Whilst playing golf has not been on the agenda for the last few weeks with all the snow about, one of the Huddersfield Blog's regular contributors has put his time to good use and compiled some interesting facts and figures that you might not know about the golf clubs in the Huddersfield, Halifax Union.
Bob Hazelden, a former President and Captain at Outlane Golf Club explains more, "I have written some of these reviews from memory and some from facts I know are correct."
He added "I thought with the weather as it is, and not much golf being played, it might be of interest to readers of the blog."
BRADLEY PARK:
Parnell Reilly is only the 4th Professional from a municipal club to be honoured with the role of Professional Golfers Association ( P.G.A.) Captain. He was the figurehead for 7,000 professional golfers in his 2-year role and he now completes 25 years as professional at Bradley Park.
CASTLEFIELDS:
The smallest golf course in England. Peter Thompson holds the record of 18 holes-in-1 on his own course plus three at other courses which just beats the 17 holes-in-1 by Frank Schofield of Crosland Heath.
CROSLAND HEATH:
Bob Wallace won the prestigious Yorkshire Seniors Amateur Championship at Harrogate last year. The use of the quarries is a feature of the well conditioned course.
DEWSBURY DISTRICT:
The club has the reputation of producing members to go on and be professional golfers. Nigel Hirst is one of the longest serving professionals in the area.
ELLAND:
It is their Centenary in 2010. Ernie Els' ex-caddie Ricky Roberts is a member there.
HALIFAX (OGDEN):
The course has the reputation of being one of the finest moorland courses in the U.K.
HALIFAX BRADLEY HALL:
The club was formed in 1907 and had a George Frank who was a unofficial
Pro / Greenkeeper (never registered with the P.G.A ) from 1924 to 1926. He was foreman to the great Dr.Alister Mackenzie for many years. Andrew Whitworth represented Yorkshire 36 times – winning 33 times.
HANGING HEATON:
The 9-hole course has the unusual record of having J. Maguire an amateur holding the course record by himself and not a professional like so many courses. The course also has the longest hole in the Union (and possibly in Yorkshire) with the 18th at 595 yards!
HEBDEN BRIDGE:
It has been known for golfers standing on the 9th tee to be looking down on hot air balloonists sailing up the valley. The course is over 1,000 feet above sea level. The present 4th fairway was a football pitch for the firm Cape Installations and captains of the club were selected from the firm every 2 years.
HUDDERSFIELD:
Club professional Alex Herd (only 23 years old ) was the Open Champion in 1902 and Fixby Hall had a well known local factory reformer, Richard Oastler, living as a tenant until he was evicted and he moved temporarily to a house which was on the present 8th tee at Outlane. The Huddersfield club is one of the oldest Championship courses in the North of England.
LIGHTCLIFFE:
Junior player, Marcus Peel, has the distinction of registering a rare golfing achievement of a hole-in-1 on a par 4 hole. The 4th hole is a dog leg but he went the short route from tee to green which is over tall trees (you normally do not get over) and whilst he was looking for his ball one of his partners found it in the hole.
LONGLEY PARK:
Longley Park must have the distinction of being the nearest golf club to the centre of a town (less than 1 mile ). Member Ron Clark is one of only a few golfers who has gone round his course in less strokes than his age.
MARSDEN:
From the clubhouse you can watch five sports; Golf, Cricket, Tennis, Bowls and Football! Recently retired stewardess Nancy Wood with her husband Keith was the longest serving in our area.
MELTHAM:
The clubhouse and course name 'Thick Hollins' was an important Medieval House lived in by Peter De Thickeholins whilst club professional Paul Davies celebrates 20 years at the helm this year. The 9th hole at Meltham is probably the most thinking par 5 in the area with a do or don’t decision for big hitters to try and get over the stream in two shots.
OUTLANE:
Outlane has the reputation of being the most friendliest of clubs in the area and now with the new balcony overlooking the first tee and the 18th green there is no better place than on a summers evening enjoying the breathtaking view from here. The Saturday morning junior clinics are proving to be very popular with the professional David Chapman and the 'come and try before joining' is now in operation. The club is now the only one in England that has a par 3 as it's stroke 1 (8th) because the two others which had, have now altered their courses.
QUEENSBURY:
Founded by the Foster family who were the owners of the very famous Black Dyke Mills.
RYBURN:
Centenary is 2010 for this well manicured course and the 2nd hole is a beautiful feature of how a pond hole should be.
SADDLEWORTH:
One of a few clubs that starts with a par 5 - which can ruin your round if you cant keep it in bounds from the tee.
TODMORDEN:
Celebrated two centenaries (1895 and 2007 ). The last date was the new links and has the unusual layout of playing 9 holes twice but playing a completely different hole second time round on the 16th. Late lady member, Helen Gray, is in the Guinness Book of Records for having a record number of club championship titles.
WEST END:
Sport has been enjoyed on this turf since 1870 when the present site was used for horse racing - The Beacon Handicap was run for the last time in 1884. The course is one of the smallest acreage of 18 holers in England.
WOODSOME HALL:
Peter Allis describes it as ‘The Hidden Gem’. It only opened in 1922 but probably has more history than most golf clubs. Meanwhile it is reported that the professional's contract states that he has to wind the clock up every two days - the clock is housed in the dining room and dates back to 1652.
