Hstory

Golf Course Opened.
A report from the Express Thursday 18th June 1925.
Saturday June 13th 1925, A interesting ceremony at Tredegar and Rhymney District Golf Club.
Established in May 1921, when a number of professional people decided to open a golf course on the mountain between the
industrial towns of Tredegar and Rhymney, overlooking the village of Abertysswg and the view down the Rhymney Valley. 
They rented a number of fields from the local farmer and set about the long, tedious and costly business of turning it 
into a playable golf course.
Although play has been taking place at Tredegar and Rhymney District Golf club for two or three years, it was not formally   
opened until last Saturday June 6th 1925 because the greens were not in a satisfactory playing condition and it was thought 
desirable to first place the club on a firm basis.
Thanks to the perseverance of a number of “diehards” who were undaunted by the difficulties confronting them, this  
consummation has at last been reached and the club now have a course of which they can be justly proud, a good
membership and all the facilities for taking its place among the recognised golf clubs of South Wales.
The course is a most picturesque one, running in three terraces on the mountain between Tredegar and Rhymney,
affording glorious views and the air is heavily laden with health giving ozone equal to the best spa in England and Wales. 
The greens and fairways have been excellently prepared by the club professional Mr Phillips and many experts in the game
have complimented him upon his success. Describing the greens as among some of the best in the district. 
A spacious clubhouse has been erected in a convenient position, considerable attention has been given to the drainage and to
the approach everything possible done for the convenience and comfort of the members and the visitors. 
There was a large company at the formal opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon, the event being favoured with glorious
weather which enabled the visitors to see the course at its very best. 
Captain Dr. F.D. O’Neill, in asking Dr. E.T.H. Davies, Chairman of the club, to declare the course open said he had two very 
pleasureable duties to perform, the first being to extend to all the visitors a most cordial welcome to the course. 
The officers and members of the club were very glad to see them, so that they might share with them the
delights of the situation on such a glorious afternoon.They hoped they would have a perfectly pleasurable time.
The other duty he had to perform was to ask Dr Davies, their enthusiastic and highly efficient chairman to formally open
the course and he (Captain Dr O'Neill) was asked to present him with that wonderful weapon, a golf driver, with which to  
drive a mighty ball from the first tee. (Laughter and Applause). 
Dr. E.T.H. Davies, in accepting the driver, thanked the ladies and gentlemen of the committee for honouring him by asking
him to open the course. He was reminded of a remark Mr. Ramsay Macdonald the ex-premier, that 
Life is like golf, the more you force the less you cover.
Dr. Davies referred to the early beginnings of the club and its uphill struggles and said that were it not for the generosity 
of the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company they would not have been able to take part in that ceremony.
About four to five years ago some of them had approached Mr A.S. Tallis, the managing director of the company, with a
request for assistance and they very generously contributed £150.00 and made the gift of a clubhouse as a start. 
He was afraid that they had frittered away the money on the greens in the earlier years of the club and they fell on evil days, 
but their optimistic friends kept pegging away undaunted by difficulties and the result was that delightful course
But their optimistic friends kept pegging away undaunted by difficulties and the result which they were 
opening that afternoon. (Applause)
Dr. Davies referred to the splendid services of the Captain Dr. F.D. O’Neill and said it would not be impossible for any club to
have a more enthusiastic officer.Captain Dr O’Neill had come up there time after time not to play golf but to map out the
course and the condition of the course at the present time was almost entirely due to Dr. O’Neill and Mr T Roberts, who   
was unable to be with them that afternoon owing to him being at Windsor with the Rhymney Choir and who was responsible 
for discovering their professional Mr Phillips.
They would be able to see for themselves when they went around the course what splendid work Mr Phillips had put in with
the loyal help of several enthusiastic members of the committee.
The greens would now compare favourably with any about the locality and they were as good as anything provided by the
ratepayers (Laughter and Applause)
It afforded him the greatest personal pleasure to open the course and he did so with utmost enthusiasm. (Loud Applause)
Dr. Davies then drove a ball from first tee amid applause and formally declared the course open.
Mr. W.H. Trump (Rhymney) moved a vote of thanks to Dr. Davies for performing the opening ceremony and said that the
indomitable perseverance of Dr. Davies was largely responsible for the existence of the club.
Mr. D. Bowen BA (Tredegar) seconded and referred to the hard work of Captain Dr O’Neill and the lady members of the club
in making the ceremony a success.  
Ald. T.J. Price JP in supporting the motion expressed his great happiness in being present in those delightful surroundings in
such glorious sunshine and with such fine company.
He felt that to be in such company, under such conditions greatly benefited him in health. He was never so convinced as
then of the true value of social intercourse, friendship and loyalty to each other. It was the duty of everyone to cultivate that
spirit which would help England in its present dilemma. (Applause)
The visitors appreciated the kindness of the club in inviting them to take part in that delightful little ceremony.
It was a revelation to him to find they had such an excellent course. He was convinced from what he saw that day that they
had the right people in charge. He hoped they would find great pleasure in coming up there and taking part in a game and 
benefiting from the beautiful air and the charming surroundings. (Applause)
The vote was heartily accorded and Dr Davies breifly responded.
The visitors then strolled around the course watching the players and admiring the well-laid greens and the beautiful views. 
Returning to the clubhouse, a splendid tea was served in the open-air, which was greatly enjoyed. 
The lady members of the club catered excellently for the visitors.
The Officers of the club are:
Chairman                 Dr. E.T.H. Davies
Treasurer                Mr. D.E. Hughes
Joint Secretaries     Miss Queenie Price Tredegar and Mr. J. Morgan Davies Rhymney
Captain                     Captain Dr. F.D. O’Neill Rhymney
Vice Captain            Mr. D.H. Jones Tredegar 
 
On Saturday 5th July 2003 the golf course was officially opened as a 
18 hole golf course with thanks to the sportlot and the magnificent efforts of the members past and present. 
The course was officially opened by Mr Paul Mayo PGA of Newport Golf Club, 
Former British amateur champion and Former European Tour Professional.