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Moor Allerton Golf Club, Nursery Lane Course. (1923 - 1970)

The original 18-hole course was designed by Dr Alistair MacKenzie and was situated at Nursery Lane, Leeds.

By the mid 1960s and with increasing club membership, plus ground development demands on Nursery Lane, the club moved to its present location at Wike, Leeds, in 1970.

Below the announcement of a new course for Leeds in May 1922.

Yorkshire Evening Post Tuesday 9 May 1922. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Many thanks to Neil Crafter, renowned expert on the work of Dr Alister MacKenzie, for allowing us to use the pictures and text below from his archive on the Moor Allerton Golf Club (1922 - 1924).

“Quote from MacKenzie’s report; “The suggested site for the proposed new golf course impressed me very favourably. Most of the turf is of an excellent golfing quality, the soil is of a sandy nature, and there are some excellent natural features. The character of the land is somewhat similar to that of Alwoodley and Moortown, and in some respects is even better. The soil, on the whole, is of a sandier nature than either of those places. At the present moment some of the ground is divided into fields by hedges and walls, as Alwoodley was before the golf course was constructed there, but the appearance of the ground will be changed and improved out of all recognition when the hedges have been removed and attractive greens, bunkers and fairways have been created. Most of the land has excellent turf and it will probably not be necessary to sow more than five or ten acres of it.”

The land was quite easy for MacKenzie to compare with nearby Alwoodley, but even more so with Moortown, given that the proposed site wrapped around the Moortown course, directly abutting it in a number of places. In all, some 108 acres (44 ha), known as Pykeley Hill Farm, were purchased from Col. George Lane-Fox – also the owner of the adjoining land on which the Moortown course was built - for the sum of £4,650, comprising a number of different land parcels. Differing times of settlement meant that the construction of the course had to be staged around the land possession, as part of the land was still being cropped with rhubarb.

Once MacKenzie had been engaged and had completed his design, construction of the course commenced and this was entrusted to the firm of C.A. Mackenzie & Co., run by his younger brother Charles. MacKenzie fitted twelve holes on the main parcel at the western end of the property that was first accessible, this parcel contained the farmer’s cottage and a large barn, with the barn being utilised as a temporary clubhouse, while the farmer and his wife were employed to do the catering. The opening hole of the 12-hole course eventually became the 6th in the 18-hole layout.

These first twelve holes were constructed through late 1922 and into early 1923, and were ready for an official opening held on 27 March 1923, at which Alderman Wilson hit the first tee shot. It was also noted that the club had built six hard tennis courts for the members’ use. If MacKenzie was present at the opening it was not recorded in any of the reports of the celebrations, and the club’s history book also records that he became a club member, just like he was at Alwoodley, Moortown and Sand Moor. Colonel Lane-Fox also became a member.

By October 1923, a further two holes had been completed and added to the layout, with both these being short holes. The final parcel of land was due to come into the club’s possession on 1 January 1924, according to a report in the ‘Yorkshire Evening Post’ which also noted that around £10,000 had been spent on building the 14 holes up until that time. When the final four holes were built and in play is unfortunately not recorded, however, it could be expected that this happened as soon as practicable and that some time towards the last half of 1924 the Moor Allerton members were able to enjoy a full 18-hole round. In the course of building the course some 3,000 yards of stone walls were demolished and hedgerows pulled down by traction engines."

Images above of the earlier Moor Allerton course courtesy of Neil Crafter.

The following report appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Post on Tuesday 27 March 1923:-

“The Moor Allerton Golf Club, which has sprung into being through the efforts of the Jewish community, led by Mr A Frais, opened their course for play to-day, the opening ceremony being performed by Alderman C H Wilson in the absence of the Lord Mayor of Leeds (Alderman F Fountain).

The club have secured an excellent stretch of country at the end of Nursery Lane, and have been fortunate in obtaining land whose turf will compare favourably with that of most courses in Yorkshire. As yet only twelve holes are available for play but the remaining holes will soon be available.

Attached to the club are also six hard tennis courts.  

There was a large crowd at the opening ceremony when Alderman Wilson lustily drove off from the first tee.

