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On May 4th 1921 Warley Woods Golf Course became the first municipal golf course in the greater Birmingham area to open to the public. Warley was the trendsetter at the start of a great expansion of municipal courses in the Midlands. Not only can we say that Warley Woods is the People’s Park, but also that Warley was the first People’s Golf Course – open to all and not just those who could afford to join a private club. In 2021 the Trust and the Golf Club celebrated one hundred years of public golf at Warley and the Centenary of Warley Golf Club. 

How did it all start? 

The course was laid out fifteen years earlier– but at first it was a private course for members of Edgbaston Golf Club. This Club was founded in January 1896 at a meeting held at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham city centre. Most of the people present at the meeting lived on or near the Hagley Road. It might have been for this reason that the Club was named Edgbaston rather than Warley. A three-year lease was established with Messrs Summerton who owned Lightwoods Farm. A sub-committee was appointed to lay out the ‘golf ground’, and Mr Waldron was appointed as the steward and groundsman. The Club was to have use of Warley Cottage on Beech Lane (now Hagley Road). There would be a maximum membership of 75 men and 35 women, and a donkey was hired to graze the grass down to a low height. 

The first Professional at the club, Jack Burns, was appointed in 1896. He had won the Open Championship in 1888, so was probably rated highly in the golfing world of the time. Mr A. Wingate, who had designed the original 9-hole course became the second Professional. 

Alexander Macombe Chance, a local industrialist, his wife and daughter all became members of the club and Chance donated the first Cup on January 28th 1896, even before the course was opened. Chance played a hugely important role in the life and survival of the course. 

The Club faces threats and challenges 

At the opening of the course, play was restricted to six days a week, but the question of Sunday opening came up as early as October 1896 when a Special Meeting was called in order to discuss the possibility of Sunday play. 

A vote was taken at the meeting and the decision to allow Sunday play was carried by 19 votes to 17 with the proviso that no staff or caddies should be forced to work on a Sunday. This clearly led to considerable controversy because on November 14th a postal vote was sent to all members asking for a new vote. The decision of the postal vote, on January 1st 1897, was 53 in favour and 39 against, but it was not until December 1897 that the restrictions forbidding Sunday play were finally lifted.

In both 1899 and again in 1902 the Club looked at the possibility of making the course 18 holes, by adding land to the West of Harborne Road towards Perry Hill, but despite the wish of the members for this to happen nothing came of the idea and in March 1905 the lease on the 9-hole course was extended for another five years. 

In the early years of the twentieth century, between 1903-05, there was much speculation about the park area, to the east of the golf course, being sold for housing. Already houses were being built up towards the Park from Bearwood Road and the proposals were to continue this across the parkland and over the golf course (the area currently covered by the woods and golf course). It was Alexander Chance, who had donated the first cup to the Club, who set up an appeal to save the park as a public open space for the people of Smethwick and Oldbury. The appeal was successful and the site was opened to the public in 1906, being managed by Birmingham Council who had put up a large proportion of the money needed to buy the land from the developers, despite it being outside the City boundary. 

Edgbaston Golf Club has to move

This change of fortune left the parkland secure but left Edgbaston Golf Club with an uncertain future. When Birmingham City Council took over the ownership and management of the site in 1906 they were apparently happy for the club to continue. A deputation from the Club, comprising of Mr Thompson, the Secretary, and Mr Buckland, the Captain, lobbied the Birmingham Parks Sub-Committee in March 1907 to request that the lease was extended beyond 1910 when it was due for renewal. However, it was reported at the April meeting that the council had no power to extend the lease and it would end in March 1910. 

Another request was made in 1909 for the course to become a municipal course when the Edgbaston Golf Club lease expired the following year. Hopes were raised again when it was resolved at the Sub-Committee meeting in December 1909 “that they would ask the General Committee to allow the golf links at Warley to continue as a golf course after the lease of the Edgbaston Club expires for a period of twelve months”. However, nothing came from this and in March1910 Edgbaston Golf Club’s lease ended. The club moved on to a site in Harborne, and the course at Warley closed. The land that had been used as the golf course, known locally as the ‘The New Part’, became a recreational area along with the rest of the Park. 

What happened next? A new municipal course 

Although golf as a sport had been around, in some form or other, for many centuries it was only in the middle of the nineteenth century that the game began to flourish, first in Scotland and then spreading into other parts of the UK. Private golf courses were established and the game was mainly played by the rich. In the years after the First World War the idea of municipal golf courses, open to all, was becoming more popular across the country, and other towns and cities were building them. In Birmingham the leading light behind the idea of municipal courses was Councillor R. R. Gelling, the Chairman of the Parks Committee. Already the city had facilities for cricket, swimming, and bowls; might not a municipal course provide a benefit for all classes who were not in the position to ally themselves with any of the expensive clubs in the area? 

