History

A brief history of the Metropolitan Golf Club

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE METROPOLITAN GOLF CLUB 1895 -
Our thanks go to the efforts of our President Mr Mike O’Connor for all his unselfish endeavors to preserve the history in his writings. Also to Wikipedia and Google and various writers who thought it important to preserve the history of our unique Metropolitan Golf Club. Amongst our current members, in particular Dave Gruss and Selwyn Veley, who shared various stories and bits of information that would otherwise have been lost.

Index

1. The Canon
   
2. The early years - The Green and Sea Point Golf Club
   
3. Oh please let there be 18 holes!!!
   
4. Back to the early days –The War years
   
5. Metropolitan enters the golfing scene with a bang
6. A modern approach to Green Keeping
   
7. The Second World War
   
8. The early post World War II years
   
9. The big move
   
10. Dear Sally

1. The Canon

Sometime during 1780 a cannon is broken from its mould at Stafsjö Brub, a then 114 year old Swedish artillery manufacturer. It is part of a Dutch munitions order required to defend its worldwide colonial investments. Later that year the canon makes the short sail around Skagen and then south down the European west coast to Rotterdam. It becomes part of the stockpile of artillery destined for the Cape of Good Hope to defend its interests against the might of the British Empire who had its eyes set on this popular stopover point to the rich pickings of the Oriental markets. In 1784 the cannon is mounted as part of the “3 Anchor” or “Mouille Point”
Artillery Battery.

The name Mouille comes from the French word for anchoring ground. In the early 18th century, wrecks were common in Table Bay and the then Governor Swellengrebel (after which the town of Swellendam was called) decided that a breakwater was needed to protect vessels against the stormy weather of the Cape of Good Hope. Work began in 1743. All farmers who delivered their goods to the city were required to re-load up their wagons with stones, drive out to Mouille Point and offload it there for the building project. Slaves and convicts were also used to build the breakwater, but after three years of labour and high seas, just 100m had been built and the project was abandoned. In 1781 the French arrived and built artillery battery near the unfinished mouille, naming it Mouille Point Battery.

In 1797 our canon fell into the hands of the enemy when the British occupied the Cape and later again in 1806. In the peace years that followed the canon served a less distinguished career as a decorating piece for the British regimental headquarters. In later years when horse racing became a popular pastime for the military during their assignments to the Cape Colony, a race track was developed at Mouille Point and the canon was called back into service, though not to take care of the stragglers, but as a track marker on the course.

2. The early years - The Green and Sea Point Golf Club

Before 1895 the travel of the then growing golfing population to the Rondebosch to go play at the Cape Golf Club (later called the Royal Cape Golf Club) got a bit too far for the Cape Town, Green and Sea Point inhabitants and they decided to develop a new golf club at Mouille Point called the Green and Sea Point Golf Club. Headed by a Mr. Persse, they laid out a nine hole golf course adjacent to the Race Track and the Vlei. The Vlei was filled all year round and hosted the Sea Point Boating Club who had regular meets there on Sundays. The Club hired a locker at the Three Anchor Bay Railway Station to store sundry club equipment, and a room rented just off the Main Road became the Clubhouse.

The course had the following characteristics.

• There were one grass green and eight gravel greens
  
• Most of the holes meandered around the two vlei's
  
• One hole finished close to the Mouille Point Light House much like 12th today
  
• The last hole was back toward the Main Road
  
• The normal obstacles included the vlei's as hazards, hoof marks, an crossing the railway line.
  

In 1895 when the Club was formed they organised their first match against the Cape Golf Club who was then already ten years old. The latter won the match by 37 holes to one (?). This match was held annually thereafter until 1899 with the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War. Once again the military needs prevailed and the Green Point Common was commandeered for the training, exercising and stabling of thousands of horses required by the war effort. The club had no choice but to disband.

The War concluded in 1902 and the golf club arose Phoenix like from the ashes (and dust) of that fateful era and again flourished despite sinister rumours as to the extent of ground being required for the Great Industrial Exposition which was reported to be threatening the links in 1904. The Club was renamed rather pretentiously to Metropolitan Golf Club. A cottage, the Roseberry-Terrace was hired close to the Light House as the Club House and a new course was laid out on the same strip of land.

