Cardiff Golf Club 100
History of Cardiff Golf Club 1921 – 1939 (pre- World War II)
1920 – 1925:-
1. Post World War 1 – This was an era of new beginnings and new freedoms for the UK population. While golf was becoming an established sport in other parts of Britain there was a paucity of opportunity to play golf in South Wales.
2. Two enterprising young men had a vision for a new Golf course in North Cardiff to avoid their difficult journey to play at the Leys Course near Barry to which they had to cycle in order to have a round of golf.
3. This vision of Mr Reuben J Pugsley and Mr Trevor Williams was to be the precursor for what was to become Cardiff Golf Club as we know it today. They were not alone in this vision and were joined by other men of vision and determination to create a new Course at its present site.
4. 24th May 1921 - Following their advertisement in the Western Mail which was largely funded by Mr Robert Webber, on 24th May a meeting was convened at St Margaret’s Church Waterloo Gardens Cardiff for all those interested in the project and willing to support the creation of a new golf club and course. The meeting was chaired by the convenor Mr R J Pugsley and attracted the interest of over 500 persons expressing an interest to join a new Golf club and the project became reality. A Mr Trevor Williams was appointed secretary and an initial committee was formed to take the project forward. Before long there was a proposed membership list of 650 names of both sexes.
5. Realistically a site of approximately 100 acres was required within a reasonable distance of Cardiff. Several sites were considered but one site was identified and preferred over the others for both financial and other restrictions affecting the other parcels of land and this was the farm and land known as Ty To Maen Farm which was in the area of land now known as Pentwyn. The adjoining areas of Cyncoed and Penylan were still largely farm and agricultural land. When the plans for this new golf course were being made it was originally referred to as Penylan Golf Course but this proposal was ultimately scratched in favour of the name Cardiff Golf Club.
6. The land at Ty To Maen farm was approximately 93 acres and was owned by Mr Ewan G Davies who was a successful Cardiff solicitor and a shrewd businessman and landowner in South Wales and elsewhere. Mr Davies was in favour of and supported the project from the outset. This started his close association with the Club such that he became a founding member, subsequently a Club Captain in 1930 and eventually the President of Cardiff golf Club over an extended period of 19 years from 1960.
7. The Club committee entered into negotiations which resulted in the agreement for the grant of a lease of the farm to the club with the option to renew to provide the club with security of tenure for at least 21 years.
8. Access to the course was through the entrance near the current 14th green which was not ideal. The Committee explored the possibility of acquiring a new access across the land lying between the main highway of Cyncoed Road and the boundary line of Ty To Maen farm which was leased to the Club. This is the strip of land, now known as Sherborne Avenue, and which extended on either side to a width embracing the current Avenue and the houses and gardens on either side making a total area of approximately 10 acres. This strip was in the ownership of another landowner Mr Wyndham Clarke and was still agricultural farm land. The Committee successfully negotiated to purchase the freehold (as opposed to a Lease) of the strip of land on reasonable terms. The deal was conditional and put an obligation upon the Club to build a road on the strip of land to link the golf club/course to Cyncoed Road, if called upon to do so by the Vendor. Following further discussions and negotiations with Mr Ewan Davies who had visions of development, it subsequently transpired that in 1925 this same strip of land was sold by the club to Mr Ewan Davies for proposed development but the sale was conditional upon the said road being built by the purchaser (Mr Davies) with a right of way to the Club to provide its main access. (See below).
9. 23rd November 1921 - After having secured the Agreement for a Lease of the farm to provide a golf course and having agreed to the purchase of the land providing an access way to the Cyncoed Road, a Committee meeting of the original promoters was held on this day to pass a resolution that a Golf Club be formed subject only to the ratification and agreement of the intending members at the first General Meeting of the Club. The circular of the first General Meeting also prescribed an Entrance fee of 3 guineas for gentlemen and ladies but when the meeting was held it was agreed that the gentlemen would pay 4 guineas and the ladies 3 guineas for the first year.
