.
Bogey is 76, and is not easy to beat.
The Old Tenth Tee. Mr D Johnson Driving Off
The Club is formed on by means of an annual subscription by the members, and is managed by a committee consisting of the Captain, the Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Treasurer, and ten members of the Club.Matters of detail, concerning the Ladies' Section, are arranged by a Ladies' Committee throughout.The general meeting of the Club, for passing accounts, electing officers, and other business, is held annually in the early part of the year.
The Election of Members is in the hands of the Committee, and the candidate for membership must be proposed by a member of the Club.
Lady Members are entitled to the full privileges of membership.
Visitors are allowed to use the Links and Club House on payment of the following fees:—
Members are entitled to introduce a visitor free of payment for two days only in one year. The name of the visitor must be entered in the Visitors' Book and the entry signed and dated by the introducing member.
All caddies must be engaged through the Professional, and the fees paid to him.
1st Class ... 10d. per round.
2nd Class ... 7d. per round.
Visiting golfers can always count upon a most cordial welcome.Conveyances at the Station meet all trains. It takes about half an hour to walk to the Links from the Station.
Mr. H. W. Baron
Mr. Bower
Competitions
Competitions are fixed and managed by a Committee, and notice of any competition is posted up in the Club Room. There is an Annual Open Amateur Meeting held in August: the first day the Kendal Corporation Challenge Bowl and special prizes, to the value of £3 3s., £2 2s., and 21s, are competed. for.
The second day The Kendal Advancement Challenge Bowl which carries with it a Prize to the value of £2 25. given by the Mayor of Kendal; other competitions are for
Captain's Medal;
The Club Scratch Medal;
Captain Bagot's Medal:
Braithwaite Challenge Cup
(presented by Cecil Braithwaite, President, 1902)
The Monthly Medal;
Mrs. Edmondson's Cup;
Captain's Medal for Ladies.
The Braithwaite Challenge Cup has been won by the following
1903. Geo. Garnett.
1904. Raven Cozens-Hardy.
1905. Joseph G. Walker.
1906. John Armstrong.
1907. Stanley Simpson.
1908. Thomas R. Dawson.
1909. Wilfred Reed.
1910. Chas. F. Pennington.
1911. H. W. Baron.
1912. Wilfred Reed.
Winners of the Corporation Challenge Bowl
1908. E. Farrer.
1909 .J. P. Jackson Lancaster.
1910. Chas. Handley.
1911. E. S. Winder.
1912. P. Leighton Lancaster.
Winners of the Kendal Town Advancement Challenge Bowl
1908. J. S. Winder.
1909.W. Fisher.
1910. W. Sessions.
1911. C. Handley.
1912. E. Inglis Hall.
Winners of The Captain's Medal
1902. J. Y. Grant.
1903. E. Farrer.
1904. J . G. Walker.
1905. J. K. Watson.
1906. J. K. Watson.
1907. W. G. Dawson.
1908. H. Hine.
1909. T. Haslam.
1910. T. Haslam.
1911. H. Parker.
1912. J. D. Blackburn.
Winners of Captain Bagot's Medal
1901. S. Turner.
1902. T. Leighton.
1903. C. F. Pennington.
1904. E. B. Hargreaves.
1905. E. S. Winder.
A CADDIES' TEA.
1906. H. W. Baron.
1907. J. D. Blackburn.
1908. M. T. Reed.
1909. C. J. R. Tipper.
1910. H. Hine.
1911. E. S. Winder.
Winners of Mrs. Edmondson's Cup
1906. Miss Mary Littlewood.
1907. Mrs. Charles Middleton.
1908. Miss Dorothy Sturridge.
1909. Miss Millicent Brunskill.
1910. Miss Millicent Brunskill.
1911. Miss Dorothy Jordon.
Winners of the Captain's Medal for Ladies
1907. Miss Millicent Brunskill.
1908. Miss Wilson Wilson.
1909. Miss Maud Brunskill.
1910. Miss Britton.
There is no Sunday play on the Kendal Links.
Dogs are not allowed on the Links under a fine of 2s. 6d.
The Club House is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on week days
ITEMS OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THE CLUB.
In 1906 an Exhibition Match, between H. Vardon and Herd, was held. T. Vardon, J. H. Taylor, and Ben Sayers have also played at Kendal. In 1909 Miss Cecil Leitch and Mrs. Miller played over the course to fix the Par of the Course for the Ladies' Golf Union, which the Kendal ladies have joined. The Kendal Golf Club are the holders of the Club Championship Shield for Cumberland and Westmorland. They have been victorious for three years in succession. To encourage golfing visitors, the Kendal Advancement Committee have given a trophy to the Golf Club to be played for yearly.
"The Cumberland and Westmorland Union held their meeting at Kendal in the summer of 1911.
The Ladies first open Meeting was held in 1912. A gratifying feature was the number of strangers who entered.
Mr. Wilfred Reed appointed private golf tutor with H. H. The Thakore Sahib of Limbdi, a native Prince of India and cousin to the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar—otherwise Ranji. Mr. Reed who is only in his nineteenth year won the local championship in 1911, and broke all records for the Kendal Course by going round in 67."
"AT HOME" ON THE LINKS.
LIST OF PRESIDENTS.
1900, 1. G. E. Moser.
1902, 3, 4, 5. Cecil Braithwaite.
1906, 7, 8. C. J. Cropper.
1909, 10, 11, 12. Col. Weston.
"CAPTAINS."
1899 - 1900. G. E. Moser.
1901 - 2. R. O. Pennington.
1902-3. H. W. Baron.
1904. Dr. W. R. Parker.
1905. Henry Hoggarth.
1906. E. Farrer.
1907. F. B. Pollitt.
1908. John Hall.
1909. J. D. Blackburn.
1910 - 11. Charles Middleton.
1912. D. McNeill.
CAPTAINS OF THE LADIES' CLUB.
1907. Mrs. H. W. Baron.
1908. Mrs. E. B. Hargreaves.
1909. Miss T. Wilson-Wilson.
1910. Miss R. Pennington.
1911. Mrs. Manning.
1912. Mrs. Catlow.
The Kendal Club would be wise if they would advertise their Links a little more. Kendal Links have not been boomed as they deserve, but they are quite worthy of that honour, and with the advantage of good hotel accommodation the course might become one of the most popular in the kingdom. Other districts have been made popular by the game of Golf and why not Kendal.
"The Golfer arises, baths, dresses, swings a club round a few times while waiting for the breakfast dishes to arrive, in token of his hopeless abandonment to the game, pretends to putt on the hearthrug, and in due course departs by motor car or rail for the scene of his golf. He plays in the morning, talks of it during his lunch, plays again in the afternoon, talks of it again at tea and during the journey home, dines, and then is too tired to do anything but sit in a chair by the fire or out on the lawn if it is summer time. Then unable to converse on any other subject save the way that he was driving and putting that very day, and being a nuisance and a bore to every one, he slinks off to bed at 10 o'clock in order that he may be fresh in the morning for another day's golf."
—Henry Leach.
This life is but a game of golf,
Where each of us is driven off;
And after being knocked about,
We finish up by holing out.
Phone
Locations
The Heights,
High Tenterfell,
Kendal
LA9 4PQ