This arrangement was never satisfactory and in 1906 the Club approached Council, who at that time were in control of the Common, to lease a new piece of land. The golf course that existed prior to World Cup was then developed. The old Race Course Stand, also known as the White House or later Seagulls became the new club house. Today this building can still be seen as the double storey part of the current Mc Donald’s. A photo of the building from that era adorns the foyer of the Ladies cloak room. Services at the Club were Spartan with no hot water, a condition that even exists today from time to time at the new club house.

During the construction of a bunker on the course a worker’s pick struck something solid. Upon inspection a cannon was identified and unearthed, the same one that started out from Stafsjö Brub in Sweden. The cannon was then moved to the club house as an ornament and later again to the current club house where it still stands today.

In 1915 plans to upgrade the club house was submitted by a Mr. J B Dey at a cost of £1000. Before this money could be expended, a new extended lease was required as the current one was to run out in 1916. The request for the lease was delayed due to an objection from a person who had grazing rights for his oxen on the Common. By the time this was resolved in 1916, the costs of the renovation has increased by 50% to £1500, another condition that seems to plague the Metropolitan Golf Club throughout its existence to date.
Even in those years slow play was a scourge and the Secretary had to write to a Mr. J A Byers pointing out to him that his actions caused a hold up in play and that he should improve his speed of play. Golf was not allowed on Sundays and the Chairman, the then Mr. H J C Stephan, had to speak to 12 members taking their chance on this holy day. Fortunately by 1916 a General Meeting voted by 16 votes to 1 that rule 40, prohibiting golf on Sundays be rescinded, after consultation with the Police Commissioner in this regard.
In 1913 the Club agreed to Messrs Cleghorn and Harris to supply aerated water on Saturdays between 3 and 6 pm. This right was withdrawn a year later and Club supplied tea and two biscuits each to members at a cost of 3d.

On the golfing side things also flourished when Mrs. S M Macpherson won the SA Amateur at Royal Cape in 1914. In this same famous year the Club agreed to a request from the Olympic Sport Club to arrange a Thursday afternoon competition due to the clashes on Wednesday race days. Soon this age old tradition will be in its centenary year.

Mr. Logan was appointed the Club Professional in 1913 at a salary of £5 per month. He was however allowed to substitute his income by giving lessons at no more than 2/6d per hour. The green fees in those years were 1 shilling (10 cents) for visitors for 18 holes and 2/6d (25 cents) for a whole day for a member. Members of the armed services who are on active duty away may have their subscription fees for the year reduced proportionately. The annual subs for men was 3 guineas and for ladies 1 guinea. Entrance fee 2 guineas.

Green keeping was also critically important those years and with the upgrades completed on the club house, the committee agreed that 2 oxen be purchased for £15. The chain and yoke was also approved as well as a second roller. However later that year a complaint was received from the Municipality and the oxen had to be sold. £3 profit was realized.

3. Oh please let there be 18 holes!!!

The need for 18 holes is an issue that must have occupied meetings with members the most of all issues in the history of the Club. Between 1906 and 1915 the Council was approached on several occasions with the request to have this glorious course so close to the City extended to 18 holes but to no avail. Then the World War started and Council had other priorities. In 1921 mention of the need of an 18 hole golf course was raised again and by 1925 Mr. H J C Stephan, Captain of the Club as well as Councilor, proposed that he, on behalf of the ward, bring forward a comprehensive scheme that will include an additional nine holes. Not much happened and again in 1933 Mr. H J C Stephan, now President of the Club suggested urgent need for the club to be extended to 18 holes, but as Mayor he will not be able to help the club at present – this will have to wait until his mayoral duties were finished. That same year a letter to Council was tabled for an additional 9 holes. Council reported back that no decision will be taken until the reclamation work had been completed – I assume this must be the area around the 6th and 7th holes that was the previous hi water mark. This piece of land was later made available to the club for the building of the clubhouse and the short hole. In 1935 serious negotiations with Council restarted regarding the extra nine holes. By 1937 only minor legal aspects were delaying the acquiring of the extra 9 holes. In 1938 Council confirmed that a provision has been made for £2000 in respect of the extra nine holes. The club was asked to submit plans and details of the work. In 1939 Mr. Stephan once again assured a meeting that the scheme for the extra nine holes was virtually completed. Then the Second World War started and all plans were once again abandoned.

