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Swinton Park Golf Club, Manchester. (1926 – 2020)
Swinton Park Golf Club was founded in 1926.
Swinton Park came into being when the Claremont Golf Club, Pendleton, closed due to housing development (see separate entry on this website for the history of Claremont Golf Club).
Message from the club regarding closure in 2020 – “Swinton Park Golf Club has not been sold and the decision to close the club and course has not been taken lightly but regrettably been forced upon us due to our financial state, brought about due to lockdown, lack of functions for the last six months and the Government legislation not to hold any functions. The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank members and customers for their support over many years. We know closure will come as a blow to many people, the staff and Board included – it is a step not taken lightly and not without regret.”
Report on the new course planed by J H Taylor and James Braid in March 1925.
From the Athletic News Monday 16 March 1925.
From James Braid and his Four Hundred Golf Courses by John F Moreton & Iain Cumming published in 2016 – “Braid was there in early 1925, to approve of the new land and to lay out the course. The construction was done by the firm of Hawtree and Taylor, apart from the work done by members removing the turf from Claremont’s greens for their new course which was opened officially on Wednesday 12 May 1926.
Only one hiccup was to occur as between 1930 and 1932 the East Lancashire Road was built on the north side of the course. It seems that no hole was actually lost but there was “some re-arrangements.
It is very much a parkland course with tree-lined fairways and Braid bunkering. More trees have been planted and water hazards altered or added to, but it is its length which dominates. It was over 6,500 yards in Braid’s time and virtually the same now. Once a year a competition with Braid’s order is played, a nice tribute and reminder.”
The club captain for the first two years was Harry Brown.
Manchester City News Friday 16 July 1937. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Golfer’s Handbook 1928; Swinton Park Golf Club, Manchester; Membership, 350; Secretary, F Whitehead; 18-holes; Professional, E Bourne; Professional course record; E Bourne, 70; Visitors, 2s/6d a day, 3s/6d at weekends.
Golfer’s Handbook 1933; Swinton Park Golf Club, Manchester; Membership, 460; Secretary, F Whitehead; 18-holes; Professional, T Collinge; Course records; Amateur; A M Goodwin, 72; Professional; T Collinge, 69; Visitors, 2s/6d a day, 3s/6d at weekends and bank holidays.
Swinton Park records in 1933.
Manchester Evening News Friday 4 August 1933. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Manchester Evening News Wednesday 28 November 1934. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express Saturday 6 June 1936. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Golfer’s Handbook 1937; Swinton Park Golf Club, East Lancashire Road ; Membership, 460; Secretary – J Eddie, 43 Sunningdale Drive, Salford; 18-holes, Par 76, SSS 76; Professional, T Collinge; Green-keeper, C Whittaker; Course records; Amateur; A M Goodwin, 72; Professional; T Collinge, 68; Visitors, 2s/6d a day, 3s/6d at weekends and bank holidays; Licensed.
Auction for the Red Cross in November 1939.
Daily Mirror Thursday 16 November 1939. With thanks to Reach PLC. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.
Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW2 showing the golf course and clubhouse.
O.S. Map Revised 1938; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1946}.
Golfer’s Handbook 1947 to 1951; Swinton Park Golf Club, East Lancashire Road ; Membership, 290; Secretary – Jack Eddie, 43 Sunningdale Drive, Salford; 18-holes, Par 76, SSS 76; Professional, J Higham; Green-keeper, R Howard; Course records; Amateur; A M Goodwin, 70; Professional; T Collinge, 68; Visitors, 3s/6d a day, 5s at weekends.
It was reported in April 1950 that Swinton Park Golf Club with a mixed membership of 300 made a year’s profit of £86.
Manchester Evening News Tuesday 2 September 1952 – “Swinton Park Golf Club’s brilliant young Lancashire county golfer, Gordon Whitehead, has been notified that he will now play off scratch.”
Golfer’s Handbook 1956; Membership, 260; Secretary – J H Neil, 57 Victoria Road, Salford;18-holes, 6,571 yards, SSS 74; Professional, J T S Brockley; Green-keeper, R Howard; Course records; Amateur; G Whitehead, 64; Professional; T Collinge, 68; Visitors. 3s/6d a round, 5s a day (weekends, 5s a round, 7s/6d a day).
