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CLUBS(15) Continuation.
The membership between 1891 and 1894 was about 50 only. But apparently two successive Governors were devotees of the game. It is whispered that Sir William des Voeux had a pool in the middle of Happy Valley filled in because he lost so many balls in it. In 1897 the membership had risen to 250 and Sir William Robinson, who was then described as "the best friend the Club had ever had", applied through the usual channel, on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, for permission to alter the name of the Hongkong Golf Club. The Royal Warrant was issued, and since then the Club has been "The Royal Hongkong Golf Club".
Between 1891 and 1894 Captain (now Colonel) Dumbleton, R.E., Mr. (afterwards Sir Fielding) Clarke and others used to go for picnics to Deep Water Bay, then called Telegraph Bay. They took a few clubs out and in time made six holes. The upkeep was subsequently taken over by the Club and the number was increased to 9 holes. The first official application for the land was not made until early in 1897 when a 75 years lease was granted to H. L. Dalrymple, Ceasar Hawkins and Gershom Stewart, trustees. The old plan shows the layout very much as it is today, though of course access was chiefly by sea and the road is shown as a proposed road from Victoria. The clubhouse was originally built about 1898 on Rural Building Lot No. 58. In 1911 the Club was inaugurated as a Company limited by Guarantee, and a new lease was granted.
CLUBS(16)
In 1918 a motor stand was made at the south-west end, in 1924, the upper storey was added, and in 1925 the new road over Wong Nai Ching Gap brought the Club house within easy distance of the City.
When the New Territories were taken over in 1898-1899, the Club's thoughts turned to the mainland for a course. It appears that at first only a sea-side site was looked for and none found. In 1906 the decision to push the railway through made an inland site possible and in 1911 the present Old Course was planned from a survey by Colonel Close, R.E., the work being aided by Messrs. E. J. Grist, A. W. Walkinshaw, E. R. Hallifax, who probably originally suggested the site. G. M. Orme, J. W. Robertson, C. A. James, Marshall and others.
Probably a year or two was spent on this, though 1911 is Colonel Close's date. But it is a fact that 18 holes were being played over by Christmas 1911. Tiffins and drinks were sent by train from Happy Valley to a mat-shed which stood on or just by the site of the Rest House above the 9th green, and as many people will remember there was not a single pine tree on the hills. Since then there has been a steady record of progress, which includes considerable alterations to the original layout of the sixth, seventh, eighth, fourteenth and fifteenth holes.