In 1942 the now Life President and Col, H J C Stephan congratulated the Committee on the fine condition of the course and stated that when the extra 9 holes were acquired the membership would treble. In 1944 Life President Col H J C Stephan again congratulated the Committee on the fine condition of the course and its finances. The number of visitors the past year showed that it is an absolute necessity for the extra nine holes, which would have happened had it not been for the unfortunate war.

It is now 1946. Life President Col H J C Stephan stated that the time had now come to have something done about the 9-hole course and the Track. With all the space available it should possible to convert the Common into a large sports centre including an 18-hole golf course. He will do everything he can at this end of the City to get it done. Low and behold later that year Messrs. Sonnenberg and Stephan presented a new 16-hole layout for the Met. Two of the current holes would be lost but a new extra nine would be built. The meeting expressed disappointment of the loss of the two holes and requested the Council’s Amenities Committee receive a deputation from the Club.

Then came the big divide. In 1947 the Green Point Common Scheme were tabled whereby the Common would be laid out into a large sports area accommodating different disciplines. If the Golf Club’s extra nine holes were to be included in the scheme then several sporting bodies and the “non-European community” would be excluded. Colonel Stephan had done great deal of work to bring this Green Point Common Scheme to fruition and felt it unfair to give the extra holes to Metropolitan at the cost of many other sportsmen in the Green and Sea Point area - a full 21 years after he proposed the extra nine holes. The members understandably then turned on him. Councilor Fritz Sonnenberg felt that Amenities Committee of the Council erred in adopting the Scheme which was too ambitious, and hoped that Colonel Stephan would agree to a spirit of compromise. Colonel Stephan had committed himself to the Scheme and, feeling that he could not serve two masters, decided that the time has come for him to relinquish his position as President. Mr. William McCall was elected in his place.

In 1948 a deputation of the Club met the Administrator of the Cape in connection with the proposed extension of the course from 9 to 18 holes. On 24 March the club was advised by the CPA that it would not be able to intercede with the City of Cape Town.

In 1950 a letter was received from Council relating to plan drawn up by the Met for an 18-hole golf course. The Council stated categorically that the additional area had not been offered to the club and that the proposal shown on the plan must still be submitted to the responsible Committee and Council for consideration. A letter dated 14 August 1950 from Council stated that after full consultations, the Council was not able to agree to a proposal for an extension to the Metropolitan Golf Course.

Further deputations right up to 1997 and again in 2000 by our own Fergus Kenny brought no luck. When the World Cup came in 2010, all available land was developed and that finally closed the book on this saga

Oh what could have been!!!

4. Back to the early days –The War years

This mostly as recorded from Minutes from our esteemed President Mr. Mike O’Connor As mentioned earlier a special dispensation was given to members who were away on active service during The War. In 1916 one of our members Lieutenant W Tempany was wounded during the fateful Delville Wood campaign. The War effort clearly had a huge impact on the Club as can be ascertained of the information supplied by the Secretary in 1918 when called upon to supply a list of male club members 76 over military age 9 of military age but with families 16 on active service 2 rejected members 2 members killed in action 5 single members

From this it is clear that the War’s impact war paramount to the thoughts of members. In 1919 the Committee further reported to members that the balance of revenue over expenditure was small owing to low green fees during November and December, but since the signing of Armistice there had been a pleasing increase in visitors to the Club.

5. Metropolitan enters the golfing scene with a bang

By now Mr. Logan, our professional has moved on and Mr. Fred Jangle was appointed in 1917 in his place on a salary of £3 per month. In 1922 he enters the South African Open at the Royal Port Alfred and wins the Open Championships, the second oldest in the world after the Open, with a score of 310. This after having to fend off stiff opposition from the famous Sid and Jock Brews, as well as Bert Elkin and Archie Tosh, both previous winners who in later years became Professionals at the Met.

In the same year the Club’s own Captain donated the Stephan Trophy to the Western Province Golf union for a scratch match play tournament between the Western Province Clubs. In 1925 the Royal Cape agreed to enter the Stephan Competition and that paved the way for the rest of the “senior” clubs to follow suit.

The previous 10 year lease signed in 1916 was about to run out but fortunately The Captain Mr. Stephan and the Secretary, Mr. Harry Solomon, secured a new 20 year lease with the Council. It is interesting to note that both these gentlemen’s names are still carried on the trophies of the two premier competitions in the Western Province. In 1926 one of our members Mr. A C Rolfe won the Western Province Amateur.

