The Lady Members of Darwen Golf Club
Within two years of inception, Darwen Golf Club opened its doors to lady members and in 1895 it was recorded that there were twenty-four full lady members whose play and competitions were to be governed by the Club Council.
Lady members and juniors, as is the case today, were accepted as honorary members, their subscription being a reduced one.
It would appear that there was always a cordial liaison between the gentlemen and the ladies. There were many mixed competitions organised and enjoyed - frequently followed by social functions. The gentlemen from the outset took great interest in the ladies' golfing prowess and initially they were responsible for the supplying of prizes.
The seeds of monthly competitions must have been inspired then, probably filtering through from other sources, because Mr. Broadbent offered a prize of a bracelet to be played for monthly. The most frequent winner was to win the same outright at the end of the season. There is no mention made of the outcome should there have been a draw or even a three-way tie. It may be that the sport would have required Marquis of Queensberry rules - at any event there are those today who, with tongue-in-cheek, would welcome benefactors of such largesse.
By the early 1900s it was apparent that the ladies were enthusiastic and interested enough to want to form their own section and so, in 1908, they elected their first Lady Captain, Mrs. W. A. Smith; a Lady Secretary, Mrs. Knowles and four Committee Members.
The first ladies match was recorded against Blackburn ladies in 1909. During these formative years, the gentlemen were largely responsible for locating the handicaps and at this time the categories seemed to be those with a handicap of 22 or less and those of 22 plus.
Two of the competitions which seemed to be much in favour at this time were 'an approach and putt competition' and a 'long distance competition', which after some research would seem to be simply a longest drive competition. Perhaps it is that these two forms of competition lent themselves more easily to the dress of the day. When we consider the voluminous skirts, high frill blouses and atop all, a boater, present day members cannot envisage eighteen holes of golf dressed in this attire and battling with the prevailing westerly breeze (frequently near gale force) at the highest point of this Pennine course. There are many who insist that Darwen ladies are an Amazonian race apart when they visit our course. Certainly it is not for the faint hearted but then many visiting gentlemen are of the same opinion.
With the advent of the 1914-18 War, competitions were much restricted and if and when any were played, all monies went to War Funds and to the Moss Bridge Hospital Fund.
After the war, the membership flourished but it appears that in many instances it was as a social affectation rather than an attempt to play serious golf - not many ladies were attempting to play in the competitions. In 1925 the Ladies Section donated £25 to the Club to help fund the cost of the new windmill which in those days stood near the present tenth tee and was essential for the pumping of water. As from that year it has been the custom for the ladies to be involved in fund raising, not only for their own cause but in support of the Club in general - and this continued show of concern and endeavour has always been much appreciated by each succeeding Captain.
In 1928, the ladies joined the new E.L.L.G.A. and started to enter their team competitions. The Lady Secretary reported that more interest was being shown in the affairs in general and that forty ladies were present at the A.G.M. On June 3rd, 1930, Darwen played host for the first time to an E.L.L.G.A. major competition, the Scratch Trophy, and in the following year the course received its first official L.G.U. S.S.S. - it was assessed as 74.
Sadly the ability to raise teams was failing and for a while Darwen withdrew from the E.L.L.G.A. competitions.
With the onset of another World War, as mentioned elsewhere, all sections of the Club were at a near standstill and it was a great relief when golf cudgels could he taken up again.
For a few years in the 1940s Darwen withdrew from E.L.L.G.A. but reapplied for membership in 1951 and was accepted in 1952. Darwen has continued to play a full supporting role since then.
Although the course has been re-vamped and re-organised on several occasions, it has never been reduced in yardage, quite the contrary, but in 1954 the L.G.U. re-assessed the S.S.S. It was marked down to 72 and in 1956 still further reduced to 71. Today, after a further adjustment, it stands at 70 and it is perhaps this par and the convolutions of the course which visiting ladies find so difficult to handle.
Over the years, it is pleasing to note that the silver division of the Ladies Section has gradually increased and, for the first time, we have one lady golfer in the gold division, Mrs. L. Noblett, who in pre-centenary year was chosen to represent Lancashire. It is her score of 71 which presently stands as the recorded course record for a Darwen lady player.
More information about the history of Darwen Golf Club will be available at Cotton Town soon.
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