History

Early Days - 1890's Although golf had been played for a year or two in a field in the St. Brannocks Park area, known as the "Great Shields", Ilfracombe Golf Club was not founded officially until Saturday October 29th 1892. The following announcement appeared in the Ilfracombe Gazette of that date:- 'It has been decided to form a Golf Club at Ilfracombe, Mr. Day having lent a field in St. Brannocks Road for the purpose.' President- Mr Bertram. Secretary - Mr Boatfield. An assortment of articles used in the game can be obtained at below London store prices from Twiss & Son, on sale from October 31st to November 30th.
	The Spirit of Golf "Golf is a science - the study of a lifetime - in which you may exhaust yourself but never your subject! It is a contest, a duel, or a melee, calling for courage, skill, strategy and self-control. It is a test of temper, a trial of honor, a revealer of character. It affords the chance to play the man and act the gentleman. It means going into Gods out-of- doors, getting close to Nature, fresh air, an exercise - a sweeping away of mental cobwebs, genuine recreation of the tired tissues. It is a cure for care, an antidote to worry. It includes companionship with friends, social intercourse, opportunities for courtesy, kindness and generosity to an opponent. It promotes not only physical health, but moral force." Found in scrap book cutting, from the Ilfracombe Chronicle dated 21st August 1922
The club profited from a gift by a gentleman called Mr Leatham who had derived great benefit from the bracing air of Ilfracombe. In gratitude he made a number of donations to the town, including £50.00 to Ilfracombe Golf Club. The first general meeting was held at the Tunnels Baths, Ilfracombe, March 1st 1893, at which it was decided to form a committee. It was stated that shares could be offered at £1.00 each to cover the cost of a new pavilion (£20) to be paid off as funds permitted. Also, annual subscriptions were fixed for each of the foundation members (30) at 10/6 (52.5p) each, with an entrance fee at 10/- (50p) for all new members. Green fees were set at 2/6d ( 12.5p ) per week for members who had a guest staying in their house; other visitors 5/- (25p) per week. Daily green fees were to be 6d (2.5p). It was also decided to move the Ilfracombe Golf Club to a sixty acre site at Mullacott, owned by a Mr. Lake, for a rent of £10 per year. This would enable an 18 hole golf links to be established. On March 7th 1893, a committee meeting; was held at which it was decided to move the pavilion from Mr. Day's field to Mullacott at a cost of £2.10s (£2.50p) and that an estimate be sought for additions to the said pavilion. On May 7th 1893, the first competition was held at Mullacott Golf Links - winner, a.m. singles: F .R. Boatfield with a score of 102 gross, 84 net, prize - a gold medal. Winner, p.m. foursomes: Mrs. Pickett and H.B. Leatham, playing off scratch with a score of 106, prize - 2 silver medals. It was not until April 1895 that the committee offered the landlord an increase in rent to £15 per year, if he would allow them to cut fairways. This permission was granted and a sub-committee was formed on May 14th to see to the cutting of grass between the holes. On April11th 1896, at a committee meeting, it was agreed to engage Mr. Charles Lock as grounds man at a salary of 17/- (85p) per week. It was arranged also that he be at liberty to charge 1/- (5p) per round for coaching! The Ilfracombe Golf Club played its first friendly club match against Torrington in April 1896 at Torrington and had a return match at Ilfracombe on July 1Oth, losing both matches ! Membership had risen to 47 in 1897, at which time it was voted to allow members to buy a Vice-Presidency for one guinea (£1.05). Thirteen members took advantage of this. In February 1898, a report appeared in the minutes of a committee meeting of a mixed foursomes final taking place. It started in a snowstorm and was abandoned after one round, the committee resolved that it could be completed the following Tuesday. On May 13th 1898, Ilfracombe played another friendly match, this time against Woolacombe at Ilfracombe. Ilfracombe won.................our first success !

May 3rd 1924: The Annual General Meeting of the Ilfracombe Golf Club was held in the Board Room of the Tunnels Baths, Dr . C. W .E. Toiler presiding. The Honorary Secretary (Mr. G.R. Drake-Goodban), in the course of his report, stated that the progress of the club during the past twelve months had been excellent. The clubhouse had been extended and he thought that everyone would agree that the extension had proved most useful. It had been repainted and lighted and new gas stoves had been installed. Thanks were due to Mr. J. Armstrong (Manager of the Ilfracombe Gas Co.) for his advice and assistance in connection with the latter. The telephone had been installed and had been used frequently. During the year, the club had received a visit from James Braid, the famous professional golfer, this visit had been a splendid advertisement for the club, he had spoken very highly of the course and had since written that he would be very pleased to visit Ilfracombe again if possible. The new pavilion and the work in connection with it had cost nearly £900, much the larger part of this having been lent by members of the club. They had purchased some new mowers, which outlay of Course would not occur again ! Also in June 1924, the minutes showed that HMS Coventry had paid a visit to Ilfracombe, with reference to the visit, from June 24th to 27th, Mr. G.R. Drake-Goodban had received the following letter:- Dear Sir, Please allow me, on behalf of the Officers of HMS Coventry, to thank your committee for making us honorary members of your club during our visit to Ilfracombe. All who played on the links enjoyed themselves and, in particular, those who played in the match on Thursday, June 26th. Yours faithfully, G.H. Baird Rear Admiral (D) Portland, July 1st.