Button # 265 Image submitted by Martin Moseling Button # 265a Back Button # 387 Image submitted by a Private Collector Back of Button # 387a Back Button # 730 Image submitted by Dixon Pickup Button # 730a 'Firmin & Sons 153 Strand London & 2 Dawson St. Dublin'. 'F&S' Birmingham HM 1906 Description Bognor Golf Club - The club was first formed in the winter of 1892, in the centre of Bognor Regis approximately 1.5 miles from its current location. Around this time the popularity of Golf was rapidly increasing with new courses being laid out all over the south coast at places like Royal Eastbourne & Seaford (1887), and just along the coast at Littlehampton (1889). In 1906 the club relocated closer to its current location on land between Bognor & Felpham. Mr Ernest Gray, professional at Littlehampton Golf Club was called in to offer his opinion on the new course setup. Mr Gray was no mean golfer either, finishing 5th at the Open Championship that year, won by James Braid, a connection which was to be made again some 20 years later. The opening ceremony took place on 13th June 1906. A feature of the 'Hook Lane'course was the River Rife, which claimed many a ball and created a side industry for the caddies, who retrieved them and carefully washed, dried and re-painted the balls for re-sale in the clubhouse. By the 1920s the fact that Bognor remained a 9 hole course was becoming an issue in attracting and retaining members and visitors. The club committee worked hard to find suitable grounds to relocate to, with potential sites numbering twelve they studied including one at Middleton-on-Sea. The Downview Road site was ultimately chosen, the course being laid out by James Braid and constructed by expert F.G. Hawtree. The new course opened for play on 1st July 1922, but the club decided not to market their new asset until the year after to allow it to mature and bed-in. On 30th June 1923 the ceremonial opening took place, with over 300 people present to watch the first ball driven by Sir William Bird, MP for Chichester. The main event that day was an exhibition match between James Braid of Walton Heath and Alec Herd of Moor Park. Braid won the match by 6&5 with a Gross 72. Much enjoyment followed in the next few years, until the onset of WWII and a difficult period in the club's History. Just 12 holes were open for play to reduce labour costs and generate some income, much of the membership, greenstaff and employees having enlisted to military service. The ladies locker room was given over to the Local Defence Volunteers (Home Guard) to guard against enemy parachutists. A Bofors anti-aircraft gun occupied the area between the 1st & 18th fairways (now the practice area), and piles were erected on the fairways to prevent the landing of German aircraft and troop carrying gliders. The local rules of the club made a number of accommodations during this time, notably: "In competitions, during gunfire, or while bombs are falling players may take cover without penalty for causing undue delay, though a player whose stroke is affected by the simultaneous explosion of a bomb or shell, or by machine-gun fire, may play another ball from the same position with a one stroke penalty" Image # 265 and information submitted by Martin Moseling. Bognor Golf Club Any additional information would be appreciated.

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