Bob Hazelden, a regular contributor to the Huddersfield Golf Blog and member at Outlane Golf Club, has listed some unusual facts and figures about golf clubs in the HHDUGC.
Hazelden said, "I have not contacted the clubs for these facts but got them from my own range of knowledge, it may be that some clubs can elaborate on the given information and explain in more detail. I have only mentioned small sections of facts but hope readers will find it interesting and some clubs might even add upgraded versions of their history."
1. Huddersfield and Woodsome Hall Golf Clubs have both had an EARL OF DARTMOUTH as their president.The former club had an Earl of Dartmouth as their first President in 1891 whilst the latter still has a generation of Earl of Dartmouth's as theirs. Both of these clubs have heaps of history in the golfing environment.
2. Halifax Bradley Hall Golf Club has a 16th century listed building for its clubhouse and there are not many clubs or any that could match that. Lord Mexborough opened the new club facilities in 1924 after the club acquired the land and building.
3. Crosland Heath was originally going to be a 9 hole golf course at Cowlersley in 1896 but it assumed its present title in 1914 on its possession of the land where it is now. The proposed clubhouse could not be had for some time and the nearby Sands House Hotel was used as a temporary occupation for the early golfing members.
4. Saddleworth golf Club had a surprising large number of 71 lady members in 1913 and with not a lot of cars in those days the ladies had to travel to away matches by bus carrying their clubs on their back. One story I heard from one of the older lady members recalled the fact that in the 'olden days' that because of the lack of lockers for them they had to take their handbags with them on the course as well as their clubs.
5. West End Golf Club has the address of The Race Course , Paddock Lane which suggests it used to be a Race Course and when it gave up the racing in 1884 the land was used as a Knur and Spell sport which was known as Poor Mans golf and this possibly inspired people for a golf course.
6. Outlane golf club was originally Lindley Golf Club as a 9 hole lay-out around Petty Royd (below Scapegoat Hill) but then increased its number of holes which meant it becoming Outlane and eventually a new club house was built in 1971 on the site of an old roman camp hence the clubs emblem of a roman helmet on the clubs sweaters.
7. Todmorden Golf Club has a clubhouse that was built in 1764 which is 400 feet above the town and an interesting club badge has a county White Rose and Red Rose on it which suggests that the course is in both Yorkshire and Lancashire. The course actually encompasses a Celtic burial ground.
8. Hebden Bridge (7th & 8th holes) and Hanging Heaton (7th & 8th holes) are clubs which have consecutive par 3 holes which is unusual for the set out of holes and the formers 8th hole is 1000 feet above sea level whilst the latter's course is known as Pumps Fields or Tewit land which is a bird hence the bird on the club logo. Ryburn (9th &10th holes) and Longley Park (9th &10th holes ) are another two clubs who have consecutive par 3 holes and the former was founded in 1910 at Norland which is on the hill side above Sowerby Bridge and the latter club was formed a year after in 1911 within walking distance of Huddersfield town centre.
9. Castlefields also has consecutive par 3s but it is a course where every hole is a par 3 and some members share their golf with other clubs.
10. Crow Nest Park is heaped in history with it first being referred to in 1592 and then having Sir Titus Salt as a tenant who died in 1876. Local farmer Richard Harrison founder and owner of the land was instrumental in establishing the golf club in 1995 which has trees of over 400 years old
11. Dewsbury District Golf Club is actually in Mirfield and is built on land which is known as The Pinnacle and it is the oldest club in our union when old Tom Morris designed it in 1891 and later Ted Ray made it into an 18 hole course and finally Peter Allis and Dave Thomas re designed the final layout.
12. Halifax Golf Club was created in the early 20th century and is situated in Ogden on well manicured moorland which is home to deer, foxes, badgers and many species of birds who have chosen this land as their home.
13. Elland Golf Club started out as a 6 hole course and once it got established as a 9 hole course an unusual rule came into force banning Sunday Golf . In 1937 the ban got lifted on Sunday playing but golfers had to go to a prayer meeting before 1.30pm if they wanted to play . However there is no record of players attending these meetings.
14. Willow Valley Golf Club has 3 courses with the named one a huge 7021 yards long and the par 72 understandably has a 74 standard scratch score such is the difficulty. 8 tons of bulbs and 50.000 trees and shrubs have been planted to enhance the appearance of the courses.
15. Meltham Golf Club was one of the founder members of the H.H D.U.G.C. Rabbits association in 1953 and one member of the founding body Chris Naylor is still an active Meltham member despite never being a Rabbit himself. Thick Hollins Hall became the clubhouse after a local land owner sold the property.
16. Marsden golf club was a gift from the generosity of John Edward Crowther (A Colne Valley Mill Owner) in 1920 to the village inhabitants of Marsden and the clubs professional in the early days was Alec Bickerdike who was employed as steward and green keeper with his golf duties.
17. Lightcliffe Golf Club originally had a North- South setting course but it was changed to the present East-West layout in 1948. Maurice Hellewell designed the course whilst being held prisoner by the Japanese
18. Queensbury Golf Club was founded in 1923 by the Foster family who owned the famous Black Dyke mills and world famous brass band.
19. Bradley Park came from an idea of a member of Kirklees council in 1973 and was opened in 1977 to cater for all levels of golfers and it is now established as one of the busiest golf course in the area.
