Course
The City of Nottingham's purchase of Wollaton Hall and Park from Lord Middleton of the Willoughby family was completed on 18th May 1925, at which time Lord Middleton also offered the deer on the park to the city as a gift. The coal-mining Willoughby family had been landowners in the Wollaton area from the 13th century and built the present hall in the late 16th century. Wollaton Hall is a spectacular Tudor building, designed by Robert Smythson and completed in 1588, it is now the home to the city's Natural History Museum.
Wollaton Hall
The first mention of a golf course was at a meeting of the Nottingham City Council's Wollaton sub-committee on 7th May 1925 when it was reported that Tom Williamson, the Notts. Golf Club professional, would be engaged for the sum of 5 guineas to submit a feasibility report on creating a golf course in the park.
Tom, a golf professional, green keeper and club maker from 1896 until his death in 1950, claimed to have worked on all but one of the golf courses within a fifty mile radius of Nottingham and had designed neighbouring Beeston Fields golf course which had opened in 1925. His report was read out by the Town Clerk at a meeting on 4th June 1925 after which the committee proceeded to Wollaton Park for an inspection.
Authority was given by the council on 18th August 1925 for the laying of the golf course on just under 200 acres of Wollaton Park, construction work started in the winter of 1925 and was to take exactly eighteen months to complete. Tom Williamson was paid 150 guineas for supervising the project. The course takes up 140 acres of the 516 acre park.
Club
As the course neared completion the Wollaton sub-committee met with the specific intention of forming a club with the draft rules being submitted to the council on 26th April 1927.
At this time there were 108 names on the Club's original membership list "including many civic dignitaries and businessmen of Nottingham". The entrance fee was set at 3 guineas for men and 2 guineas for ladies with annual subscriptions set at 6 guineas for men and 3.5 guineas for ladies. Green fees were set at 2s. 6p. (12.5p) per day but 5s. 0p. (25p) on Saturdays.
Today, we have a membership consisting of people from quite diverse and varied backgrounds, with some 600+ men, 100+ ladies, juniors and social members. The club enjoys a lively and competitive atmosphere with members playing at a high level in local and regional events.
Tom Williamson, John Henry Taylor, Harry Vardon & E. R. Whitcombe at the opening of the Club on 5th May 1927
E. R. Whitcombe, Harry Vardon and John Henry Taylor all putting at the opening of the Club
Within two weeks the membership list had risen to over 200 although at this time no play was allowed on Sundays by the Council. The official opening took place on 5th May 1927 with an exhibition match involving Harry Vardon (6 times Open Champion), Ernest Whitcombe (English International), Tom Williamson and John Henry Taylor (5 times Open Champion) who stated at the luncheon "You have one of the finest courses in the country, one that will challenge comparison with the best".
The first Captain was Mr. D. McCraith and the first Ladies Captain was Mrs. H. Barnsdale. Mr. A. S. Speak had the distinction of becoming the first golfer to have a hole-in-one on the new course at the 160 yard 13th hole.
Harry Vardon (left) and John Henry Taylor who together with James Braid (5 times Open Champion) formed "The Great Triumvirate"
Wollaton Park Golf Club has evolved and grown over the decades to become one of the true gems of golf in the East Midlands. It is now high on the list of "must play" courses in the region offering all the facilities you would expect of a premier golf club.
You will be assured of a very warm welcome when you visit and a golfing experience to treasure. The course is in a beautiful deer park with the impressive Wollaton Hall set on high overlooking parkland and lake.
The above includes extracts from the book "Wollaton Park Golf Club" by Allen Gofton, copies of which are available from the Club Secretary)