Exeter Golf and Country Club
 Golf Club and House | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
  Exeter Golf and Country Club | |
| Coordinates | 50°42′04″N 3°29′09″W / 50.7009848°N 3.4857244°W |
| Location | Exeter, England |
| Established | April 1895, 129 years ago |
| Type | private |
| Website | http://www.exetergcc.co.uk |
Exeter Golf and Country Club is a golf club in Exeter, England.
Designed by golfer James Braid in 1895, it is an 18-hole parkland course stretching 6023 yards and with sixty bunkers, including a grass driving range, large putting green and short game practice area. Today, it has over 4,500 members.[1]
History[edit]
Exeter Golf and Country Club was founded in April 1895[2] on the outskirts of Exeter city in Pennsylvania, with the first annual meeting held on 4 October.[3] During their first meeting, it was announced that 40 people had been elected as members of the club, in addition to its founding members, comprising several local men who had an interest in the sport. Several ladies also expressed an interest to apply for admission, although none had been admitted by the time of the meeting and it was deemed necessary to prepare a women's only course before considering their admission. The club obtained ground known as Stoke Wood Farm with favourable letting arrangements.[2] On their first anniversary in April 1896, a club house was formally opened and on the same day, the club's first match was played with Seaton, which Exeter won by 17 points.[4]
During its third annual meeting held in October 1897, membership numbers were reported to be 96, while just one match had been played during the year, which the club won. The accounts showed a balance of over £110. The committee authorised expenditure of £40 to finance a mowing machine and a horse.[5]
In 1919, Captain George Henry James Duckworth-King sold the estate; in 1927, the Wear Park estate, which was once owned by Henry III, was purchased to accommodate a new course.[citation needed] In October 1928, the club formally transferred from Pennsylvania to their new course at Countess Wear, around a year after the Wear House grounds were acquired by the club. The accompanying mansion was converted into a club house and the grounds adapted to provide an 18-hole course, as well as tennis recreations. The membership numbers deemed it necessary to move to a new ground, while it was expected the transfer would likely increase membership interest over the following months.[6]
By 1941, membership had reached 457 people, of which 312 were men, while in excess of 1,000 games had been played.[7]
Its longest-serving director to date is businessman Alan Eveleigh, who ran the club from 4 November 1992 to 29 October 2005.
Features[edit]
The modern golf course includes Wear Park Restaurant and Wear Park Spa.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ EGCC, Golf Southwest
- ^ a b "Exeter Golf Club: Minutes of Meeting". Devon and Exeter Gazette. 7 October 1895. p. 4.
- ^ "The Exeter Golf Club: The First Annual Meeting". The Western Times. 4 October 1895. p. 4.
- ^ "Opening of the Club House, Today". Exeter Flying Post. 11 April 1896. p. 8.
- ^ "Exeter Golf Club: Annual Meeting 1897". Exeter Flying Post. 29 October 1897. p. 8.
- ^ "Exeter Golf Club's New Course". Western Morning News. 15 October 1928. p. 5.
- ^ "Playground of the future: Exeter Golf Club's Good Year". Devon and Exeter Gazette. 19 December 1941. p. 3.
- ^ Visit Exeter, EGCC