History of the Golf Club and Course
It was John Evans, the son of the founder of Evans Medical, who had a house designed and built in 1885 by his architect brother-in-law, Aston Webb. He called the house and the surrounding estate Brackenwood.
In 1929 the property was part of the Leverhulme Estate and was donated to Bebngton Parish Council as a park for the local residents The council used Brackenwood House as council offices. In 1935 when Bebington Golf Club was closed, its greens were moved to Arrowe Park and its members to Brackenwood Park where a new 9 hole course had been laid out.
In those early days the course was shared by Bebington and Brackenwood Golf Clubs and the Oak Room in Brackenwood House was used as a joint club room. Brackenwood Golf Club was created by a small group consisting of Jack Cookson, Lew Hughes, Jim Irvine, Johnny Leese, Magnus Shepherd and Alf Quirk who elected George Patterson as the first Captain. Golf professional, Eric Youds was subsequently appointed.
During the Second World War the fairways were ploughed up and used to grow vegetables and it was not until 1946 that the course was reinstated. Unfortunately the neglect of the war years had not been kind to Brackenwood House. With more urgent priorities for urban regeneration after the war the House become more and more neglected. Various unsuccessful attempts were made by the Urban Council to utilise Brackenwood House but following a survey which identified extensive dry rot the decision was made in 1958 to demolish the building. As use of the house became unsafe the clubhouse was relocated, on 17th April 1954 to a small area of the hay loft above the former stables of Brackenwood House. It was during this move that the decision was made to merge Bebington and Brackenwood Golf Clubs.
The entrance to the club room was via the spiral stairs which are located at left side of the building. Over the years the club progressed further and further along the hay loft until the whole of the upper floor became the club room for the club. In the early 1970’s Lord Leverhulme sold Needham Farm to the Wirral Borough Council and work began to extend the golf course to 18 holes which was formally opened in 1976. Also at this time the club negotiated a extended lease with the Council for the whole building of the former stables while assuming responsibility for the maintenance of the property.
Accordingly through frugal management over many years and the initiation of development fund raising raffle organised by Ray Leadbetter. Mike Murphy and Peter Finlay the club had accumulated funds of £28,000. This, together with a loan from the brewery enabled the club to fulfil a life long ambition to create a clubhouse fit for its members. Work was started in 1992 and opened by the President of the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs, Mr Bickerton on 9th October 1993. The total cost with fixtures and fittings was approximately £80,000.
A Ladies Club was formed in 1936 with the first Lady Captain being Mrs A Goll, the Secretary was Mrs Sophie Abbott and the Treasurer Miss J. Hodkinson. 1974 saw the creation of a junior Section which we believe can hold its own against any other club in respect of the number of juniors who have progressed to either professional or amateur ranking of repute. At least six former juniors joined the professional ranks the most notable being Mark Jones who became the Professional at Wirral Ladies Golf Club, Gary Parsons, the assistant at Ellesmere Port GC, Philip Chandler who went to Caldy GC, Sandeep Growal who joined the Challenge Tour and Mark Eagles the Professional at Bidston GC.
Over the years the club has produced such fine county players as Alan Cliffe, who made over 100 appearances for Cheshire. John Done, a former Cheshire player, Ray Hughes who was for many years the Cheshire Team Captain and lastly Paul Waring who has represented Cheshire and England as an amateur. Paul in now a professional and recently won the Nodeo Masters in Sweden. Just before this achievement Paul was appointed President of the club.