Golf Club - Link to The Past

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Course laid out in the 1500s , Open regional qualifier , 5th oldest in world.
I often have a moment's reflection on the links about the generations of golfers that have tread these fairways ...
 
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The history of my place is quite interesting. Reveals a lot about the times it was founded and how Manchester has grown since those times. Detail probably lost on non republicans for Mancunia;

The Manchester Golf Club was created in 1882 by eight Scotsmen led by John Macalister, a native of the St Andrews Golf Club. Indeed the club was originally called “The Manchester St Andrews Golf Club”, not only as a token of respect for its Founder-Captain and its recognition of the authority of the Royal and Ancient, but also to distinguish it from another club called the “The Manchester Golf Club”, founded as early as 1818.

In 1883 when it was considered that the latter club had ceased playing the words St Andrew’s were dropped from the title and the original Manchester Golf Club was called “The ‘Old’ Manchester Golf Club”, a title it retains to this day.

In October 1882 the club’s eight founder members played their first round of golf over a small nine-hole course of some 1856 yards at Manley Park in the Whalley Range district of Manchester. They had no clubhouse and had to share the land with the farmer’s cattle and sheep. The inevitable encroachment of urbanisation compelled the club to find a new location and in 1898 the Club moved to Trafford Park. The land was leased from the Trafford Park Estates Company, who had purchased the de Trafford’s family estate in 1897. Trafford Hall became the Clubhouse and despite the proximity of the Manchester Ship Canal, the new course was hailed as the most prestigious in the area.

Industrial development and fears that the lease would not be renewed when it expired in 1912 again forced the club to seek new land. In 1910 the club announced that it intended to move to Hopwood Park, the owner of which, Edward Robert Gregge Hopwood, had agreed to lease the land for 35 years dating from Christmas Day 1912.

The course was laid out on approximately 247 acres, was designed by Harry Shapland Colt, one of the foremost golf course architects of his time. It was ready for play by September 1911. Apart from relatively minor modifications the general layout of the course has remained much as Mr Colt originally designed it, although it has been lengthened from its original 6145 yards to 6491 yards
 
John Panton was our Professional for 40 years during that time he played in 3 Ryder Cups represented Scotland many times as well as having a successful European Tour career, managing 5th in the Open. He also has an non alcoholic drink named after him, angostura bitters, ginger beer & lime.
Jose-Maria Olazabel & David Howell both won the British Boys at Glenbervie.
 
Like the OP, our club has received a commemorative "poppy flag" from the PGA to commemorate our former club Professional J A "Jack" Champion who signed up and fought in the battle of the Somme. He survived the Somme but sadly not the war; he was killed at Ypres in 1917.

He was assistant to James Braid at Romford for a while, then was the professional at the Rochford Hundred club, then Pro at St Enedoc before coming to us in 1914. We have one of his clubs in our display case. Also like OP flag will be on the 16th green 1st Nov to 11th to commemorate 100 years since 1916.

Our club history says that as well as Jack, some 50 members signed up, plus the steward, and most of the greens staff. RIP all of them.
 
Nothing spectacular, but one highlight is that Tony Coop was the Club pro here for 45 years. Competed in several Opens (finishing as high as 13th in 1961). When he retired in 1999 he received letters of support from Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Peter Thompson.
 
John Panton was our Professional for 40 years during that time he played in 3 Ryder Cups represented Scotland many times as well as having a successful European Tour career, managing 5th in the Open. He also has an non alcoholic drink named after him, angostura bitters, ginger beer & lime.
Jose-Maria Olazabel & David Howell both won the British Boys at Glenbervie.

There's a very good photo of John playing Sam Snead in the seniors matchplay at Wallasey on show at Wallasey along with the programme
 
Lots of History regarding the Clubhouse, there's actually been a book written about it ' The Hall That Climbed the Hill '

There are two aspects to the History of Chorley Golf Club as might be expected from the design of the Clubhouse.


The Hall o'th'Hill at it's present site was built in 1724 although the design of the building puts it in an earlier period. According to tradition, the original site is believed to have been on the moated site at Bretters Farm near the twelfth. Transporting buildings in this way was not unusual in the 1700s as other examples have been found in Lancashire. The original Hall was a much larger building facing south. The west wing was demolished and replaced by the new hall now facing west, as it is today.


The Hall, in it's current position, was built by Thomas Willis who died in 1727. The ownership of the Hall was passed down through the generations of the Willis family and in 1890 was owned by Henry Randolph d'Anyers Willis born in 1834.


There were a number of previous Lords of the Hill which are detailed in the book "THE HALL THAT CLIMBED THE HILL" by George Birtill who did, for many years, make a significant voluntary contribution to diverse areas of the local community.

With such a History there have been a number of theories to explain the Hall o'th'Hill Ghost - a lady in green wearing spectacles, seen in the vicinity of the stairs or cellar, which is part of the original hall. She is known by many as 'Debora' which, as it turns out, was the name of one of the daughters of bishop Pilkington who founded Rivington Grammar school and was connected with the estate in the sixteenth century.
And so in 1898 the first Chorley Club opened at Hall o'th' Hill as a nine hole course. The course became favourable with professionals of the day and it was pointed out that there was more ground in the vicinity on which a further nine holes could be produced.

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Or club was formed in 1893 & a history of the first 100 years was written by one of the members for our centenary.

The most notable members to have played at South Shields include Dr. William Tweddle , who won the British Amateur Championship in 1927, played in the 1928 Walker Cup team & was Walker Cup captain in 1936.

The other notable is Doug McClelland, a boyhood friend of mine. He turned professional in 1969 & won the Dutch Open in 1973, being placed joint 11th in the Open that year. He went on to found the biggest golf superstore in Europe at Silvermere & still runs Silvermere & Kingswood.

In 1965 & 1966 out assistant pro was Christy O'Connor Jnr. & I remember playing with him a few times. He was a skinny youth in those days & it was hard to believe that the player who emerged on the European tour was the same person.
 
Before our course came to fruition a young Scottish forum stalwart used to run through the woods in his formative years and probably a bit of disreputable behaviour!!
 
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