At a meeting of the Parks Department Committee on December 6th 1920, it was agreed that the former Edgbaston Golf Club’s course at Warley would be reopened as a municipal course. The committee instructed Mr W. H. Morter, the City Parks’ Superintendent, to prepare the course. There was some opposition to the move, and there are reports of people with banners saying ‘Don’t do away with our Park!’. However, the committee carried on with the plans at a rapid rate. 

The Course opens 

On Wednesday May 4th 1921 the new municipal course opened to the public. The cost of a season ticket was set at £3-3s-0d for a year for residents of Birmingham, and £5-5s-0d for non-residents. 

A report to the Parks Committee on May 30th 1921 reported that “The golf course was opened by the Chairman and I am pleased to report that since the opening when the weather has been suitable there has been a good attendance of players”. Ten months later, in March 1922, the Birmingham Gazette was reporting that 20,000 9-hole tickets had been purchased at Warley since its opening. Again though, playing on Sunday was not allowed and this was not permitted until 1928.

Founding Warley Woods Golf Club 

Warley Woods Golf Club was formed in the weeks which followed the official opening of the course and in June 1921 a General Meeting was held at the course to determine club rules and committee responsibilities. It was decided that membership should be restricted to 50 gentlemen, a number which could be easily managed, and the number of ladies eligible for membership would be left to the discretion of the newly-formed committee. Austen Chamberlain, from the well-known Birmingham family, became Chairman of the Committee and H. S. Shipway the first Secretary. By the end of the month, a handicap committee had been formed, with players submitting two cards or slips of paper signed by members of the club, and in early July 1921 members were allowed to start entering competitions. Though the Club had been formed it did not mean that golfers had to be a member to play on the course. It remained open to anyone, as it does today. 

Councillor Gelling and the Parks Committee were delighted with the success and popularity of golf at Warley. From the outset, Councillor Gelling was accepted into the club and held the post of Vice-President of Warley Woods Golf Club until the mid-1930s. He also donated the Gelling Challenge Cup to be awarded annually. Yet again, as with the Edgbaston Club, the question of extending the course to 18 holes was raised and in July 1923, a deputation of players presented themselves to the Parks Committee and suggested the purchase of some adjoining land in the area in order to achieve this. The Parks Committee made enquiries, which resulted in them finding that the price asked for the land was prohibitive and they were unable to proceed with the idea. 

The first Municipal Alliance League triumphs 

Gelling’s vision was to open municipal golf courses across the four corners of the city, and in the coming years, municipal courses opened at the Lickey Hills, Harborne Church Farm, Cocksmoor and Pype Hayes. To provide inter-club interest, Gelling introduced the Birmingham Municipal Alliance League which still exists, with honours going to Warley Woods on Saturday 20th August 1927 as the first winners of the handsome silver Gazette Cup. Galleries of spectators followed the competition over the course, cheering on Hardwick and Davies from Warley, in the final. On presenting the trophy afterwards, Gelling remarked, “May we look forward to the time when a great many men who now go to football matches will put their clubs on their shoulder and go to golf, for it is better to be a player in a game than a spectator.” A year later, Warley Ladies gained the Ladies’ Gazette Trophy by 6 points over the runners-up Cocksmoor. 

The Club and the Abbey 

In the decades which followed the club flourished, holding social events and an Annual Dinner as well as competitions. Membership soared, often more than 200, “comprising such varied occupations from coalmen, city councillors and even stars in the BBC firmament” (Letter in the Birmingham Gazette 6th November 1925), all of whom met and played together in a friendly and sporting spirit. 

Before these annual meet ups there might be a nine-hole match between the married and single members of the club; the losing side paying for tea! Retiring officers of the club were often presented with a canteen of cutlery in appreciation for service given. The municipal golf links at Warley proved to be an overwhelming success – golfers played in all weather, all year round and in all conditions. 

One celebrity member was Miss Gladys Lunn who became the “Lady Captain” in January 1939. Gladys gained national and international fame as a track and field athlete, winning gold in both the 800 yards and the javelin in the 1934 British Empire Games whilst a member of Birchfield Harriers Athletics Club. The Gladys Lunn Trophy is competed for by the Ladies’ Section each year. 

Keen to ensure the welfare of its members, the question of a club house or shelter was often top of the agenda. By April 1930 it was reported that part of the Abbey, which was by now the home of the professional’s workshop, had been secured for the benefit of the club members. There was an annual charge of £12 to the city, with the accommodation exclusively for the use of members. £20 was made available from club expenditure to furnish the club room, funded through special competitions and two successful whist drives. 

