A CHAMPION golfer from Hoylake has been honoured with a blue plaque at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

John Ball, born in 1861, won the Amateur Championship eight times and the Open Championship 1890 with his first victory coming at the age of 26 and his last when he was 51.

He was the eldest son of John Ball Jnr the owner of the Royal Hotel on Stanley Road which was used as the clubhouse by the Liverpool Golf Club members from its formation in 1869.

The Club became ‘Royal’ in 1871 thanks to the patronage of Queen Victoria's son Prince Arthur.

John used the Royal Hotel to learn how to play golf by practicing the sport.

 

Champion golfer John Ball

After volunteering himself for the Boer War as a trooper with the Denbighshire Yeomanry, he was repatriated in July 1901 and around 600 people turned out to greet him on his return.

Overall, John won nine major championships and can lay claim to be considered alongside the best British players ever - his medals and other tributes are proudly on display at the club.

John retired from championship golf in 1927 and lived at the foot of the Halkyn hills near Holywell.

He died in 1940 aged 79 and is buried in the Trinity Road Cemetery in Hoylake alongside his family.

On Monday, September 17 a blue plaque was initiated by the Hoylake Conservation Areas Association which was placed on one of the entrance pillars at the club on Meols Drive.

The mayor of Wirral councillor Geoffrey Watt unveiled the plaque alongside ward councillor Gerry Ellis, RLGC member John Ball who is second cousin of the famous golfer and current Royal Liverpool golf club captains Sir Ian Gilmore and Brenda Cross.