Interesting to note from the minutes of that era that a request for 250 Rule Books to be printed was passed while at the same time they only required 200 score cards from the same printing order. Normally such a number of score cards would only last a couple of days, so it makes me wonder if players re-used cards.

In 1927 Archie Tosh joined Fred Jangle as a fellow professional at the Club followed by Bert Elkin in 1928. By then the Club boasted 3 South African Open winners. That year the Met was also visited by the top British golfing team consisting of Messrs Cyril Trolley and H O Montmorency, Major Hezlit and Captain Pearson. Though as expected our team was beaten, they put up a good performance.
In 1929 the golfers became a bit finicky, much like some of today still is, and the Committee relented to cart tracks and hoof marks to be classified G.U.R.

In 1930 one of our members was caught cheating and one of the caddies a Mr. B Peterson was called in as a witness and corroborated the veracity of that fact. Accordingly the following missive was dispatched to the offending party:

” I have been instructed by my Committee to submit the under mentioned statement by a caddy named B Peterson as under:
1. That on the 8th fairway (competition of 9th August) you improved your lie by moving your ball.

2. That on the 8th green you putted and re-hit your ball while in the same motion 3. That on playing the 9th green you pulled your ball away from the bunker with your putter and thus improved your lie”

Caddies as Marshalls – what a great idea!!

Then things quieted down for while. The 1932 Committee reported to the members the increase in expenditure over income was largely due to a drop in green fees, caused by the Depression.
In 1933 the Secretary wrote to the Manager of the Wallabies who were on tour in South Africa, that during their stay in the Peninsula, they could enjoy the courtesy of the course. Interestingly in 2011 this same courtesy will be extended to the Australian Cricket Team during a fundraising event to be held at the Club.
In 1934 a member Mr. W C Archibald reached the semi-finals of the W P Amateur

6. A modern approach to Green Keeping.

Up to this stage in the Met’s history, first oxen, and the later horse were the prime power sources for the course mowing equipment and as such green keeping were limited to an infrequent activity. Greens were mown by hand pushed roller blade mowers. By 1937 a Mr. Bowie thought it good that the Met should enter the modern era and proposed that a small motor car be purchased for the purpose of pulling the mower to speed up the cutting of fairways. The Committee agreed on condition that the purchase price did not exceed £15 Due to the Clubs horse now being redundant due to this technological advance, the Secretary was authorized to dispose of the horse at a figure of £8 or best offer procurable (not sure if dispose meant selling in working condition or for other purposes). However before this transaction could be finalised, the Secretary reported that the old horse had been knocked down by a motor car while roaming the Main Road after dark. It was presumed that somebody unknown had let him out of the paddock. The members insisted that under no circumstances should this matter be dropped until fully investigated. Seems like a strong bond have formed over the years between the members and the horse in question.

7. The Second World War

“Committee Meeting of 12 October 1939 – the courtesy of the course shall be extended to all members of the armed services” – and so the Metropolitan re-started its relationship with war for the third time. The club championships of 1940 were cancelled as the club then had 16 members away on active service. A deduction of 1/3 of all sweepstakes would in future be taken and passed on to the Ambulance fund and 2/6d per player levied on all Mixed and Holiday Competitions in aid of War Funds.

As mentioned in the 18-hole saga, the war also put a stop on all efforts to extend the course by an additional 9 holes.

Towards the end of the war the Club can once again started to focus their attention to the issue at hand namely golf. The impact of the war was still however still rife. Not only were food coupons the order of the day, golf balls were also a scarce commodity due to factories being retooled for the War effort. This can be ascertained from the Committee meeting of 4 July 1945.

The Chairman advised that 32 balls for the men’s section and 10 balls for the ladies section had been received. These would be sold at 8/- apiece. A list would be posted at the clubhouse advising those wishing to purchase a ball to append their names. Thereafter a draw would have to be made for any balls remaining. Unfortunate the shortage of tea also forced the club to increase the price for a cuppa to 5d.

By 1 August of ’45 the Committee agreed that the time had come for the club to charge men in uniform a green fee of 1/6d. per 18 holes. This would however not apply to men on convoy.

