Lytham St.Annes Express, 8 May 1975

FAIRHAVEN GC TO MARK CLUBHOUSE JUBILEE

FAIRHAVEN Golf Club are to celebrate the golden jubilee of the opening of their club-house in Lytham Hall Park later this month.

The actual anniversary date was on Friday, but the club were unable to commemorate the event then because of other commitments.

However, arrangements are in hand for a celebration social, including a film of the opening near the end of the Month. Among the early members who won honours was James Kennedy, who won the Lancashire championship at St Annes Old Links in 1933 beating Roy Walton (Blackpool Park).

A prominent name latterly has been Geoff Birtwell who became an England International and won the Lancashire championship three times. He recently moved to St Annes Old Links.

It was on May 2, 1925, that the clubhouse opening ceremony was performed by vice Captain John Smethurst, who said that for site and position, there was not another club in the district to compete with Fairhaven. The club had their own golf course architect, J. A. steer who was responsible for laying out the course, acting under the advice of James Braid.

Fairhaven also had on the club council men who had given professional services without cost — Mr Arthur Payne (solicitor), Mr John Luke (surveyor), Mr W. Schofield 'surveyor) and Mr Charles Foster (clerk of works).

The Squire of Lytham, Mr J. T. Clifton, said that his ancestors used to train horses on the site of the course. He hoped the links would be as prosperous and celebrated as Royal Lytham and St Annes.

The Mayor, Ald C. F. Critchley, JP. CC, said it was a source of gratification to know that the Fairhaven club was now settled in quarters which might be envied by many clubs.

The club itself was formed in 1895 and was compelled to change its course three times before Moving to its present beautiful surroundings. The pioneers laid the course on the lakeside at Fairhaven, and their club was the lakeside cafe.

Membership then was 143 men and 64 women. Fifty years later it was 399 men and 290 women. Today, it Stands at 525 men, and 222 women.

A portion of the course was on the seaside opposite King Edward VII School, Lytham, and occasionally parts of the links were found under water. Officials pushed the course Farther Inland but it had to be altered again later because of the encroachment of builders

It became rather tiring for members who had to retrieve balls from gardens, so the club moved to Lytham Hall Park. The new clubhouse and laying out of the course cost £15,000.