Alf J Padgham; the first Golf Professional 

The first golf professional of the municipal course and one of the founders of the club was Alf J Padgham or A J as he was known. He moved from Blackheath Club in London when the course first opened and in 1925 was elected the first life member. He supplied handmade clubs, such as a brassie, niblick, mashie or jigger – not the irons and woods that we are familiar with nowadays. His wife, Annie Padgham, became known as The Mother of Municipal Golfers and was in charge of catering and entertainments from the time her husband became the pro in 1921. Romance blossomed at the golf club when A J and Annie’s only daughter, Miss Gladys Lillian Padgham, married club member Mr George Goodman, a popular Warley member, on 24th August 1935. The wedding took place at St Hilda’s Church, with a good muster of club members in attendance. 

Alf’s son, A. H. Padgham, went on to achieve remarkable golfing success. He was the Professional at Sundridge Park and he became the British Open Champion at Royal Liverpool in 1936. He came from behind with a last round of 71 to beat Jimmy Adams by a single stroke. On that final day, he had to break into the locked Hoylake pro shop to retrieve his clubs for an early tee time, but seemed completely unperturbed by the incident. On the final green he holed from 12 feet for a 3 to win. 

Golf during World War 2 

Very little is known about golf during the Second World War. There is a report in the Birmingham Daily Post on January 2nd 1940 that the City Council was offering free golf to all members of the Armed services, so it was clear that courses remained open. The courses that existed at the time were Warley, Rose Hill (Lickey Hills), Cocksmoor Woods, Harborne and Pype Hayes. However, events such as the landing of a parachute mine on the course near the water tower on December 12th 1940 must have caused some disruption and delay! There were reports in the press in 1940 that indicated that inter-club competitions were also still going ahead, and golf was also part of the ‘Brighter Birmingham’ initiative in 1942 with competitions running at all five courses. 

Bert Fereday

Bert Fereday succeeded A J Padgham as golf professional after the War in 1946. Bert is still remembered by some senior golfers. Charlie Jones, who has been playing at Warley for well over 60 years, remembers learning during the 1950s. He used to play on Saturday mornings paying 1s 9d (9p) for a round of golf which included hire of a set of clubs, a new Dunlop 65 ball, 3 new tees and a lecture from Bert. Bert handed out directives on etiquette, how to behave on the course, reminders to replace the divots, and instructions on how to rake the bunkers. 

Mike Lennon remembers Bert in the 1960s and the ringing of the bell at the end of play. “You weren't allowed to start your round before the prescribed opening time and you were expected to stop playing at the pre-advertised hour, when Bert would step outside the shop and ring a school bell, loud enough to be heard probably all across Bearwood! That was it - no more golf. As a consequence you might just be at the top of your backswing with a two-foot putt to claim the 10 shillings (50p) from all your "friends"-- but no! Your partners would all promptly pick up their respective balls, pat you on the back, and with total insincerity, grinning from ear to ear, commiserate with you on your bad luck in having run out of time. Needless to say everyone got "hoisted with that petard" over the years they played there, but it never ceased to be a source of endless ribbing, whosoever's was the misfortune.” 

The bell used by Bert is still in the Pavilion, although it hasn’t been used to summon the golfers off the course for many years. 

The sad deterioration of the Abbey

During the 40s and 50s the Abbey gradually fell into a state of disrepair. Remedial work was not carried out, and although the Park Superintendent and the Golf Professional had accommodation in the Abbey, much of the building was unusable. The costs of renewal and repair were too great for Birmingham City Council to bear and the decision was taken to demolish the building. Before that happened, however, alternative accommodation for the golf pro and the park superintendent had to be provided, so two houses were built on Lightwoods Hill for their use. An alternative clubhouse for the golfers was needed and a new temporary building, The Pavilion off Lightwoods Hill, was opened in July 1957 by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. The Abbey was demolished later that year. Over the years improvements and upgrades to The Pavilion have been made but in reality it is coming to the end of its ‘temporary’ life although it still remains the home of both the Golf Club and the Trust. 

Warley Woods Community Trust 

With the reduction of money being put into public parks from the 1980s onwards, the condition of Warley Woods began to deteriorate. It was known by historians that Warley was an important landscape created in the 1790s by the famous landscape designer, Humphry Repton, and in the light of this a public meeting in 1996 led to a move to apply for money from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the site. Money was made available and after much wrangling and prevarication by both Sandwell and Birmingham Councils the management of the park and golf course was taken on by Warley Woods Community Trust in 2004, with a 99-year lease. 

The Trust manages the golf course as well as the park, and at times there were difficulties between the golfers and the Board of Trustees as both groups were having to learn how to work with each other. Instead of the Municipal Course model, with the Golf Professional running the golfing activities, the Trust operates the course, manages and recruits the staff, and works with a Golf Professional, currently Greg Lynch, who uses the facilities and provides lessons on the course, including junior coaching which he is passionate about. The Trust has been able to support him in his work, and ensure that the course is maintained to a high standard and is attractive to golfers.

You can download this information in a leaflet produced for the golf course’s centenary.  Golf Centenary Leaflet

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