April 1897 saw Caddies introduced and they were classed as 1st class at a price of 4d a round or 2nd class, at 3d a round. One youngster called Harry House was paid the princely sum of 2/6d (12½ pence) per week to clean boots.

Following a match, in 1897, between twice Open Champion & four times Amateur Champion Harold Hilton and Open Champion John Ball Jnr., which Hilton won two up, everyone retired to the Sefton Arms Hotel were they dined on courses of chicken, pate foie de gras, roast lamb, haggis, puddings and tarts, not to mention cheeses and side salads. Later that year, at the Annual diner they dined on 12 courses including venison, chicken, asparagus, etc, and all for 5/- (five shillings or now 25 pence).

In 1920, play was permitted on the course for the first time on Sundays, so long as no caddies were employed. The professional rang a bell at 7pm to call a halt to play.

At the end of the 1920's the annual subscription was increased to 5 Guineas for men and 4 Guineas for ladies. Those wishing to play on Sunday were obliged to pay an extra Guinea.

1954 saw the building of a billiard room, now much used by members and mainly the Snooker League.

The 1960s saw vast amounts of trees planted on the course by Dr. Jim Kay, ably assisted by the Green Committee. The Mersey Forest scheme added, greatly, to woodland habitat which we now enjoy, except when looking for golf balls. All this is a far cry from the open links style of 1896.

The History section has been compiled, in the main, from “A History of West Derby Golf Club 1896 – 1996” by Moya Jones, with additional material from Dave Thompson and Eric Roper.