Memories of William Wroe Golf Course

So the end is nigh, you are to be turned over to housing? How very very sad.

A wise person once said, "you should not sell land, they stopped making it years ago."

You were born in May 1973 to a great fanfare and press release. The inquisitive public queued for

hours to see what all the fuss was about.

From these queues, sometimes over two hours plus (where did they find the time? Something lacking in this modern world!), strangers became friends, united in their love of golf. These were not the gentry, oh no, these were working class.

Within 12 months of you being born, a new golf club was founded, namely Acre Gate. Named after the farm that was there before the course. A supply line of ready made golfers to progress more established private members golf clubs near and far.

Fourteen holes only you had, most unusual? Then again, you have always been unique. 15 holes by the

end of the decade. 18 by the time you were a teenager.

You had equality from the start. Ladies and gentlemen sharing the same course, on the same day, paying the same price with presentations taking place on the same night. Long before the authorities said we have to!

You were encouraging golfers and non golfers from the off. Pairing them up to enjoy the fun and share their experiences.

You were responsible for local charities benefitting from tens, even hundreds of thousands of pounds, long before any of the more established clubs decided to realise the need to!

With land at a premium, you were only some 40-odd acres, divided in two by a railway line. (Golf was made by the railways.) You had short courses inside your already 'petite' course. Six holes, nine holes, each bringing you back to the club house. Fast forward 40 years and guess what the ruling bodies are trying to promote? You guessed it, short courses, shorter rounds and quick golf!

You may have only been 4,400 yards in length, modern golfers will tell you that courses need to be 6,500 yards or more, but the nature of the game is not how far, but how many! Like I said, Unique.

Your tees were on the small side, sometimes uneven, sometimes a little muddy? But they were your tees.

You were sometimes a little soggy under foot, (you are after all a flood plain first) but you taught us how to adapt.

Your bunkers were a little 'stereo' one on the left, one on the right. But they were your bunkers.

Your greens lacked imagination (some would say), slope at the front, flat top at the rear. All were small in size, sometimes a little slow, bumpy, sometimes good and even paced. Still you were always the same for everyone. They were your greens.

Also despite the limited land space there were no cross over holes.

That's what makes golf such fun, all courses are different.

So it's goodbye my young friend, I knew you so well. Don't be sad, think of the fun, joy and happiness you have given to so many. Do not pity those that never bothered, they will get over it.

Yes you wanted to live for ever, we all do, or do we? Is it not better to bow out gracefully and those that knew you, carry on the stories and tales to those that can only imagine.

Gone you may be, forgotten? Not by the ones that matter.

I am sure you all have your own tales.

Thanks William Wroe golf.

Mr A W Peel.

Golfer from 1975 - to date

Greenkeeper at William Wroe from May 1983 - May 1990