This striking picture, showing the entry way to Danshui Golf Club 淡水球埔, is from the "VS de Beausset Collection", donated by the de Beaussets to the Library of National Taiwan University in 2006. Mr de Beausset was a leading figure in US Aid to Taiwan between 1950 and 1957. (See also here.)
The fate of the two ishidoro (石灯籠 stone lanterns) in front of the torii is unclear. They might have been removed and preserved in Danshui 行忠堂 (not 行忠廟) [left, 行忠堂 in the background] - together with other lanterns relocated from Tansui Jinja. The torii had also disappeared.Danshui Golf Club was established in 1919 on the very site where the barracks of the Hobe (Huwei) Fort were originally located. It was the first golfing facility in Taiwan starting with 六洞球道 with more added later.
[Right: Bank of Taiwan Danshui Branch, opened on Oct 2, 1899.]The Golf Club was first proposed by the President of the Bank of Taiwan 櫻井欽太郎 and the Chief of Danshui Customs Office 原鶴次郎 with the enthusiastic support of the then Vice Governor General 下村宏. They were able to raise funds, lease the land from the Japanese Army and start construction in Aug, 1918. On June 1 of the following year, 下村 hit the first ball and declared the Club open for business. The opening ceremony, amidst great fanfare, was attended by 10 high officials from the Governor General's Office and 30+ due-paying members. The latter included locals 黃東茂 (五舍), 許丙 and 洪以南.
Needless to say it was an ultra exclusive club catering to the rich and the powerful. Most locals kept a healthy distance except the curious kids. Some kids went there to retrieve wayward golf balls. While others, e.g., 陳清水 and 陳金獅, actually went on to become the first professional golf players during the 1920-30s.
[Left: a view of the Course circa 1920.]In 1945, near the end of the Pacific War, to stave off a potential invasion by the US, anti-tank trenches were dug all over the Club which rendered the courses totally useless. After the war, at the suggestion of the US Military Assistance Advisory Group, re-building of 18 holes was started in 1952 and the Club gradually returned to its pre-war grandeur. In the further expansion of 1979, 27 holes were planned and construction finished in 1982. It has been one of the 50 premier golf courses in the World ever since.
Today, one can play 18 holes on discount Mondays for a greens fee of NT$ 2,730. The regular club membership fee is still stratospheric, however.
I can tell that the first picture showing Tansui Jin-Ja entrance is probably taken by a 21mm lens, a superwide angle camera.
回覆刪除By the way, " It was the first golfing facility in Taiwan starting with 6 courses with more added later." the "6 courses" should be rewrited as "6 holes" as you know the standard course has front and back 9 to make up 18 hole course.
Cho-san
Very good eyes. I was actually wondering if the clouds were added on through some kind of Photoshop tricks, but that was taken in 1949.
回覆刪除The original source says "六洞球道" - I'll use this instead. Thanks.
"Danshui Golf Club was established in 1919 on the very site where the barracks of the Hobe (Huwei) Fort were originally located. It was the first golfing facility in Taiwan starting with 六洞球道 with more added later."
回覆刪除Just the barracks, huh? I've been curious about Huwei, especially since people are excavating there now. When you say barracks, what do you mean? Huwei is up high, while the course today is just below it.
Interestingly, when Tiger Woods and Ernie Els came to golf in Taiwan at the Johnnie Walker Invitational, it was out in Taoyuan or Hsinchu, not here at this place.
The site of the original barracks covered a large area including the Golf Club (see the French map at the beginning of this blog http://danshuihistory.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post.html). 滬尾砲台 was built soon after the Sino-French war. I'd guess the old barracks were restored at the same time.
回覆刪除As to Tiger Woods et al: No idea why. Money talks? Their loss anyway.