Golfer’s Handbook 1961; Swinton Park Golf Club, East Lancashire Road ; Membership, 285; Secretary, T Parker;18-holes, 6,531 yards, SSS 74; Professional, A Gillies; Green-keeper, J Rae; Course records; Amateur; G Whitehead, 64; Professional; T Collinge, 68; Visitors, 5s a day; (7s/6 a round, 10s a day).
Daily Express Thursday 15 August 1963. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Golfer’s Handbook 1964; Membership 340; Secretary, T Parker; Professional, A Gillies; Green-keeper, J Rae; Course records; Amateur; G Whitehead, 64; Professional; A Caygill, 69; 18-holes, 6,531 yards, SSS 74; Visitors, 5 s aday (20s).
Advert from July 1968 – “First class head green-keeper required by Swinton Park Golf Club; starting salary £1,250 per annum; apply to the secretary.”
In September 1968 plans by Salford Councul to take over the course for housing were opposed.
Manchester Evening News Saturday 8 March 1969 – “Swinton Park Golf Club’s new 3,500 square foot clubhouse extension being opened today has been completely built from Norwegian pine logs cut and machined from timber at least 100 years old.”
Golfer’s Handbook 1972; Membership 520; Secretary, T Parker; 71Professional, A Gillies;18-holes, 6,532 yards, SSS 71: Course records; Amateur; J Lawton, 71; Professional; J HUlme, 67; Visitors, £1.25 (£2).
Golfer’s Handbook 1975; Membership 520; Secretary, J Finlay; Professional, A C Gillies; 18-holes, 6,532 yards, SSS 71; Course records; Amateur, A Squires and L Madden, 69; Professional; P J Hulme, 67; Visitors, £1.50 (£2.50).
Golfer’s Handbook 1982; Membership 520; Secretary, J Finlay; Professional; J Wilson; 18-holes, 6,610 yards, SSS 72; Visitors, £4.50.
Golfer’s Handbook 1985; Membership 425, (84 ladies), 36 (juniors); Secretary, B Berry; Professional, J Wilson; 18-holes, 6,610 yards, SSS 72; Visitors, £7.
Golfer’s Handbook 1988; Membership 425, (92 ladies), (50 juniors); Secretary, F Slater; Professional, J Wilson; 18-holes, 6,675 yards, SSS 72; Amateur course record; J Thornley, 66 (1984); Visitors, £9.
In June 1990 Alan Stewart, a member of Swinton Park Golf Club, won the Lancashire Senior’s Championship at Blackpool North Shore with rounds of 73 and 78.
Golfer’s Handbook 1991; Membership 425, (100 ladies), (50 juniors); Secretary, F Slater; Professional, J Wilson; 18-holes, 6,712 yards, SSS 72; Amateur course record; J Thornley, 66 (1984); Visitors, £16 (£20).
Golfer’s Handbook 1994 to 1998; Membership, 420, (120 ladies), (50 juniors); Secretary, F Slater; Professional, J Wilson; 18-holes, 6.712 yards, SSS 72; Course records; Amateur; J Thornley, 66 (1984); Professional; P D Wheeler, 65 (1992); Visitors, on application.
The club seemed to suffer fairly regular from vandalism.
Salford City Reporter Thursday 4 May 1995. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Salford Advertiser Thursday 6 June 1996. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Salford Advertiser Thursday 29 August 1996. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The new clubhouse was expected to be completed by 1997/8.
Golfer’s Handbook 2006/7; Membership, 420, (120 ladies), (50 juniors); Secretary, Barbara Wood; Professional, J Wilson; 18-holes, 6,726 yards, SSS 72; Visitors, on application.
Golfer’s Handbook 2002 to 2004; Membership, 420, (120 ladies), (50 juniors); Secretary, T H Glover; Professional, J Wilson; 18-holes, 6,726 yards, SSS 72; Visitors, on application.
Golfer’s Handbook 2006/7; Membership, 420, (120 ladies), (50 juniors); Secretary, Barbara Wood; Professional, J Wilson; 18-holes, 6,726 yards, SSS 72; Visitors, on application.
Golfer’s Handbook 2008/9; Membership 600; Secretary, Barbara Wood; Professional, J Wilson; 18-holes, 6,726 yards, SSS 72; Visitors, on application.
The club continued to be listed in the Golfer’s Handbook until it ceased publication in 2015.
Course scorecards and pictures.
