Came Down Golf Club, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8NR.
|
|
The Whitcombe BrothersErnest, Charles, Reg and the Ryder CupThe history of the club between 1910 and 1927 is dominated by the golfing achievements of the Whitcombe brothers. It was at Came Down that they developed the golfing skills that made them such formidable professional tournament players later in their careers.
The Whitcombe Brothers Historian Peter Fry has spent many years researching the history of the Whitcombe family. In 1994 Peter published an excellent book entitled: The Whitcombes "A Golfing Legend". Their time spent at Came Down as club professionals is summarised in Chapter 3 of the book: "Maturing years at Came Down" In 1910 Ernest, the elder brother, was appointed club professional at the age of 19. Previously he had worked at Burnham and Berrow. He was joined shortly afterwards by his mother, Mrs Bessie Whitcombe (who was the club stewardess from 1910 to 1927) and his two younger brothers, Charles and Reg. They all squeezed into the clubhouse where they lived for several years. Charles, aged 15, helped Ernest in the shop and Reg, the youngest, went to school at Winterbourne Monkton but was later apprenticed to his big brother Ernest. The brothers served in the forces in the First World War but afterwards returned to Came Down. In 1920 Charles moved to Radyr Golf Club near Cardiff, Ernest went to Meyrick Park in 1925 and Reg became the professional at Parkstone in 1927. The brothers' golfing careers really took off in the 1920's and their names were soon in the forefront of area and national tournaments. The Whitcombes' Ryder Cup record is unique. Between them they made 10 Ryder Cup appearances. In 1935 the three brothers made the same Ryder Cup team in the United States. This achievement will probably never be equalled on either side of the Atlantic. In 1938 Reg won the Open Championship at the Royal St George's links.
|
