West Cornwall Golf Club

A brief History

The pioneer of West Cornwall Golf Club was rather strangely perhaps, as a cleric, the Rev. R.F. Tyacke. Where he had learned to play golf or become interested in it is not known. However, the Rev. Tyacke foresaw there was a certain pedigree in the natural land at Lelant and gathering together a number of enthusiasts he quickly had a nine hole golf course constructed.

These events took place in 1889 and it is worthy of mention that the Rev. Tyacke never lost interest in the game or in West Cornwall Golf Club and until 1901, the year of his death, he carried on the duties of Club Secretary.

Twenty years later, in 1921, the Club purchased the land on which the now well known, and for reasons attributed to ‘Long Jim’ Barnes, one might say famous course, now stands,  It is clear the Rev. Tyacke and his friends built in sure foundations, it is thanks to them golfers of today are benefiting to such an extent.

To look at the West Cornwall course is enough to realise the site chosen is an ideal one. It is splendidly situated and it is a true seaside course with fine turf and numerous natural qualities.

Jim Barnes was mentioned earlier, it is to him we now turn our attention. When the great men in the history of golf are discussed the enthusiasts of Lelant can hold their heads high, for Jim Barnes was born here, Barnes was born in Lelant in 1886; it was at West Cornwall he first learned to play the game.

He became assistant to Fred Whiting and stayed for four years, 1902 – 1906, before leaving for fame and fortune in the United States. He became the inaugural winner of the USPGA Championship in 1916 and won again when the tournament was held for the second time in 1919. He won the U.S. Open Championship in 1921 at the Columbia Country Club by a margin of nine strokes and added our own Open Championship in 1925 when he came from five strokes behind in the final round.

He is one of only eight golfers to have won these three majors. Barnes also won the Western Open three times, which in his day, was considered an elite championship.  He never competed in the Masters but on the U.S. Tour he is credited with 20 career victories and 14 second place finishes.

Present day and the clubhouse talk turns to Philip Rowe. Rowe graduated through the Junior Section of West Cornwall, by the age of 14 represented the County of his birth, Cornwall at senior level. He has captained England at junior level and also represented at senior level.  More famously he was a member of the Walker Cup side which defeated the Americans at Nairn in 1999 before graduating out of Stanford University in 2002. Rowe has now turned his attention to a Professional career and West Cornwall Golf Club look forward to a second major winner amongst its membership.

The pleasures of golf at West Cornwall are inexhaustible.  No matter how often you play it you will find:-

“Time cannot wither it, nor custom stale its infinite variety”