CLUBS
(15
It is intended to give, more or less briefly, the histories of various local clubs from time to time. The Hongkong Club, H. K. Cricket Club, and Victoria Recreation Club have already been dealt with, and to-day I take the Royal Hongkong and Kowloon Golf Clubs.
The present task is considerably lightened owing to the admirable history which appears in the Royal Hongkong Golf Club's book of rules, and I cannot do better than reproduce this verbatim. Acknowledgments are due to Mr. E. W. Hamilton, who wrote the original detailed history after a painstaking search of the records. The summary printed with the rules is based on Mr. Hamilton's Research.
The first ball was probably driven in Hongkong about the autumn of 1888. The late Sir Gershom Stewart, for many years, afterwards M. P. for Hoylake, learned golf in the early months of that year on the Royal Liverpool Club's course at Hoylake. In his return to Hongkong he and Captain Murray Rumsey, the Harbour Master, started to play "golf" on the Race Course at Happy Valley. There were no holes or greens but granite seats marked the distances.
In 1889 the 91st Regiment, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, arrived, and on May 10, 1889, the Hongkong Golf Club was inaugurated with a membership of ten. Mr. Mitchell Innes of the Civil Service and Mr. John Thurburn of the Chartered Bank were, it is believed, original members.
The whole early history, however, is wrapped in darkness as all the Club records were destroyed in the dreadful Race Course fire of 1918. A photograph of the burned-out clubhouse at Happy Valley taken at the time by Mee Cheung is reproduced to-day. The new Happy Valley clubhouse was completed about two years ago.
The Club originally had quarters in a "dark and cavernous place under the Grand Stand" which was kindly lent them by the Jockey Club. Later the Club had a matshed and in 1894 the Golf Club applied to Government for a site for a permanent Club House which was erected next year.
The Club House was extended in 1896, 1899 and 1906 when a new lease on different terms was granted. It was burnt down in February 1918 and was not rebuilt till 1930. From 1913 till 1929 the Club were indebted to the Jockey Club for the use of certain stands or boxes until the latter were pulled down; and a matshed served as Club house for some eighteen months, pending the completion of a new permanent building in March 1931. The course was a 9-hole one, at first utilizing most of the ground inside the racecourse but as cricket and football needed more space it was altered in 1908 or early in 1909, to more or less its present position encircling the playing grounds area only.
CLUBS
(15
гла
-
It is intended to give, more or less briefly, the histories of various local clubs from time to time. The Hongkong Club H. K. Cricket Club, and Victoria Recreation Club have already been dealt with, and' to-day I take the Royal Hongkong and Kowloon Golf Clubs.
The present task is considerably lightened owing to the admirable hisotry which appears in the Royal Hongkong Golf Club's book of rules, and I cannot do better than reproduce this verbatim. Acknowledgments are due to Mr. E. W. Hamil- ton, who wrote the original detailed history after a painstak- ing search of the records. The summary printed with the rules. is based on Mr. Hamilton's Research .
The first ball was probably driven In Hongkong about the auturm of 1888. The late Sir Gershom Stewart, for many years, afterwards M. P. For Hoylake, learned golf in the early months of that year on the Royal Liverpool Club's course at Hoylake. In his return to Hongkong he and Captain Murray Rumsey, the Harbour Master, started to play " golf" on the Race Course at Happy Valley. There were no holes or greens but granite seuts
arked the distances.
In 1889 the 91st Regiment, The Argyll and Sutherland High Landers, arrived, and on May 10, 1889, the Hongkong Golf Club as inaugurated with a membership of tem. Mr. Mitchell Innes of the Civil Service and Mr. John Thurburn of the Chartered sank were, it is believed original members.
The whole early history however is wrapped in darkress as all the Club records were destroyed in the dreadful Rece Course fire of 1918. A photograph of the burnedout clubhouse as Happy Valley taken at the time by Mee Cheung is reproduced to-day. The new Happy Valley clubhouse was completed about two years ago.
The Club originally had quarters in a " dark and cavernous place under the Grand Stand" which was kindly lent them by the Jockey Club. Later the Clubp had a matshed and in 1894 the Golf Lub applied to Government for a site for a permanent Club House
ich was erected next year.
The Club House was extended in 1896, 1899 and 1906 when new lease on different terma was granted. It was burnt down in February 1918 and was not rebuilt till 1930. From 1913 bill 1929 the Club were indebted to the Jockey Club for the use of certain stands or boxes until the latter were pulled down; and a matshed served as Club house for some wighteen months, pending the completion of a new permanent building in March 1931. The course was a 9 hole, one, at first utilizing most of the gound inside the racecourse but a s créicket and football needed more space it was altered in 1908 or e arly in 1909, to more or less s resent position encircling the playing grounds area only.
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