Christmas came a little early in December 1945 for golfers who had been missing their favourite sport during the Occupation years as La Moye Golf Club reopened its doors and welcomed players back onto its course.
The club had formed in 1902 when George Boomer, the headteacher of La Moye School, had started laying out a course for golfing enthusiasts in the west of the island to enjoy.
But the club’s members were forced to lay down their irons and putters during the Second World War while La Moye, like much of the island, was heavily wired and fortified.
The German authorities wrought further damage at the golf club by demolishing the clubhouse to provide a clear line of sight over the bay for their guns.
Sadly, the clubhouse had only been rebuilt the decade before after a fire destroyed it on the evening of 4 February 1932.
The La Moye Golf Hotel was also requisitioned by the occupying forces.
Receipts from the Treasury Department show the movement of various items, including furniture and bedding, to the site from other locations.
But after Liberation in May 1945, the Occupation was over and it was time to resume play.
On Thursday, 13 December – 80 years ago this month – La Moye Golf Club was officially reopened.
A ceremony was held at the club, with the Lieutenant Governor, Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Grasett, as the guest of honour.
For many members, the reopening was the first opportunity to see their club after the difficulties of Occupation and an Evening Post report commented: “Everybody expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the officials of the club – with the co-operation of the military authorities – had worked in their efforts to clear the course.”
There was an acknowledgement that it would take a while for it to be completely restored.
In sharing the history of the La Moye golf course, the Evening Post said: “Some years ago James Braid, another Open champion, from exclusive Walton Heath, helped to redesign some of the holes, but yesterday many members had difficulty in recognising them and it will be some time before the course is restored to its former excellence.”
The Lieutenant Governor was welcomed to the club by Mr W H Leopold, the club captain, together with Mr A J May, the honorary secretary, who introduced him to members of the committee.
Despite dull December weather, a large crowd gathered on the first tee to watch the Governor hit the first shot on the reopened course.
The newspaper reported: “This he did with a first rate iron shot which was loudly applauded.
“Mr Ernest Huelin, the newly-elected Deputy for St Brelade and vice-captain of the club, had been selected as an opponent to His Excellency and he too got off with a fine drive.”
The pair played 15 holes and the match ended all square.
Tea and refreshments were served in a new clubhouse, which had been developed in the La Moye Golf Hotel.
This was provided by Mrs J Brackenbury of Brown’s Café in St Brelade’s Bay.
The Canadian flag was flown in honour of the Lieutenant Governor, who had been born there, and it was reported that he was delighted to accept an invitation to become an honorary member of the club.
Looking to the future, the Evening Post concluded: “Everybody agreed that it had been a most happy ceremony, and it is hoped that the day is not far distant when the links, which have been played over by royal personages and some of the world’s greatest golfers, will again be the scene of contests among champions to come.”
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This story has been told as part of a series in collaboration with Jersey Heritage.
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