The founder of La Moye Golf Club was George Boomer, who in 1901 was appointed the first master of the new La Moye School.
Denied access to the prestigious Royal Jersey Golf Club, Boomer resolved to make his own course close to his school, using empty tinned fruit cans, biscuit boxes and a second-hand mower.
He turned professional himself at the unlikely age of 60, by which time he had already taught two future open champions, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, as well as his own sons. Aubrey Boomer came second to Bobby Jones in the Open Championship and twice played in the Ryder Cup.
George Boomer's rudimentary course layout among the sand dunes attracted other golfers and his club developed, although always in the shadow of the Royal Jersey.
In the 1930s the club engaged the leading golf architect of the day, James Braid, to redesign the course. It was officially opened by Harry Vardon and in 1935 the Prince of Wales took time out from an official visit to Jersey to play the course.
In common with the Royal Jersey course, La Moye suffered badly at the hands of the Germans during the Occupation, and struggled to re-establish itself after the War, until Henry Cotton saw the potential for a seaside links on the lines of Troon and advised the club on the redevelopment of the course, which was accompanied by the construction of a new clubhouse.
Gallery
1933
The clubhouse
The 18th hole
St Ouen's Bay in the background of this green
1960s
La Moye Golf Hotel
On the 10th tee in 1912