Bob Hazelden, a former President and Captain at Outlane Golf Club explains more, "I have written some of these reviews from memory and some from facts I know are correct."
He added "I thought with the weather as it is, and not much golf being played, it might be of interest to readers of the blog."
BRADLEY PARK:
Parnell Reilly is only the 4th Professional from a municipal club to be honoured with the role of Professional Golfers Association ( P.G.A.) Captain. He was the figurehead for 7,000 professional golfers in his 2-year role and he now completes 25 years as professional at Bradley Park.
CASTLEFIELDS:
The smallest golf course in England. Peter Thompson holds the record of 18 holes-in-1 on his own course plus three at other courses which just beats the 17 holes-in-1 by Frank Schofield of Crosland Heath.
CROSLAND HEATH:
Bob Wallace won the prestigious Yorkshire Seniors Amateur Championship at Harrogate last year. The use of the quarries is a feature of the well conditioned course.
DEWSBURY DISTRICT:
The club has the reputation of producing members to go on and be professional golfers. Nigel Hirst is one of the longest serving professionals in the area.
ELLAND:
It is their Centenary in 2010. Ernie Els' ex-caddie Ricky Roberts is a member there.
HALIFAX (OGDEN):
The course has the reputation of being one of the finest moorland courses in the U.K.
HALIFAX BRADLEY HALL:
The club was formed in 1907 and had a George Frank who was a unofficial
Pro / Greenkeeper (never registered with the P.G.A ) from 1924 to 1926. He was foreman to the great Dr.Alister Mackenzie for many years. Andrew Whitworth represented Yorkshire 36 times – winning 33 times.
HANGING HEATON:
The 9-hole course has the unusual record of having J. Maguire an amateur holding the course record by himself and not a professional like so many courses. The course also has the longest hole in the Union (and possibly in Yorkshire) with the 18th at 595 yards!
HEBDEN BRIDGE:
It has been known for golfers standing on the 9th tee to be looking down on hot air balloonists sailing up the valley. The course is over 1,000 feet above sea level. The present 4th fairway was a football pitch for the firm Cape Installations and captains of the club were selected from the firm every 2 years.
HUDDERSFIELD:
Club professional Alex Herd (only 23 years old ) was the Open Champion in 1902 and Fixby Hall had a well known local factory reformer, Richard Oastler, living as a tenant until he was evicted and he moved temporarily to a house which was on the present 8th tee at Outlane. The Huddersfield club is one of the oldest Championship courses in the North of England.
LIGHTCLIFFE:
Junior player, Marcus Peel, has the distinction of registering a rare golfing achievement of a hole-in-1 on a par 4 hole. The 4th hole is a dog leg but he went the short route from tee to green which is over tall trees (you normally do not get over) and whilst he was looking for his ball one of his partners found it in the hole.
LONGLEY PARK:
Longley Park must have the distinction of being the nearest golf club to the centre of a town (less than 1 mile ). Member Ron Clark is one of only a few golfers who has gone round his course in less strokes than his age.
MARSDEN:
From the clubhouse you can watch five sports; Golf, Cricket, Tennis, Bowls and Football! Recently retired stewardess Nancy Wood with her husband Keith was the longest serving in our area.
MELTHAM:
The clubhouse and course name 'Thick Hollins' was an important Medieval House lived in by Peter De Thickeholins whilst club professional Paul Davies celebrates 20 years at the helm this year. The 9th hole at Meltham is probably the most thinking par 5 in the area with a do or don’t decision for big hitters to try and get over the stream in two shots.
OUTLANE:
Outlane has the reputation of being the most friendliest of clubs in the area and now with the new balcony overlooking the first tee and the 18th green there is no better place than on a summers evening enjoying the breathtaking view from here. The Saturday morning junior clinics are proving to be very popular with the professional David Chapman and the 'come and try before joining' is now in operation. The club is now the only one in England that has a par 3 as it's stroke 1 (8th) because the two others which had, have now altered their courses.
QUEENSBURY:
Founded by the Foster family who were the owners of the very famous Black Dyke Mills.
RYBURN:
Centenary is 2010 for this well manicured course and the 2nd hole is a beautiful feature of how a pond hole should be.
SADDLEWORTH:
One of a few clubs that starts with a par 5 - which can ruin your round if you cant keep it in bounds from the tee.
TODMORDEN:
Celebrated two centenaries (1895 and 2007 ). The last date was the new links and has the unusual layout of playing 9 holes twice but playing a completely different hole second time round on the 16th. Late lady member, Helen Gray, is in the Guinness Book of Records for having a record number of club championship titles.
WEST END:
Sport has been enjoyed on this turf since 1870 when the present site was used for horse racing - The Beacon Handicap was run for the last time in 1884. The course is one of the smallest acreage of 18 holers in England.
WOODSOME HALL:
Peter Allis describes it as ‘The Hidden Gem’. It only opened in 1922 but probably has more history than most golf clubs. Meanwhile it is reported that the professional's contract states that he has to wind the clock up every two days - the clock is housed in the dining room and dates back to 1652.
