22


THE MIDDLE PERIOD


A sub-committee was formed under Joe Bennett (later President) to consider how to increase membership and all existing members were asked to try to introduce a friend to the Club. Te Long Ashton greens and fairways had the reputation of being the finest


in Bristol during this period. No doubt this was due in part to the excellent natural drainage on the course which we still enjoy. Tese conditions encourage the fine bent and fescue grasses and the ball lies exceptionally well on our fairways. In those days weeding was done by hand-villagers were paid Id per bucket-this practice continued until aſter the Second World War. Te number of golf rounds played weekly in the thirties was only in the region of 100, very different from to-day’s 1,000 or more. Henry Burge, one of our reliable long serving greenstaff and a first class golfer, told me in the 1960’s (when I was Green Chairman) that he only saw a few golfers during the weekdays even in the summer. Essentially, the golf course was only busy on Saturday aſternoons. Several international golfers played on our course in the 1930’s. Gene Sarazen,


the well known American Open Winner and Joe Kirkwood, a trick golfer, gave an exhibition in 1934. Charlie Ward and Abe Mitchell, two of the leading Professionals in the country had matches with our Professional, F.C. (Ted) Jewell (Plate 15) and S.P. Easterbrook the Knowle Professional. Percy Allis and his son Peter also played a match on the Course in the late 1930’s and were apparently very impressed by the degree of difficulty. Te lease for the Course was due to expire on March 1938 and members


were anxious to make new arrangements for the future. Consequently, a small sub- committee was formed consisting of Sir Frank Cowlin, Sydney Clifford and Albert Field (Treasurer) with the Secretary (Lt Col E.N. (Norman) Gardner) to arrange a discussion with Mr Bertram Worrall, the Ashton Estate Agent. Mr Worrall had been made Vice-President of the Club in 1933, so no doubt he was sympathetic to the needs of the Club. (He was also Captain in 1946). In consequence, a new lease was agreed at £125 per annum for 30 years, this was a reduction of £25 per annum on the previous lease. It is interesting to note that all three Ashton Court Agents, Tom Dyke, Henry Napier and Bertram Worrall were elected Vice-Presidents of the Golf Club. Records show (in Estune no 2 from the Local History Society) that, they were also Chairman or Vice Presidents of the Long Ashton Cricket Club. Our records suggest that all three agents were good golfers. Te first indication that a new Clubhouse was needed came from the Finance


Committee in early 1936. Te site suggested was in the vicinity of the 7th green (previously the 6th and our present 10th) and the Committee proposed to finance the building of the new Clubhouse by again issuing Debentures.


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