Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor
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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
not in A.H
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Though mention was made on a Castletown Golf Club in December 1891 when the Ramsey Golf Club was planning to invite members of it and the Douglas Club to partake in their opening day - the first account of the formation of the Club was in the Manx Sun, Saturday, 28th May 1892
GOLF.
Mr T. M. Dodd has at last succeeded in his efforts to get a golf club for the town, for at a meeting held in the College pavilion on Wednesday last, it was resolved to form a Castletown Golf Club, of which he was elected secretary. Mr Tom Morris, the famous player, when reviewing the proposed ground for the links, stated that, in his opinion, the Fort Island Links would be second to none in the Kingdom, so that during the next season we ought to see some good play on this ground.
The Links are actually not on Fort Island but occupy a significant part of Langness - the slightly later Golf Links Hotel, also built by T. M. Dodd, is adjacent to the causeway joining Fort Island with Langness. The Links were ready by July 1892 for Castletown to welcome the Douglas Club:
Isle of Man Times, Tuesday, 19th July 1892;
On Thursday last, some of the Douglas Golf Club journeyed to Castletown to play that Club there. A most enjoyable game was played, resulting in a win for Douglas on every hand. The Douglas team consisted of Messrs Roberts (Morton Hall. Scotland). M. Lupton. Jno. Quine. and Geo. Fleming. Mr Robert went round in 124 strokes : Mr Lupton came next, with a score of 162: Mr Quine made it in 177. and Mr Flemming took 205.
A handicap. at Castletown, is to be played next Thursday, it will be open to the Island.
Mr Roberts, commenting on the Castletown ground, gave his opinion that it had the making of one of the best. Links in the Kingdom, and we would advise all lovers of the game to go to Castletown some afternoon, and we can promise them a good game. The Castletown men started the game about a month ago, so they could not be expected to make a show against an older club, but they have the making of good Golfers amongst them, and they should be proud of being the possessors of one of the best of Links. The Castletown Club were represented on Thursday by Messrs H. Gell. T. M. Dodd. R C. Cretney. W. Kissack. H. S. Christopher, G L Trustrum. and the Rev. F. B. Walters.
Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 20th December 1893
Governor Sir West Ridgeway has graciously consented to become the first president of the Castletown Golf Club. He is a most enthusiastic golfer.
However problems were brewing over the now restricted public access to Langness especially to the section known as the Race Course - which as the IoM Times 18th September 1894 stated "The right to roam over this common has never been disputed until within the last summer, seven persons having been ordered off by members of the Golf Club, who, it is said, have derived their authority from Samuel Harris, Esq.. High-Bailiff of Douglas, and Co." The Mass demonstration and occupation of the disputed land was described in a long article in the Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 12th September 1894;
Public Land Rights at Castletown.
THE CLADDAGH P S AND RACECOURSE ENCLOSURES.
GREAT DEMONSTRATION. ASSERTION OF RIGHT OF WAY AND RAMBLAGE.
The Metropolitans are in the throes of the most intense agitation which has moved them at any time during the present century, and on Saturday, arising out of this excited state of the public mind, a new record was made for incorporation in the history of the capital of the Island, and which will be descriptive of the greatest public demonstration, to assert the rights of the people whic the Metropolitans have ever witnessed.
For some time past the Castletonians have been made exceedingly wrathful by the aggressive action of a nnmber of gentlemen who have recently become the possessors of the broad acres which for centuries hare beeu the pride of heritage of the Taubman family The action alluded to is the enclosure by high stone walls and iron hurdling of the large tract of land along the Silverburn, known as the Claddaghs, free aud uninterrupted ramblage over, and use of which has been enjoyed by the Castletonians as far as memory goes back ; and also the enclosure of the large space of grass land on the shore front known as the racecourse and which is claimed as a portion of the late Langness estate of the Goldie Taubman's.
...The new owners of this debateable land are Mr S. Harris, High-Bailiff of Douglas, Mr F. J. Johnson, his clerk, and Mr E. Martin, a member of the House of Keys for the Sheading of Rushen, and it is rumoured that the gentleman who is reputed wealthiest in the Island is also a member of the owning syndicate.
...The Racecourse was decided upon as the first place to which the people should assert their " inalienable right," and not a moment was lost before the crowd moved off, headed by the Band. As the crowd passed along, it was joined by many others, until by the time the Racecourse was reached, the numbers had swelled to about a thousand. Up to about a couple of years ago, the Racecourse was virtually open ground , but at that time it was enclosed with iron hurdling and let to a golfing club at, it is said, fifteen pounds a year—this year, it is said, raised to thirty. The first trouble commenced with the golfers, who acted on their assumed tenant right to turn any members of the public off the ground who were there in assertion of their claim of right.
...While the fervid orators were delivering themselves, a number of the younger men in the crowd set themselves apart for active operations, and assisted by the "mob-beg." pulled up and threw to the ground the whole of the iron hurdling which barred the entrance side of the racecourse. Directly the speakers had ended, the crowd retraced their steps to Castletown, their number being considerably augmented by the way, so that by the time the entrance to the Claddaghs was reached their was an assemblage of from twelve to fifteen hundred people...
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor |
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