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Blackley Golf Club, Charlestown Road Course, Manchester. (1908 - 1936)

Founded in 1908.

Originally located at White Moss farm, north of Boggart Hole, Clough. A 9-hole course with a motor garage and stabling attached to the clubhouse. Membership in 1908 was reported to be 180.

Report from the Athletic News Monday 8 June 1908 - "THE BLACKLEY COURSE - I have received an invitation from E H Nutter of the Blackley Golf Club to witness a match between Tom Simpson, St. Annes, and W J Leader, Worsley, which will celebrate the opening of the new course at Blackley on 27 June."

From 1909 to 1911 the secretary was G A Ford.

Blackley Golf Club button from the 1920s.

A qualifying round for the captain’s cup was played in November 1909, the bogey score for the course was 82, result as follows; J Wild, 85nett; H Hurst, 90nett, qualifiers. J Shepherd, 84nett took the first sweepstake and A W Pitt, 87nett the second.

The 36 hole final for the Barker Challenge Cup and Gold Medal was played on Saturday 23 July 1911, result as follows; F T Metcalf, 191-24-167; J Affleck, 191-22-169; E B Shepherd, 183-12-171; J Southerst, 190-18-172; H Jackson, 206-26-180; J C Tait, 191-10-181; Dr Lakin, 209-20-189.

On Saturday 24 February 1912 the final of the winter competition was played. Prizes were given by Mr Blamberg and Mr Southerst. The bogey score was 78, leading scores; T Currie (won play-off), 94-17-77; T Gall, 100-23-77; W Barker, 101-17-84; H Butterworth, 109-25-84; C W Smith, 101-16-85; H Hurst, 94-8-86; R K Wermell, 109-23-86; B Barrow, 109-23-86; E B Shepherd, 94-7-87; A W Pitt, 104-16-88; A E Hanson, 103-14-89; J L Barker, 100-10-90. 

In the first round of the Hiller Challenge Cup played in March 1913 the qualifiers from the first division were; J Southerst, 98-10-88; F Ashbrook, 95-6-89; second division; J Hargreaves, 107-20-87; H Jackson, 109-18-91.

The fourth round of the Barker Cup competition  was played on Saturday 9 August 1913, scores as follows; first division - T R Henshaw, 91-16-75; R Ward jnr, 92-16-76; second division – W Cox, 95-23-72; S F Cook, 98-26-72; J W Reid, 97-21-76; J Downing, 108-27-81. 

In the semi-final of the winter competition in February 1914 Mr C W Smith beat Mr J L Barker 6&4 and Mr P Gillespie beat Mr T O Owens 2up.

On Saturday 7 March 1914 the first round of the competition for the captain’s (Mr F T Metcalf) cup took place, result; R K Wormell, 97-15-82; R H Morris, 101-17-84; T O Owens, 93-8-85; P Gillespie, 94-9-85; T Pilkington, 88-2-86; A W Pitt, 101-14-87; J Holden, 93-5-88; A E Hanson, 98-9-89.

Further land was acquired at Clough Top Farm and the course was extended to 18-holes in 1922. The proposed course measured over 5,700 yards and was laid out by T G Renouf, Manchester Golf Club.

The opening of the new course took place in June 1923. 

The course is marked on the 1923 O.S. map below.

© Crown Copyright {1923}

Below is the result of a match played at Brookdale (now defunct) in July 1926.

From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 350; secretary - W Marchanton, 19 Glen Avenue, Blackley; professional, A Milner; course records; amateur - H Milner, 71; visitors; 2s/6d a day, weekend, 5 shillings.

The land was acquired by Manchester City Council in 1936 and used for housing development, report below.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Tuesday 15 December 1936. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the new course in July 1939.

Manchester Evening News Friday 7 July 1939. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Grid reference SD87215,03215, co-ordinates 387215,403215.