The decision to form a golf club at Widnes (Upper Widnes) was taken at a meeting in the Town Hall on 12 January 1923.
The deal was concluded when the United Alkali Company, later to become ICI, offered to buy the land and lease it to the club. Lady membership was a feature from the start. The nearby Woolton Golf Club was influential in the foundation of Widnes as two of the main instigators, John Hardman and Dr Sam McCausland, were both Woolton members and they became the first two Widnes Captains. The professional at Woolton also helped to map out the new course on Lower Widnes House Farm and one of his assistants became the first Widnes professional. In 1925 a further 6 holes were built and by 1929 the full complement of 18 holes were in play. An extensive tree planting scheme at that time was not a success due to the unfortunate atmospheric conditions that prevailed. Sadly the green keeper’s horse, Dolly, was put down having been deemed unfit for work. Her value was removed from the Balance Sheet at a cost of £14 and when her 8 year old successor was found to be suffering from a cold the Council kindly bought a horse blanket.
[I visited Upper Widnes House property with my father Ethelbert Cowley Martin (1910-2010) and John Benedict Heyes (b 1910) in 1961. Mineral rights to the property were not legally transferred to the rightful heirs according to their discussion.]