8. The early post World War II years

Two of our young guns Ken de Vos and Pat Conway served as pilots during the Second World War. Apart from their aerial prowess they were also very adept at golf. Pat won the club championships in ‘46 and ‘50 and Ken in ‘56 and ‘59.

Soon after the end of the War it was back to normal again with the ambitious plans for the second nine being tossed around but still to no avail.

At least on the golfing scene it was back to normal again. In 1949 a letter was received from the Ladies Section reporting a Doctor who shall remain anonymous for playing on the course during the Ladies Competition!! The Committee agreed to send letter to the interloper requesting him to discontinue this practice.

And early in ’51 the Secretary was instructed to write a letter to certain gentlemen residing in the vicinity of the course who were suspected of playing without playing green fees, requiring that they should desist from this unworthy practice.

9. The big move

The building that housed the Club was erected in 1872. Originally it was part of the Race Course stand. The Club occupied it since 1906 and by the mid fifties some serious repairs were required to keep the place functional. Slowly a movement aroused amongst the members that the Club had outgrown the building and by 1956 the Members authorized the Committee to proceed with plans for a new club hose and to take the necessary steps for raising the required funds. It was anticipated that total cost would be in the vicinity of £15 000.
In 1958 the then President and for years the Secretary of the Club, Mr. H A Solomon was elected a member of the Royal and Ancient Club of St Andrews.

On 20 August 1959 the new Club House was officially opened. Total cost £17 000. Any surprise in this 20% over expenditure? The Clubhouse is still occupied by the Club today but has undergone two further extensions, the last being the 2009/2010 upgrade.

10. Dear Sally

“Committee Meeting 25 June 1962 – Please advise the Ladies Committee that Mr. Percy Little’s daughter, Sally, has the Committees approval for Prentice Membership.”
Under the guidance of her father, who’s famous saying “hit it with your arse” must have stayed with her for life, she become Metropolitan’s most renowned member. It is absolutely wonderful to have her back in our midst.

“21 December 1965 – Competition – Medal. The winner of the girls section – Miss Sally Little 76 gross less 10 handicap – net 66”. Two years later she wins the WP Open and three years later she posts the best score in World Amateur team championship.
The following is an excerpt from an article written by T.Kawadza for the South Africa’s Greatest Captains and Sport Heroes web magazine.

“During her remarkable career as a professional golfer, Sally Little won 15 LPGA titles, including three Majors, then went on to become a founder member of the Women’s Senior Golf Tour and the official ambassador for the Women’s World Cup of Golf. Little’s early role models were two of the most inspiring any young golfer could wish for. Playing at the Metropolitan Club in Cape Town where her father, Percy, was a member, Sally met and was tutored by iconic greats Gary Player and Bobby Locke.

Her progress was meteoric. She was picked for Western Province as a 15-year-old schoolgirl in 1967; in the same year she won the Women’s Western Province Championship and over the next four years went on to capture a number of local titles. In 1970, Little also shot the lowest individual score at the World Amateur team championship in Madrid and added the South African Match Play title to her growing list of accomplishments.

A bigger stage beckoned and little traveled to the United States to join the LPGA Tour in 1971. She made an immediate impact, being voted Rookie of the Year, but had to wait another five years before claiming her first title, when she holed a lengthy bunker shot on the last hole at the 1976 Women’s International to snatch victory by a single shot from Jan Stephenson.

Little enjoyed a marvelous run of form between 1978 and 1982, by winning thirteen tournaments and ending among the top ten money-earners in each of those years. 1982 proved to be the most prolific of her career as she won four events, earned a career-high $228 000 and carded a career low 64 in the second round at the Dinah Shore Invitational. Little was to experience the vagaries of sport the following year, however, when her career was put on hold due to knee and abdominal surgery. But she returned to the game with characteristic zest to become the LPGA’s 12th dollar millionaire in 1985, and finish runner-up in the 1986 US Open after losing an eighteen-hole play-off to Jane Geddes. Little’s tenacity over this challenging phase of her career was rewarded in 1989 when she was the recipient of the Ben Hogan Award, an accolade given annually to a golfer who has fought back from serious illness or injury. Arguably South Africa’s greatest ever woman golfer. In 2005 in Sandton, she was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her efforts as a player, coach and supporter of South Africa's development programme.”

Thank you Sally for all you have done and your continued efforts in promoting the Met. May you still be with us for a long time.