LBGC Centenary Book - Flipbook - Page 17
Langland Centenary Book
15/2/05
6:08 pm
Page 17
“I am afraid that unless the desired support is given, there will be no
alternative to winding up the Club. May I therefore appeal to you as
a “sport” to be good enough to respond favourably and so enable
the Club to continue.”
At this period a new cup appears on the golfing scene, the
“Founders Cup”. It was purchased by subscriptions from those
Founder Members who were members in 1914, and the
minutes of that time record the collection of monies. What
had happened to the money collected eleven years earlier, and
only now put to use? The cup was not, however, favourably
received as it was first presented for a putting competition!
Subsequently it was re-engraved and is now one of our major
trophies, being played for, as a medal foursomes for men.
Despite the financial position-or perhaps because of it - a
considerable number of members were agitating for the course
to be extended to eighteen holes. By this time, of course, Clyne
Golf Club had been formed and was operating an eighteen hole
course and fewer new members were joining Langland. A subcommittee was appointed to consider the matter and
eventually prepared a report together with a proposed lay-out
designed by the Professional,W.H. Hill.This proposed new
course was to be 4208 yards in length, with a bogey of 67 and
the scratch score 63.There were to be seven “one shot” holes,
presumably what we would now term as “par 3 holes”.
A special meeting was called at the Victoria Hall, Mumbles,
there being no room at the Clubhouse large enough for the
expected number of members who would attend to discuss
this contentious matter, and on 5th October 1926, some 70
members were present and voted in favour of extending the
course from its present nine holes to eighteen holes, and of
forming a limited company to finance the extension.
To the very great regret of the members Mr. R.E. Gold and his
brother Mr. G.P. Gold were so strongly opposed to the scheme
that they resigned their offices.Whilst great services had been
rendered to the Club by many estimable gentlemen during
these formative years it is fair to say that these two gentlemen
were the mainstays. Mr. R.E. Gold was the first Captain of the
Club, and held that office for four consecutive years, and he
was Honorary Secretary for many years up to 1926. His
brother, who had been Chairman of the Greens Committee for
many years, ably supported him.
The name of Gold is still commemorated in the “Gold Cup”,
but it was a great shame that the Gold brothers gave up their
administrative activities. One conclusion can be drawn of R.E.
Gold, without even knowing him, and that is that he had a fine
sense of humour, and the minutes of the Club made really
funny reading. It is a sad fact that although the minutes have
always been well kept they make dry and dusty reading after
1926. All the odd remarks which pass during a Board Meeting
are coldly presented, and no longer is the Chairman of the
Greens Committee likely to be referred to as “the surveyor of
drains, ditches and divots” and no longer are the minutes of
the AGM likely to end: “a vote of censure was passed on the
Secretary’s Petrolite lamp which ceased, thus terminating the
meeting abruptly”. Mark you, this latter minute was dated prior
to 1921, when gas had been laid on to the Club for lighting.
At the end of 1926, a new lease for 21 years was signed for the
proposed new company at a rental of £400 per annum, and the
Greens Committee was authorised to proceed with the laying
out of the new eighteen hole course. Mr. Crawford Heron was
appointed to supervise this work. A further lease for additional
cliff-lands was obtained from the Duke of Beaufort’s agent, and
it was decided that donations to a fund for improvements
should be sought, such donations to be convertible to shares in
the new company.
In January 1927 the Committee was informed by the Honorary
Solicitor, Mr. C.W. Slater, that the new Company,The Langland
Bay Golf Club, had been formed and duly registered, so the
first phase of the Club’s existence was over.
Clubhouse 1900
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