A Brief Summary Of Tyneside's Early History
13 November 1879
Club founded at inaugural meeting in The Douglas Hotel, Newcastle. Twenty five founder members recorded.
Spring 1880
Course designed by Mungo Park opens on Ryton Willows. Later in the same year, his nephew Willie Park Jnr is appointed as professional. (Park Jnr later wins the Open on two occasions, whilst attached to Royal Musselburgh GC).
22 May 1900
F E Thew establishes course record of 79 over course measuring 4960 yards.
May 1903
New course (designed by club pro Richard Collins) opens over the Western Falls of Ryton. Fees recorded as two guineas (2.10) per annum.
May 1903
Ladies admitted as members for first time, but not allowed access to clubhouse.
July 1908
Club membership increases to 140. Course at this time understood to measure 5550 yards.
Spring 1911
Current course designed by Harry S Colt opens for play. Current clubhouse ("Golf Pavilion") opens at a cost of 720.
April 1913
Membership reaches 300. Waiting list in operation.
Continuing....
1918
Club Professional and renowned course architect J.S. Fernie injured in battle during WWI but later returns to his Tyneside duties.
1926
First motor tractor purchased by the club to be used in maintaining the course.
1935
Frank Havis secures his 11th Club Championship. (This remains a record).
1938
Clubhouse now lit by electric lighting some 6 years after central heating had been installed!
1941
All green keepers are away on National Service. The course is left in the hands of two labourers and volunteers from the membership.
1944
As the war years take their toll on the club, 75 guineas is raised from member donations to keep the company viable.
1950
Subscription fees noted as the equivalent of £7.35 (men) £3.67 (women) and £1.05 (juniors). Retainer paid to professional (C.W. Glover) - 150
1960 (circa)
Land acquired at the western extreme of the course, enabling the repositioning of the sixth green and construction of a new seventh tee box. A little later, major earthworks are carried out to reshape the 13th hole and reduce the gradient of the fairway. Although further less significant amendments have been made in more recent years, these developments leave us with the course we play today.
1964
Malcolm (Mac) Gunn appointed as club professional a post he is to hold for the following 40 years. During this time, Mac qualifies for The Open on five occasions. His course record of 63 over Gullane 1 during a qualifier in 1972 stands for the following 20 years.
1965
DP Moffitt wins the Club Championship. He continues winning "major" club competitions over a period of 41 years and over five different decades. This is believed to be a record.
1973
Former English Schoolboy Champion Neville Dunn wins his 8th Club Championship - a post war record.
1979
Tyneside centenary year. The first official visit to Tyneside of members from the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club. The partnership established then continues today.
1993
Tyneside forge links with Castlerock Golf Club and institute the Mark Ryder Trophy; played for between the clubs' juniors biannually.
2000
Tyneside, who were founder members of the Durham Union (1908), secure their ninth Durham Club Championship.
2001
Andrew Gunn shoots a course record 63, playing off a handicap of 4.
2001
Mrs Margaret Jones becomes the first lady to be voted onto the main club committee.
2003
Ricky Lee secures the Club Championship with a record 36 hole total of 135 and retains his title with the same score the following year. Ricky goes on to secure the Durham Matchplay Championship in 2007.
2004
Mrs Anne Biggs wins her fifteenth Ladies Club Championship, having captured her first title thirty three years earlier.
