The Manchester Golf Club was created in 1882 by eight Scotsman led by John Macalister, a native of the St Andrew 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 laid out on approximately 240 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 but not open to members until 30th March 1912.
Photo above : Susan Hopwood outside Hopwood Cottage circa 1885?
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 6519 yards. The most radical changes have been in the ownership of Hopwood Park, the club having purchased its freehold in 1925 for £10,000, and in the extensive alterations made to Hopwood Cottage in 1987. Otherwise most of the characteristics of 'This beautiful park ......' as it was described in 1911, have been retained.
For more detailed
information on the history of the club see ' A History of the Manchester
Golf Club 1882 - 1982' written by MW Peers available from The Secretary,
Manchester Golf Club Ltd, Hopwood Cottage, Rochdale Road, Middleton, Manchester
M24 2QP.
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Manchester Golf Club Ltd, Hopwood Cottage, Rochdale Road, Middleton,
Manchester M24 6QP. All rights reserved.
Tel : 0161 643 3202