An exhibition match followed played between Mr Morris Frais and the professional, S Trapp, who comes from the Woodthorpe club."

Pictures from the opening of the course.

Leeds Mercury Wednesday 28 March 1923. Images © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the annual meeting in March 1929.

Yorkshire Evening Post Saturday 16 March 1929. Images © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Moor Allerton Course Record in September 1930.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Monday 8 September 1930. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Monday 2 October 1933. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

It was reported in February 1935 that the death had occurred of Mr Abraham Frais, a founder member of the Moor Allerton Golf Club.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Thursday 18 July 1935. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Monday 8 March 1937. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Golfer's Handbook 1937; Membership, 300; Hon. secretary - L Godlove, "Beechcroft," Moortown; Professional, G Shaw; Green-keeper, G T Geddes; Course record - professional, H Cotton, 70; 18-holes; Visitors' fees,  1s/6d a round; 2s/6d a day; 3s/6d at weekend.

The annual meeting in February 1938

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Monday 28 February 1938. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The Clubhouse.

In November 1946 Moor Allerton appointed George Knight from Bloxwich Golf Club, Staffordshire, as their new professional in succession to George Shaw, who left after 24 years service.

Golfer's Handbook 1947; Membership, 300; Hon. secretary - L Godlove, "Beechcroft," Moortown; Professional, G Knight; Green-keeper, G T Geddes; Course record - professional, H Cotton, 70; 18-holes; Visitors' fees,  1s/6d a round; 2s/6d a day; 3s/6d at weekend.

Golfer's Handbook 1951; Membership, 400; Hon. secretary - J L Brill, 32 Bond Street, Leeds; Professional, G Knight; Green-keeper, G T Geddes; Course records; Amateur; C Blakey, 73; Professional, W Shankland, 67; 18-holes, SSS 73; Visitors' fees,  5s a round; 10s a round at weekend.

Club officials elected in March 1955; Honorary president, Alderman Hyman Morris; honorary vice-presidents; L Goodlove, M L Lyttleton; chairman, David Fox; captain, H Burger; vice-captain, E Greenhill; hon. secretary, H Brostoff; hon. treasurer, S G Simon.

Result of a match played against the Leeds Press Golf Circle in June 1955;

It was reported in October 1955 that Alfred Saunders, the Horsforth professional, was appointed to a similar position at Moor Allerton. He succeeded Jim Wade, who was appointed professional at West Bowling Golf Club.

Golfer's Handbook 1956; Membership, 660; Hon. secretary - L H Bakes, Nursery Lane, Leeds; Professional, A W Sanders; Green-keeper, G T Geddes; Course records; Amateur; S Brough, 67; Professional, W Shankland, 67; 18-holes, SSS 71; Visitors' fees,  5s a round; 10s a round at weekend.

Opening of the new Clubhouse in April 1958.

Golfer's Handbook 1961; Nursery Lane Course; Membership, 740; Hon. secretary, Percy Walsh, LL. B; 18-holes, 6,326 yards, SSS 71; Professional, A W Sanders; Green-keeper, G T Geddes; Course records; Amateur; A Slater, 70; Professional, E Green, 66; Visitors when playing with a member, 5s a round, 10s a round at weekends and Bank holidays; Without member, 7s/6d and 15s.

Scorecard.

Golfers Handbook 1964; Nursery Lane Course; Membership, 800; Hon. secretary, David Aber; 18-holes, 6,390 yards, SSS 71; Professional, A W Sanders; Green-keeper, G T Geddes; Course records; Amateur; H Myers, 70; Professional, E Green, 66; Visitors when playing with a member, 5s a round, 10s a round at weekends and Bank holidays; Without member, 15s and £1.

Golfers Handbook 1966; Nursery Lane Course; Membership, 835; Hon. secretary, Abe Goodman; 18-holes, 6,531 yards, SSS 71; Professional, A W Sanders; Green-keeper, G T Geddes; Visitors when playing with a member, 5s a round, 10s a round at weekends and Bank holidays; Without member, 15s and £1.

The club to move to the current location in 1970.

From the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 24 December 1969.With thanks to Trinity Mirror. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.

Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW2 showing the earlier golf course.

O.S. Map Revised 1938; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1946}.