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Phoenix Park Golf Club, Thornbury, Bradford. (1922 - 2006)

The club was founded in 1922.

Nine-hole course.

The club seems to keep a very low profile. Below is a rare mention of the club in a newspaper report in 1924. The earliest evidence of the club found so far.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Monday 2 June 1924. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Playing in the Cleckheaton Open competition in August 1925 was A G Gill, Phoenix Park, 79-7-72.

From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Phoenix Park, Thornbury; Membership 150; Hon. secretary - J W Bottomley, English Electric Co., Phoenix Works, Bradford; professional and green-keeper, S Earthey; Station Laisterdyke, three quarters of a mile;  Visitors' fees, 1s/6 a day; 3s/6d Sundays.

Below a rare report on the club in June 1936.

From the Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer Tuesday 9 June 1936. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the Midgley Trophy played in June 1937.

Bradford Observer Monday 14 June 1937. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Following WW2 the secretary was C Stott. Visitors’ fees were 1/6 a day, 3/6 on Sundays.

The secretary during the 1950s was C Stott, English Electric Co, Phoenix Works, Bradford. Membership 200. Station at Laisterdyke ¾ mile. Visitors’ fees were; 3/6 a day, 5/- at weekend.

D H Tatersall representing Phoenix Park at West Bowling  in June 1956.

Bradford Observer Thursday 28 June 1956. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In 1960 the secretary was S Smith. The professional and green-keeper was J Westby. Membership was 200. The amateur course record was held by Jack Stenson with a score of 67. SSS was 63.

In the mid 1960s the secretary was E Holroyd. All other information as before.

During the 1970s the secretary was M Lumb. Membership was 190. The nine-hole course measured 4,855 yards and had a SSS of 63. The amateur course record was shared by Jack Stenson and E Power, 67. Visitors’ fees were; 37½p during the week and 50p at weekend. 

In the early 1980s the secretary was G Glover and the professional was B Stevens. The course now measured 4,955 yards and had a SSS of 64. Course records were; amateur – S Turner, 69; professional – B Stevens, 69. Visitors’ fees were £2.50p. Membership of 200.

In the later 1980s the secretary was G Dunn and the professional B Ferguson. The course measured 4,982 yards with a SSS of 64. Amateur course record set by C Lally with a 66. Visitors’ fees £3. Membership was 180.

View of the course.

In the early 1990s the secretary was B Mitchell and the professional B Ferguson. Visitors’ fees £5.

In 2006 membership had reduced to 130.

Thanks to Colin Barker for the images below and the following information - “Scorecard from 19/4/1988 for Phoenix Park which although having the same yardage for each hole as the one you illustrate does have significantly different Stroke Indexes for some of the holes - I have no explanation as to why the y would have changed however”.

At closure the nine-hole undulating parkland course measured 4,982 yards with a SSS of 64.

It seems as though the course deteriorated towards the end of its life. Players were complaining of losing balls on the fairway due to the long grass. The greens were maintained to a reasonable level but in general the course was in poor condition.