History

Treasure the past while embracing the future.

Both Exeter Golf and Country Club and the Wear Park estate have a long history in Exeter.

Exeter Golf and Country Club started life, back in 1895, in the Pennsylvania area on the outskirts of the city. The golf course opened with just 96 members at Stoke Wood Farm. 

In 1927, the growing membership needed more room, and the Wear Park estate was purchased to accommodate an 18 hole golf course, club house and, later down the line, tennis courts. The rest, as they say, is history. Until this point, Wear Park itself has it’s own story to tell with generations of wealthy families owning, and living, in the manor house. 

The heritage of both the club and the Wear Park estate underpins the ethos of Exeter Golf and Country Club today; moving forward to the future while respecting the legacy of the founder members and all those who have shaped the club in the decades since.

A glimpse into the past

Luckily an archive of memorabilia, photographs, newsletters and handbooks has been preserved by both members and employees over the years, so the history of Exeter Golf and Country Club is well documented. One of these prized artifacts is a 1940s Official Handbook recently donated to the club by the family of one of Jose Bruce – one of the club’s longest-standing members – having been a golfer into her 90s. Jose passed away in 2022.

The handbook is primarily a longer version of what we might now call a Course Planner. The handbook has been typed into a PDF by the 2023 Ladies Golf Captain, Vicki Rogers. 

Great to see Will Rigg, Harvey Skinner and Jack Innard double up their training session last week, hitting our gym after their morning on the pitch.

When you get the praise from these guys, you know you’re doing something right with the strength kit in the new gym. 🙌

#exetergolfandcountryclub #exeterchiefs #officialexeterchiefs #exeter #exeterdevon #newgym #gymexeter #fitnessexeter #gymmotivation #fitnessmotivation #gymlife #gym #gymaddict #gymlifestyle #gymlover #rugby #rugbyunion #rugbylife #willrigg #jackinnard #harveyskinner
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Blue skies in January…🥰

#exetergolfandcountryclub #exeter #wintersun #january #wintersky #exeterdevon #joinus #membersclub #countryclub
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Getting your squat rack set up is essential for maximizing performance.

The correct bar height ensures you can unrack and rerack with ease, allowing you to focus fully on the lift. Proper positioning helps you hit your optimal form, activating the right muscles and improving your range of motion. When everything’s dialed in, you can push harder, lift heavier, and see real gains.

Perfect setup = peak performance.

First…
Adjust the J-hooks to shoulder height to ensure you can safely rack and unrack the barbell.

Hand and Elbow Position
With the barbell resting on your back, position your hands close to your shoulders and pull your elbows back. This creates a stable “shelf” on your upper back for the bar to rest on and enhances upper back stability.

Knee Position
During the squat, allow your knees to track over your toes. This ensures proper form and engages the target muscles effectively.

Squat Depth
A squat is complete when your hips drop below your knees, provided your mobility allows it. Maintain full foot contact with the floor throughout the movement for proper balance and stability.

With years of CrossFit under his belt, Jacob is all about the technique. If you’re looking to start lifting or lift heavier, get in touch for a programme or PT.

#exetergolfandcountryclub #exeter #newgym #squatrack #membersclub #countryclub #exeterlife #joinus #jointheclub #gym #gymmotivation #strengthtraining
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New to strength training and want to up your barbell work? Here’s Nick’s top 3 Smith Machine exercises targeting your shoulders, chest and legs.

The Smith Machine is very beginner friendly, but can also be helpful great for more advanced lifters. The bar on the Smith Machine can only go up and down, which helps ensure the movement is correct. There’s no swaying forward and back that you could get with free weights.

Decline Bench Press: Recommended rep range - 4 sets of 8 - making sure you hook your legs under, otherwise you’ll fall! Benefits of the decline position- targets and effectively focusses strengthening the lower chest muscles with less strain on the shoulders and upper back.

Military Press: Recommended rep range: 4 sets of 8
Whilst seated, this creates stability and forces us to focus on the targeted muscles, increasing shoulder strength and enhancing core stability.

Smith Machine Squat: Recommended rep range 4 sets of 6-8
The benefit of using the Smith Machine is that as the bar can only go up and down, it helps send the weight back into the heels, to enable a lower and deeper range of movement.

If you haven’t already, book a programme with one of the team or set yourself up for the year ahead with a course of PT sessions.

#exetergolfandcountryclub #exeter #newgym #smithmachine #matrixfitnessuk
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Launching today…our winter Members Bar & Garden Pavilion Menu - all created and cooked from fresh, on site, by our team of chefs…featuring:

New protein plates like ginger, chilli chicken flatbread, poke bowls, chimichurri chicken & rice…

Comfort food classics like mac and cheese, home-baked ham, egg and chips, chicken schnitzel, and, yes, an All Day Breakfast!

A bigger range of burgers with chargrilled chicken and kimchi burger and miso mushroom burger adding to the Club burger…all with a brioche bun and skin-on fries.

More salads, new loaded fries, kid’s pizza, and in response to popular demand…tuna mayo sandwiches are back! 🙌

Oh yes, and remember, being a member means you get 20% off food and drink in the bars and Wear Park Restaurant.

Better get stuck in then.

#exetergolfandcountryclub #exeter #membersclub #newmenu #exeterfood #exeterfoodie #devonfood #countryclub #countryclublife #exeterlife #newgym #membersbar #jointheclub #joinus
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Sometimes in life, a simple sandwich ticks every box…

The fish finger sandwich is back on the menu from Tuesday!
👊👏🐟

#exetergolfandcountryclub #membersbar #fishfingers #fishfingersandwich #exeter #membersclub
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One day until the new menu kicks off in the Members Bar! We know these are going to fly…what’s your favourite topping? Tell us now and we’ll see if we can feature it sometime soon…

#loadedfries #loadedfries #newmenu #exetergolfandcountryclub #membersbar
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@pt_lum explains how to get the most from the Pec Fly & Rear Delt machine - a powerhouse combo for targeting both your chest and shoulders.

Strengthen your pecs with focused isolation, while building rear delts for better posture, stability, and overall shoulder health.

Boost muscle growth, improve symmetry, and reduce injury risk - two moves, one piece of kit. 👊

#ChestAndShoulders #StrengthAndStability #newgym #FitnessJourney #exetergolfandcountryclub #exeter #membersclub #jointheclub #membersclub #personaltrainer #pt #fitness #strengthtraining #mattixfitness @matrixfitnessuk @pt_lum
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And when you know that Members of Exeter Golf and Country Club get 10% off treatments at Wear Park Spa (on the first floor of the Georgian house!), you deserve it even more.

Elemis facials including Pro Glow Biotec technology facials
Elemis massage and body scrubs
Microdermabrasion
Indian head massage
St Tropez spray tan
Nails - shellac and polish
Waxing
Brows and lash lifts

Men and women - get booked in, it’s January, you’ve earned it.

#wearparkspa #exetergolfandcountryclub #spaexeter #beautyexeter #spatreatment #spatime #devonspa #spa #elemis
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Saturdays and Sundays mean long, leisurely breakfasts. The question is, do you go Royale, Florentine of Benedict?

See you in the Members Bar or Garden Pavilion…

#eggs #eggsroyale #smokedsalmon #eggsforbreakfast #breakfast #weekendbreakfast #exeter #exeterfood #exeterfoodie #exetergolfandcountryclub #joinus #membersclub #countryclub
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