10.At this same first General Meeting it was also agreed that the proposed layout of the golf course would be placed in the hands of the reputable and respected golf professional Mr Robert Walker who was also appointed as the Clubs first professional and a subcommittee was formed from the main committee to assist in the design of the course. Initially the course would comprise nine holes. The Club was to own the strip of land linking the course to Cyncoed Road, so that the first tee was initially situated on the junction of Sherborne Avenue and Cyncoed Road on the plot now occupied by the Co-Op Supermarket (formerly Yapps Garage and latterly Spa Supermarket). The first hole ran in line with Sherborne Avenue to the 1st green situated near the current 18th green.
11.6th May 1922 – The Formal opening of the new golf course took place in fine weather and blue skies, presided over by the President Mr Wyndham Clark. Buses were laid on from the Penylan Tram Terminus to transport people to the course for the occasion. The President drove the first ball and the exhibition players namely A H Symonds (Royal Porthcawl) and John Duncan (Glamorganshire) played an exhibition match with the Captain and other committee members over the nine hole course (only nine holes had been completed at this point in time) to an enthusiastic audience. In the evening a complimentary banquet laid on by the President was held in the Park Hotel Cardiff for the Committee, members and guests to celebrate the achievement. The occasion was marked by much press publicity and created much public awareness of the new golf course facility in Cardiff. The Club Professional Robert walker was in much demand for golf lessons at the new Club as its popularity grew. He was highly regarded as both golf professional and course manager which became evident from the success and popularity of the new club and course. From this date the course became playable to members and guests and the then Secretary Mr Trevor M Williams made arrangements for buses to run to the course on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Over time and under the guidance of Robert Walker the nine hole course gradually became an 18 hole course thanks to the diligent work of Mr Walker and his greens staff. There are press cuttings lauding praises upon the achievements at Cardiff golf Club and the course.
12.1922 - There were over 60 ladies in attendance at the first general meeting and the Ladies Section was formed from the outset. Help and advice was provided by Mrs Franklin Thomas and Mrs Watts Thomas who were members from the Radyr Golf Club. The first Lady Captain Mrs H G Kemp was unanimously appointed along with other members of the committee of the Ladies Section.
13.30th December 1922 - The purchase of the access land from Wyndham Clark was completed and the freehold land linking the course to Cyncoed Road became vested in the trustees of the club for a price of £600 and conditional upon the Trustees constructing a road which is now Sherborne Avenue.
14.1923 - The original Clubhouse was sited in an area at the end of the freehold strip of land acquired by the club from Mr Wyndham Clark where it joined the course boundary and the area was large enough to house a clubhouse and car park. The building was designed by Messrs Wilmott and Smith and was to be adapted so as to become a pair of semi-detached houses which could be sold off in the event that the new Golf Club was not successful. Fortunately this back-stop was never required. This Clubhouse remained in situ until 1997/98 when the current Clubhouse was built on the same site but immediately in front of the original building.
15.16th December 1925 - The same strip of freehold land purchased from Mr Wyndham Clark, referred to in paragraph 8 above, was sold by the Club to Mr Ewan Davies for the sum of £507.00 for his planned development. The sale was subject to the same condition that Mr Davies should take over the obligation to develop a road and preserved a right of way to the golf club/course over that strip, thereby providing the much needed access to the Club from Cyncoed Road over what is now Sherborne Avenue. The deed of sale to Mr Davies also excluded the area of land at the end of the strip where the new clubhouse was sited which remained in the freehold ownership of the Club.
