Club History
The story of Penmaenmawr Golf Club is deeply rooted in the history of the surrounding area. Penmaenmawr and neighbouring Dwygyfylchi have long been admired for their dramatic landscapes, with the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) on one side and sweeping views of the Irish Sea on the other.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the town developed as both a thriving quarrying community and a popular seaside resort, attracting visitors in search of fresh air, leisure, and recreation. It was within this atmosphere of growth and ambition that the idea of a golf club was born.
Penmaenmawr Golf Club was officially opened on Thursday, 9th June 1910 by Col. C. H. Darbishire, the first Captain of the Club. Although Col. Darbishire presided over the ceremony, an even more distinguished figure had originally been invited. Mr. Llewelyn Williams, MP for Caernarvonshire, was due to open the club earlier in March, but following the death of King Edward VII the event was postponed.
For the rearranged ceremony, none other than Mr. David Lloyd George, MP (later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) was invited. Though unable to attend, his letter of apology — read out on the day — reflected his enthusiasm for the new course:
“I am a great believer in golf as a healthy and beneficent recreation and I am delighted to find that you are opening new links in your beautiful town.”
— D. Lloyd George
The creation of the course was largely thanks to the vision of enterprising members of the local District Council, who saw that something more than sea and mountain air was needed to attract visitors to the town. Golf, suitable for both men and women of all ages, was chosen as the perfect addition.
The links were laid out by Mr. Wilkinson, a professional from Lancashire, who carefully designed the nine-hole course with an eye to future expansion. If the game proved popular, he ensured the layout could easily be extended to eighteen holes. The original greens were made of mountain turf, hauled down the hillsides by sledge, and remarkably were already in good condition when the course opened after just five months.
The first clubhouse, designed by Mr. R. John Hughes, the Club’s inaugural Secretary, was described as “a beautiful structure erected with great care so that golfers would be perfectly dry inside.” By the time of the official opening, the course had already attracted widespread attention, with many visitors playing and more than eighty local residents signed up as playing members.
Following the formal opening by Col. Darbishire, an exhibition match was staged between Mr. G. Humphreys of Kidderminster (the Midland Champion), Mr. T. C. Mellor of Manchester and Llandudno, and Mr. Fred Collins, the professional from Llandudno. The contest ended with victory for Mr. Collins, winning “three up and two to play.”
From these ambitious beginnings in 1910, Penmaenmawr Golf Club has remained a central part of the community, offering both residents and visitors the chance to enjoy golf in one of the most scenic settings in Wales.