Long drive to freedom of the fairways
AFTER years of anti-Semitic discrimination, Wedgwood Park Country Club was founded on December 6 1944 by Port Elizabeth’s Jewish community.
In the period before, during and after World War 2, when Jews wished to participate in sporting events, they could only play as visitors. At some clubs they were told “not to make a habit” of frequent visits.
In 1943, Leonard Marks, owner of the prestigious Mansfield’s Furniture Store, applied for membership at Mill Park Bowling Club but was turned down as he was Jewish.
After informing his friends, a meeting was convened in June 1943 to discuss possible purchase of property in Park Drive to establish a Jewish bowling club. A mandate was given to search for a suitable site.
After ex-Port Elizabeth mayor Henry John Millard died in September 1944, his farm was put on sale. Millard was a bowler and previous president of Mill Park Bowling Club.
The farm included a large farmhouse, a second house which could be used by the manager, outhouses, stables and a small bowling green. On October 24 a decision was taken to purchase the farm when 23 financing guarantors were found at the meeting.
On November 5 1944, the purchase was confirmed and the surname of Sir Josiah Wedgwood, a prominent Christian slavery abolitionist and founder of the Wedgwood pottery company, was selected.
Four days later members passed their new constitution and sub-committees were formed to plan new bowling greens, tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course. By March 1946, six tennis courts were ready and, by May, the first bowling green was completed.
More than 70 competitors entered the first tennis tournament and, by April 24 1947, club membership had grown to 709.