Ghyll Golf Club
Founded 1907
Founded 1907
A Brief History of the Course
On 11th October 1907 11 gentlemen, including a physician, a schoolmaster, and several cotton manufacturers met at Mrs Hudson’s Café in Earby to propose the formation of a golf club with a 5/- entrance fee and an annual subscription of one and a half guineas for gentleman and one guinea for ladies.
They acquired land belonging to Thornton Hall Farm and paid the owners, James and Robert Shuttleworth of Thornton Hall an annual rent of £25. Mr Geo. Lowe of St. Annes advised on the layout of a 9-hole course.
In May 1908, with a groundsman, a professional and caddies already appointed, the President, Mr. Joseph Carr, opened the white-painted pavilion (with its bolted ends, floored verandah, red rubberoid roof, and front enclosure) and drove the first ball prior to an inaugural special match between Mr. Garrett of Manchester and Mr Hewitt-Dean of Colne.
Of the original 9-hole course, which covered 70 acres, an area much greater than the present ‘York’ course, only the ‘Hill Top’, ‘The Mast’,
On 11th October 1907 11 gentlemen, including a physician, a schoolmaster, and several cotton manufacturers met at Mrs Hudson’s Café in Earby to propose the formation of a golf club with a 5/-
They acquired land belonging to Thornton Hall Farm and paid the owners, James and Robert Shuttleworth of Thornton Hall an annual rent of £25. Mr Geo. Lowe of St. Annes advised on the layout of a 9-
and ‘Ingleborough’ holes would be recognisable today. Because animals continued to graze on the land until the late 1950s, each green was surrounded by a rectangular series of posts and wire.
In August 1953 in view of the landlord’s intention to raise the annual rent substantially, the club decided to purchase the land and formed the Ghyll Golf Estate Co. Ltd for that purpose. Members were asked to buy debentures to raise the £2 200 necessary to buy 40 acres. The 3 holes in the field to the right of the present ‘Monks’ Retreat’ hole were lost. With the area of the course reduced by over 40%, the ‘Graveyard’ and ‘Monks’ Retreat’ holes were re-designed and by April 1955 three new holes, ‘St. Mary Le Ghyll’, ‘Pinhaw’, and ‘Greenberfield’ had been added to form what is now the ‘York’ course.
Compared with the aerial photos of 1953, those taken in 1968 and 1975 show the gradual emergence of the present ‘York’ course. With animals no longer grazing on the course and thanks to the increased use of power machinery, the definition between the greens, fairways and rough was far more obvious. From the early 1980s, the establishment of the evergreen plantations and the planting of copses of deciduous trees added further to the character and individuality of each hole.
In the 1990s the course crossed into Lancashire and, on land given to the club in 1962, two further holes, ‘The Barn’ and ‘County Brook’ were added for play on the ‘Tudor’ course.
In August 1953 in view of the landlord’s intention to raise the annual rent substantially, the club decided to purchase the land and formed the Ghyll Golf Estate Co. Ltd for that purpose. Members were asked to buy debentures to raise the £2 200 necessary to buy 40 acres. The 3 holes in the field to the right of the present ‘Monks’ Retreat’ hole were lost. With the area of the course reduced by over 40%, the ‘Graveyard’ and ‘Monks’ Retreat’ holes were re-
Compared with the aerial photos of 1953, those taken in 1968 and 1975 show the gradual emergence of the present ‘York’ course. With animals no longer grazing on the course and thanks to the increased use of power machinery, the definition between the greens, fairways and rough was far more obvious. From the early 1980s, the establishment of the evergreen plantations and the planting of copses of deciduous trees added further to the character and individuality of each hole.
In the 1990s the course crossed into Lancashire and, on land given to the club in 1962, two further holes, ‘The Barn’ and ‘County Brook’ were added for play on the ‘Tudor’ course.