LBGC Centenary Book - Flipbook - Page 32
Langland Centenary Book
15/2/05
6:11 pm
Page 32
During the summer of 1966 conducted tours were made of
the newly acquired land, hedges, bogs and all.This meant that
when a special meeting was called for members to consider
the two plans, they would have a good idea of the terrain and
the special meeting unanimously agreed to the plan prepared
by the sub-committee.
purchase a cup to be known as the Lee Taylor Cup.This is now
one of the major men’s competitions in the Club thus
perpetuating the memory of one of the Club’s staunchest
supporters and workers.
1st and 2nd Teams 1967
Ladies’ Welsh Team Championship Ashburnham 1966
It was obvious that, with the best will in the world, Frank Venn
at his age and in his far from perfect state of health, would be
unable to undertake the increased work entailed. As he wished
to retire from full-time employment a successor was advertised
for and in due course Jack Moore was appointed. He was to be
a considerable asset but his appointment led to some
difficulties as accommodation was required for him and his
family.This was eventually resolved by the purchase of a house
in Overland Road.
At the Annual General Meeting in 1966, it was announced that
the new course would come into play in April 1968 but that as
the Council for Physical Recreation had turned down the
Club’s application for a grant, rigid economy would have to be
practised. Oh, for the days of 1908 when four greens could be
constructed for less than £20! It was at this meeting that the
retirement of Frank Venn was announced after 42 years in
employment with the Club.Truly great service.
It was impossible to carry out the work involved with the
Club’s small greens staff. However, it was fortunate that En Tout
Cas a nationally known firm of Sports Ground Contractors
who were at that time in the area, put in a reasonable tender
for the work and were appointed contractors to commence in
the Autumn of 1966. If you think there was a long gap between
obtaining the lease and commencing the work, you are right! It
was not the fault of the Club however, as planning permission
had to be obtained for the change of usage, and for altering the
right of way. An application for a grant had been made but no
work could be started until a reply was received. By the
summer of 1967 the course was in being and members were
busy working on “stone picking parties” lifting stones from the
newly prepared ninth and tenth fairways.This was a back
breaking job but one which saved the Club some £250, despite
the free beer!
It was during this period that the Club suffered a most
grievous loss in the sudden death of Lee Taylor who had
worked so hard for the Club over a number of years. He had
been particularly active on the Greens and Handicap
committees and was also very involved in the planning of the
new course. During one of Lee’s rare absences from a Board
meeting a resolution had been passed recommending that he
be elected Vice President at the next Annual General Meeting
but alas, he died prior to the meeting.The members present at
this meeting proposed a subscription list to be opened to
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The 1967 season was notable in that both the first and second
league teams won their respective divisions in the County
League, the first time this had happened in the same year. It
was nearly achieved in 1956 but not quite, the first team losing
to Wenvoe at Wenvoe by a quarter of a point; and it was nearly
achieved again in 1972 and 1973, but 1967 remains the only
year of double team success.The then Club Captain, that
notable orator Vernon Davies, must have talked the teams
into it!
The new course opened with a competition in April 1968 and
proved to be up to the expectations of most members.True,
teeing up was still necessary on the ninth and tenth, where
stones abounded despite the efforts of the “stone picking
parties”, and the greens were still a bit bumpy.Yet it must be
remembered that these new greens were laid from turf cut
from the Club’s unused fairways and the hedge across the
twelfth fairway was proving a far fiercer hazard than
anticipated. Despite these criticisms the smell of success was in
the air.The sub-committee, and indeed the whole Club, owed a
tremendous debt to Ken Phillips for the work he carried out
supervising the contractors and our staff, walking miles every
day and marking out jobs to be done. It was said that Ken’s
constant canine companion walked so much that every time
the lead was brought out the dog bolted under the bed. Ken’s
main reaction to all problems he faced - such as cutting off the
electricity supply to Caswell when a bulldozer hit an
improperly laid cable - was “the impossible does take a
little longer”.
Ken Phillips
