Page 34 - Torquay Golf Club

Club History
Many years ago on Walls Hill in Babbacombe, on the very edge of the great cliff above Long Quarry, visitors would have seen a small pennant flying from a slight bamboo cane.
Observers would also have noticed the closely cut grass in evidence of a golf course which was under the care of The Torquay Golf Club, whose headquarters were to be found in the nearby Babbacombe Road.
This old Club consisted of nine holes extending across
the walled and undulating plateau, and offered pleasant recreation to be enjoyed without excessive fatigue by
the players of the game of golf. However, with the game becoming more popular with the passage of time, Walls Hill was found to be unable to accommodate the claims of those who became interested in the prowess of Vardon, Braid, Taylor, Ray and Herd. The public also frequented the course at Walls Hill, and danger was becoming something with which to reckon.
New - Thus in 1909, The Torquay New Golf Course Company Limited was incorporated and a large tract of land, purchased by the syndicate, was let to the Company. The lands were certain farm pastures at Petitor, in use at Easter for a steeplechase meeting, and, being within the Urban District
of St Marychurch and scenically attractive, were regarded as ideally suitable for golf. The professional of the Links at Westward Ho! was instructed to layout the new course.
On 20th May 1911, the new club house was opened, which had been built at a cost exceeding £2,000 and had the appearance of a cricket pavilion. The opening was celebrated with an exhibition match over 18 holes in which were engaged two of the reigning peers of Golf, Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor, at a fee of ten guineas each, with amateurs C.V.L. Hooman and A.G.M. Croome.
Petitor Road, St Marychurch, Torquay, Devon TQ1 4QF 34 01803 314591 www.torquaygolfclub.co.uk