Club History

The Club was formed at a meeting of twelve men in the Jolly Sailor Inn, Whitburn, on 2nd December 1930. Within a month, land had been rented from the Harton Coal Company, a Professional and a Greenkeeper were appointed and a Clubhouse pavilion (used by the Club until 1979) had been purchased. By 1933 the Club had grown to 130 members and it was agreed to form a Company, limited by guarantee and we became "The Whitburn Golf Club Ltd."

The course was laid out in 1934 by J Morrison of Colt, Alison and Morrison, Golf Course Architects to produce an 18 hole par 70 course of 5635 yards. Morrison is also known to have designed Brancepeth, Wentworth and the Princes course at Sandwich and redesigned Lytham St Annes, Moortown, Royal Cinque Ports, Sunningdale and Wickham.

Lizard Lane, which divides the course is now a minor road but follows the route of an ancient track featured on mid 18th century maps of the area. Of the original design, the layouts of only the 3rd, 5th and 6th holes are virtually unchanged although our present 18th recreates the design of the 1930's 17th hole with a fairway bunker added. The 12th hole includes a water hazard constructed on the site of a clay based "dewpond" which is the survivor of two such ponds, also featured in the original design. Many alterations have been carried out to the course as additional land became available, but the course still retains some of the original features including limestone walls which have caused problems for golfers since the course opened. Fossil inclusions that can be seen in these walls give evidence of the rock's marine origins.

Marsden Rattler/15th Fairway

The earlier photograph taken in 1930 shows the Marsden Rattler running alongside what was later to become the 14th fairway. In the middle foreground the line of the old mineral railway is visible. This line carried stone from the quarry near Marsden Hall to the lime-kilns on the coast road opposite the lighthouse.

Lizard Lane c1932

This photograph of Lizard Lane was taken shortly after the golf course was laid out in 1931 (note the ball shoot on the first tee). The white flagpole of the old wooden clubhouse is just visible over the roof of the greenkeeper's cottage. The clubhouse was purchased from Burnmoor Cricket Club in April 1931.