SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN 



ing in former times. An old window bill gives 

 the following : — 



Westerfield Races 1797 : 

 On Whitsun Tuesday, will be run for on the 

 <jreen, a new saddle and bridle, by Hobbies, not 

 measuring more than 1 3 hands high, two rounds to 

 a heat, the best of three heats, the second best to 

 have the bridle. The drum to beat at five and 

 ^art .it six. Every owner to enter his hobby, and 

 pay 2 shillings and 6 pence, between the hours of 

 j 2 and 3 on the day of running. 



The drum was the signal to clear the course 



before racing commenced. Robert Blomefield, 

 the Suffolk poet, alludes to the old custom in 

 ' Richard and Kate on Fairday ' — 



And now, as at some nobler places, 

 Twas by the leaders thus decreed, 



Time to begin the Dickey Races, 



More famed for laughter than for speed. 



Colonel McCalmont's steeplechase course at 

 Newmarket is in Suffolk. The Suffolk Hunt 

 have an annual point-to-point race at Hawstcad 

 and Cockfield alternately. 



GOLF 



The course of the Aldeburgh Club, founded 

 in 1884 by Mr. T- G. S. Anderson, is beautifully 

 situated a mile from the town, on a sandy heath. 

 The course has been lengthened and the greens 

 very much improved of late ; the lies are good. 

 The membership, including ladies (who also play 

 over the course), is 418. 



The Beccles Club, instituted in 1899, has its 

 course, which consist;" of nine holes, on the com- 

 mon, half a mile from the station. Felixstowe 

 Golf Club claims the distinction of being the 

 first one founded in the county. It was estab- 

 lished in 1880, when there existed only five other 

 clubs in England. 1 The course is situated in the 

 only area of real seaside golfing turf on the Suffolk 

 coast — namely, along the seashore between the 

 high ground occupied by the town and the mouth 

 of the River Deben. Before the foundation of 

 the present club golf had been played for two or 

 three years on the common on the opposite side 

 of the town, towards Landguard Fort. Lord 

 Wemyss (then Lord Elcho) receives credit for 

 discovery of the existing course ; being an ex- 

 perienced golfer, he recognized its possibility. 

 He was greatly assisted by Mr. F. W. Wilson, 

 late M.P. for Mid-Norfolk ; Mr. John Kerr, 

 M.P. for Preston ; Colonel Lloyd Anstruther, 

 Mr. Cecil Anstruther, and others. Lord Elcho 

 gave great assistance in procuring the ground 

 from the War Office (one of the two martello 

 towers standing thereon was used as a club-house 

 before the present club premises at the Felixstowe 

 end of the links was acquired), and Mr. John Ken- 

 was instrumental in bringing a large number of 

 the Wimbledon Club members, who to this day 

 constitute the backbone of the club. Mr. John 

 Kerr won the medal at the opening meeting, 

 Lord Elcho being also a competitor. The course 

 consists of only nine holes, but it includes two or 

 three of the best holes to be found on any cous- 

 in Scotland or England, the eighth and ninth 

 being particularly good. The greens arc very 

 undulating, and the putting requires great skill. 



1 Blackheath, Wimbledon, Westward Ho !, Hoylake, 

 -,r.d Alnwick. 



The present course is at times greatly oxer- 

 crowded, and a few years back an attempt was 

 made to extend the course along the river bank, 

 but the project fell through. Ladies play on a 

 few holes separate from the gentlemen's course. 

 Lord Wemyss is still president. 



The Ipswich Club, which was founded in 

 1895 by a few gentlemen interested in the game, 

 has its course on Rushmere Heath, about two 

 miles from the town. The management was for 

 a time hampered by the refusal of the commoners 

 to permit the furze to be sufficiently cut away; 

 but this, to some extent, has been overcome ; 

 the greens are good. The membership is now 

 300, including ladies, who also play over the 

 course. The Lowestoft Club was instituted in 

 1887. The course of nine holes is situated on 

 the North Denes, about a mile from South 

 Lowestoft station. This course is used by fisher- 

 men for drying their nets, and for this reason 

 is not available at some seasons. Efforts are being 

 made to acquire a better site. The Southwold 

 Club was founded in 1884 in conjunction with a 

 Quoit Club, the latter soon dying out. The 

 original course consisted of only nine holes on a 

 common close to the town and station, but in 

 1 904, at a cost of £600, it was increased to 

 eighteen holes, under the direction of the late 

 Tom Dunn. Ladies play over the course. There 

 are 190 members ; the Earl of Stradbroke is presi- 

 dent. The Stowmarket Club course consists of 

 nine holes on the outskirts of the town. The 

 Waveney Valley Club, whose course is situated 

 close to the town of Bungay, was instituted in 

 I 889 by the principal residents in the neighbour- 

 hood, with Mr. F. C. Morrice as its first presi- 

 dent. It originally started as a nine-hole course, 

 but in 1896 a club-house was erected, and the 

 course extended to eighteen holes. It is pleasantly 

 situated on high ground ; the grass is short and 

 fine, affording good lies, and gorsc forms natural 

 hazards. The Woodbridge Club was instituted 

 in 1893 by Major Rooper King with a nine-hole 

 course, later enlarged by Major Howcy to eighteen 

 holes; it is situated on an undulating heath one and 

 a half miles from Woodbridge. The course, which 



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