Oldest club of its kind in the world,

Northam Golf Club celebrated its diamond jubilee with a golf meeting followed by a dinner in the evening.

Front row: William Puncher, Tom Geen, Ernest Cawsey, Richard Burch, Charlie Cook, Jesse Braund, Louis Chapple, and John Penhorwood

Middle row: Alfred Stevens, Sidney Dymond, E J Labbett, Jack Hutchings, Richard Davis, Charlie Cower, William Worth, William Pursey, George Cann, J H Taylor (holding three clubs), and T Metherell

Back row: William Hutchings, Harry Williams, William Davis, Ernest Way, Jack Rowe, William Hearn, William Fulford, Samuel Fulford

It has been truly said “Fine men and great golfers have come out of Northam by way of Westward Ho!” Perhaps the one most widely known is Mr J H Taylor. Who could be better chosen to relate the first beginnings of the Artisans’ Club than Mr Taylor, himself a founder member and now its president?

On the occasion of the Club’s golden jubilee he wrote “Golf had been played on the Burrows since 1864 by members of the Royal North Devon and West of England Golf Club, the second oldest club in the country, a stalwart pioneer that golfing history records with gratitude.”

The first secretary of the Club was Mr Louis Chapple who, with Capt William Beer (who lived at the old farm at Pimpley), Capt Brooks (of Sea View, Northam), Mr W Philpot (who later became professional at the Mitcham Golf Club) and Mr Samuel Fulford, formed a nucleus of the first Artisan Golf Club. Mr Philip Andrews, who will be long remembered as the Steward at the Royal North Devon Golf Club for some 56 years, carried on the duties of secretary for many years. Then followed Mr Charles Gibson, junr, Mr F Webber and Mr Tom Shutt, who still holds the office.

There has always been an annual match against the RNDGC and in the old days Mr J H Taylor played top man and was always placed to play against Mr Horace Hutchinson, the Royal North Devon’s greatest player. Mr Philip Andrews frequently played against the late Mr C S Carnegie, of Clevelands.

Publication of the photograph of golfing stalwarts of sixty years ago, together with their names, was made possible by the ever willing assistance of Mr Philip Andrews and other golfing friends on the occasion of the Club’s golden jubilee ten years ago. Those in the picture are:

Standing in the doorway at the rear is T Glover, and the peeping head on the right belongs to J W Fulford.

Article dated 1948