16.The original Agreement for a Lease of Ty To Maen farm and buildings (which are now the green-keeper buildings situated adjacent to the current 4th tee), was eventually dated 14/02/1924 followed by the final Lease of the farm and buildings from Mr Davies to the first Trustees of the Club and the lease was effectively for a term of 21 years with 7 yearly rent reviews from 25/12/ 1921. The available minutes of Club meetings and correspondence files show that there were various discussions and negotiations between the Club committee and Mr Davies and others to vary the terms of the lease or to try and acquire small parcels of land around the course with a view to enhancing and increasing the size of the course where it was felt needed but essentially the course did not alter to any significant degree as evidenced by the available title deeds save only as herein mentioned. The Lease was extended for a final time in 1943 and the lease term was due to end on 24/12/1953. The course had not materially changed significantly at the time of this renewed Lease in 1943. However following further negotiations and with the aid of a mortgage the Club purchased the freehold of the land
comprising the course and buildings from Mr Ewan Davies on 19/06/1947 for a sum of £18,050.00
17.The plan hereto is a plan of the course circa 1921-25 and shows the boundary prior to the sale of the strip of land referred to in paragraphs 8 and 10 above which is shown coloured blue. (Ie. The strip of land forming the access road linking Cyncoed Road to the golf course and later comprising Sherborne Avenue and the houses and gardens on either side
18.As stated above, the layout and boundaries of the course did not alter to any significant extent in the period from the leasehold acquisition of Ty To Maen farm and buildings in December 1921 to the outbreak of war in 1939. The most significant alteration was the sale of the said strip of land in 1925 and referred to in paragraphs 8 and 10 hereto which forced the removal of the original first hole in its entirety and brought about a redesign of the course which closely resembles the layout as it is today. The other significant change is the likely transaction referred to in paragraph 19 below. Forced changes occurred due to the war such as removal of all bunkers to prevent identification by enemy bombers and poles inserted in the fairways to prevent hostile landings by gliders and parachutists. Landmines were placed in the ground and of course they afforded a free drop if they interfered with play. Various holes were cultivated and grazed to provide food stocks for the war effort. The Clubhouse also provided accommodation for the local Home Guard HQ.
19.1933 – There is a plan within the documents endorsed with the date of 05/08/1933 showing an area of land skirting the west/north west boundary to the course and which then veers right and follows the inside line of Ty Draw (now referred to as Gwern Rhuddi Road) which now forms the north-west boundary to the course along the current 14th fairway. This is a substantial T-shaped area of land bounded now by the hedge bordering the current practice ground and 17th fairway and then running at right angles down the left side of the 14th fairway. There is no supporting deed to tie into this plan which is endorsed with the words “Copy for Mr Ewan Davies – 5th August 1933”. While there is no deed available to evidence the exact nature of the transaction it may be likely there is a missing deed which relates to the acquisition of this area of land by the Club presumably from Mr Davies in or about 1933 because the area of land falls within the course boundaries as we know them today.
20.The course lay-out was not significantly changed over the years since 1925and remained similar to the current course layout but some changes were made in the post 1945 years such as the lengthening of the 3rd and 6th holes as well as changes to the 15th and 16th holes. These were changes within the existing boundaries of the course rather than changes made possible due to further land acquisition.
21.1925 - 1930’s – The correspondence files, minutes, available title deeds and documents and plans for this period are not complete but there is much evidence to show that there were many negotiations and discussions between the Club officers and their legal and property advisers with others such as Mr Ewan Davies concerning the acquisition of other small parcels of land adjoining but outside the boundary to the course but did not significantly add or alter the course layout. Mr Davies also owned other lands including the adjoining Coed y Gloria farm, which was sited adjacent and to the south of Ty To Maen farm, but despite attempts by the Club to acquire other parcels of land adjoining the course they were largely unsuccessful so that the golf course remained limited to the farm area acquired under the original Lease plus the land referred to in paragraph 19 above.
22.27th July 1939 - This is one such transaction that can be identified. The Club sold a small piece of land on the east side of the area now comprising the clubhouse carpark to Mr Davies in consideration for the release of certain covenants affecting the same parcel of land and some land in the Clubs freehold ownership.
23.5th November 1969 – There are deeds to show another transaction where the Club acquired plots of land on Gwern Rhuddi Road adjoining the west boundary of the course (The boundary running along the current 14th hole) and thereby extending the boundary outwards but only by a small measure.
In recent decades parcels of land owned by the course but not used as part of the golf course have been sold off as being superfluous to our golfing requirements but providing much needed capital towards future expenditure such as the development of the new Clubhouse started in 1996. One such parcel of land was the triangular area of land in the North West corner of our course beyond the entrance at the fifteenth tee and which was sold to provide necessary highway access to the Corpus Christie Comprehensive School development. The golf course boundary has largely remained the same since 1925.