The Wimborne Years 1909 - 1927

Articles in the Hertitage section of the website were originally published in the 'No Better Place' book, a celebration of Parkstone's Centenary in 2009. 'No Better Place' was shortlisted for the USGA golf book of the year.

The Beginning

Parkstone was founded by Lord Wimborne in 1909. He was the head of the Guest family who in the 18th century created and managed the iron works in Merthyr Tydfil and acquired vast wealth in the process. The business developed into the international conglomerate that became Guest Keen Nettleford (GKN). After withdrawing from management of the ironworks the Guests moved to Wimborne in 1846  after acquiring the Canford Estate, which stretched from Wimborne to the sea by Poole Harbour, where Lord Wimborne decided to build Parkstone.

The land on which the new course was to be built extended from what is now Alton Road East down the centre and east side of the Luscombe Valley to Poole Harbour. Lord Wimborne added to this by acquiring the former Parkstone Reservoirs, which had been constructed in the 1890s and not used after the Poole Water Company closed down in 1906. Without a requirement to obtain anything as bothersome as planning permission, design and construction of the Course and Clubhouse went ahead.

The pumphouse, which was to become the greenkeepers’ store and workshop, and adjacent cottages were not included in the original purchase. They were subsequently obtained in exchange for the Ladies’ Walking Field on Wimborne’s land in Poole, which, many years later, became the site of the Arndale Centre.

The heavily wooded land was surveyed and the boundaries set by Herbert Kendall. A local architect, Walter Andrew, designed the Clubhouse, which was built for £2,500. Whereas the harbour end of the Course or the commanding eastern heights would have been more attractive sites, the Clubhouse was built opposite the end of St Osmunds Road, the nearest point to the tram route and also to Parkstone railway station – important considerations in those days when private car ownership was only for the wealthy.

Willie Park Jnr, twice Open Champion, was commissioned to design the Course. Construction by an army of up to 300 men started in June 1909 and was completed in only five months for a cost of £8,660 and declared fit for play after eleven months. A single greenkeeper, Charlie Hope from Fleet, was appointed; he doubled up as the club steward. The number of greenkeepers was increased in due course, in particular by Frank Gillett, who joined in 1919 and stayed for 48 years until his retirement in 1967.

Lord Wimborne set up the first committee with himself as President and his third son, Captain The Hon F.E. Guest as Chairman and Captain, plus five others. The initial membership of 100 men and 30 ladies was nominated by the committee, each member being entitled to nominate one other.

The membership list was closed on 1 January 1910, after which the subscription was increased from 2 to 3 guineas, the entrance fee being 2 guineas. At the end of 1911 there were 263 members with 179 men including 80 originals and, perhaps surprisingly, 84 lady members, most of whom do not appear to have been related to the male members. A year later 45 members had resigned or otherwise departed, being replaced by 66 new ones, a considerably higher turnover than has taken place in recent years. What has not changed is the high number with very local addresses. Apart from the occasional peripatetic Army officer, Mr F.W. Beckford of Beckford Bowl fame from Broadstone and a half dozen from London and elsewhere, almost all members lived close by the Club.

Play started in May 1910 and has continued without interruption since then. However, the opening ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, 7 June with an exhibition match involving John Henry Taylor and James Braid was first postponed until later in the year and then cancelled for unknown reasons. It may have been due to heavy competition from other events, such as a visit of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, the death of Edward VII and the coronation of George V or some local aeroplane races and demonstrations, in one of which C.S. Rolls of Rolls Royce was killed.

The first reported match took place later in 1910 between the Club and Bournemouth Golf Club from Meyrick Park, the visitors winning 10 – 2. In 1912 the western section of the PGA held the qualifying round for the News of the World Tournament at Parkstone. The winner had a name that was to become pre-eminent in Parkstone’s history – Whitcombe, but on this occasion it was Ernest, the eldest of the three Somerset brothers, all of whom were destined to become outstanding tournament professionals.