The course started off as 9 holes, Cannon Newton introduced the land, which was full of Scottish heather, known locally as “The Soudan”. Fifty acres of oak trees, gorse bushes and the heather, which was rented to Cannon Newton by Viscount Windsor (later known as the Earl of Plymouth), who owned a considerable amount of land in the local area.
Carters of London, where asked to surmise on the possibility of a golf course on the Soudan, they quoted at the time “the site is very fine indeed, the ground been open, pleasingly undulating, and contains many natural hazards and features, principally in the shape of heather and whins (gorse plant), which are usually conspicuous by their absence on most inland courses”
In December 1912, the site had been inspected by an employee of James Carter & Co, who’s business was "Seedsmen", advised on the construction of the course, having built the Walton Heath Course earlier. The course was designed by W P Lewis, a professional golfer from Kings Norton golf club, he charged £6 19 schillings and no pence, in that era, £1 per hole.
The building of the course, started in earnest, and went on through the spring and summer months of 1913, when in October, the course was good to play on. The costings where (at the time) just over £500, Carters had sourced local men to complete the building of the course,
The clubhouse, a most striking structure, was built by local company Holloway’s, known as the “Shed” to some of our older members. The building stood for a shade under eighty years, until the rising damp and woodworm, got the better of it! It was originally designed like a cricket pavilion, with a verandah. Drinks were served thru a hatch, and long nights were spent in the bar, although, no provision was made for food.
The course was opened on the 29th of October 1913, where an exhibition match was held, George Duncan, (winner of the Belgium Open) and
J H Taylor, (the British Open winner) played, and Duncan beat Taylor by one hole
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
Carters of London, where asked to surmise on the possibility of a golf course on the Soudan, they quoted at the time “the site is very fine indeed, the ground been open, pleasingly undulating, and contains many natural hazards and features, principally in the shape of heather and whins (gorse plant), which are usually conspicuous by their absence on most inland courses”
In December 1912, the site had been inspected by an employee of James Carter & Co, who’s business was "Seedsmen", advised on the construction of the course, having built the Walton Heath Course earlier. The course was designed by W P Lewis, a professional golfer from Kings Norton golf club, he charged £6 19 schillings and no pence, in that era, £1 per hole.
The building of the course, started in earnest, and went on through the spring and summer months of 1913, when in October, the course was good to play on. The costings where (at the time) just over £500, Carters had sourced local men to complete the building of the course,
The clubhouse, a most striking structure, was built by local company Holloway’s, known as the “Shed” to some of our older members. The building stood for a shade under eighty years, until the rising damp and woodworm, got the better of it! It was originally designed like a cricket pavilion, with a verandah. Drinks were served thru a hatch, and long nights were spent in the bar, although, no provision was made for food.
The course was opened on the 29th of October 1913, where an exhibition match was held, George Duncan, (winner of the Belgium Open) and
J H Taylor, (the British Open winner) played, and Duncan beat Taylor by one hole
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
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George Duncan J H Taylor
Ivor Miles Windsor - The Earl of Plymouth
1919, a year after the first world war, W P Lewis, the original designer, was sought to give his opinion on the viability of making the course into eighteen holes, he stated “the course can be made with practicality no interference with present greens” the cost of the extension was made at £500, and if carried out, it would entail substantial increase in the cost of the upkeep of the course.
The new eighteen-hole course was opened with another exhibition match (date unknown), this time between Ted Ray and Harry Vardon, both residents of Jersey. Back in the day, exhibition matches were very common as pro matches where very few and far between.
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
The new eighteen-hole course was opened with another exhibition match (date unknown), this time between Ted Ray and Harry Vardon, both residents of Jersey. Back in the day, exhibition matches were very common as pro matches where very few and far between.
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
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Ted Ray Harry Vardon
In 1924, due to the congested Plymouth Road, an application to Plymouth estates had been made to acquire some land from Pitcheroak Woods (at the back of the old 15th green), quote “arrangements have definitely been made to acquire further land in Pitcheroak Woods from Plymouth Estates Ltd, for the extension of the course. A new 21-year lease from March next, of the site of the present course and the new land Is being obtained with the option to purchase in ten years’ time, on favourable terms” at the same time work as being done to extend the club house, a new locker room, the old one was being used to make the lounge space larger.
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
1929, the clubhouse, again was considered too small, “The Gables” a red bricked building in Birchfield Road and Musketts way was being considered, but the cost was too much due to the extension work on the course. Canon Newton’s recently purchased “Holmwood” was also another option, but that came to nothing.
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
The Gables
(Extreme left of picture – partially visible)
(Picture credited – Redditch Historical Society)
(Extreme left of picture – partially visible)
(Picture credited – Redditch Historical Society)
1934, the A.G.M, approval was given to the Pitcheroak scheme, and the solicitor’s arranged a suitable mortgage for both the old course and the new extension (proposed)
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
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Pitcheroak Golf course CIRCA 1950
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(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
The original Clubhouse (Credit - Golf Missing Links)
Holmwood House
1935, (See picture above) the new extension was open, the extension was known as the “Abyssinia” (the former name of Ethiopia) the name complimented the “Soudan” it was a tropical reference to the Italian war conquest, and also a comment on the new five holes. As the war started in 1939, the new five holes where slightly the worst for wear, it was impossible to keep up the necessary maintenance on the course, and the land soon went back to its former self, overgrown and scrubby. After the war it was decided to sell the land, as recommended in the minutes from 1949.
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
(Credits – Dan Plim “Golf in Redditch 1891- 1991”)
