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Manchester Golf Club (Manchester St Andrews). (1882 - WW1)
In 1882 a group of enthusiastic golfing Scotsmen laid out a 9-hole course of 1,856 yards at Manley Park, Whalley Range, and decided to call the club Manchester St Andrews, partly to distinguish it from the original Manchester Club which was still in existence at this time. When the old club disappeared in the 1880s “St Andrews” was dropped from the name and it became Manchester Golf Club. At about the same time there was a real threat of housing development on the Manley course, and the club needed to find a new home. Land at Heaton Park was considered at this time but it proved too expensive. In 1897 the club obtained a lease until 1912 on land at Trafford Park, which was fairly close to the Manchester Ship Canal, apparently the aromas on the course could be quite overpowering at times. The 18-hole Trafford Park course was laid out on 80 acres of land leased from Manchester City Council. Trafford Hall was used by the golf club as their clubhouse, which also provided hotel accommodation for Gentlemen.
Below are the known Captains for the Manchester Golf Club.
1882 -1891, John MacAlister; 1892, F Jones; 1893, G MacDonald; 1894, G Haig; 1895, A Darbyshire; 1896, A C Knight; 1897/1898, J MacAlister; 1899, R H Prestwich; 1900, J D Milne; 1901, A G Hogg; 1902, W Bell; 1903, T A Drew; 1904, J Collie; 1905, A Hill Griffith; 1906, C S Alliott; 1907, A Donald; 1908, H C Dixon; 1909, W Nelson; 1910, T Price.
Above is the layout of the Manley Park course.
The following is an extract from the Golfing Annual 1888/89; "Instituted 1882; Entrance Fee 10s/6d and Subs 10/6; Membership of 40; Captain - John McAllister; Committee - G Macdonald, A Muir, T N Carter, F Jones, G W Moultrie; Secretary - Francis Jones, Beaufort House, Alexandra Park, Manchester. Prize winners in 1888; Captain's Prize - Francis Jones, 107-24-83; Club prize (scratch) - J Macalister, 81. The club green adjoins Manley Park, and is mostly composed of grass fields, slightly undulating, and with gravel heaps, and sand bunkers. There are nine-holes to the round. The green-keeper is C Hancock."
Results of two competitions played in Manley Park in March 1888. The final round in the monthly competitions was held on the 10 March, result as follows; John McAlister, 81-scratch-81; Francis Jones, 113-26-87. On the 17 March the annual prizes presented by the captain of the club, Mr John McAlister, were played for. Leading scores; Francis Jones, 107-24-83; G Macdonald, 94-6-88; A C Knight, 100-10-90; G W Moultrie, 103-12-91; G Haig, 113-18-85.
The competition for the captains prizes, presented by T Macalister, was played on Saturday 22 March 1890. The greens were in excellent condition and about 30 members took part. The following were the best scores.
| F Jones | 104 | 18 | 86 |
| H Macdonald | 104 | 18 | 86 |
| G Haig | 97 | 10 | 87 |
| D R Calvert | 112 | 25 | 87 |
| L D Stewart | 106 | 18 | 88 |
| A C Knight | 91 | scr | 91 |
| H Bowman | 110 | 18 | 92 |
| A D Stuart | 117 | 25 | 92 |
| A N Monkhouse | 107 | 15 | 92 |
| G W Moultrie | 104 | 11 | 93 |
| J A Tweedale | 108 | 15 | 93 |
| J C Hobbs | 118 | 25 | 93 |
| G Macdonald | 94 | scr | 94 |
| A Darbyshire | 110 | 15 | 95 |
| R P Horsley | 110 | 15 | 95 |
| J D Cummins | 113 | 18 | 95 |
F Jones won a nine hole play-off to win first prize.
Result of the January 1891 monthly medal played at Manley Park. The ground was frozen hard with ice on most of the putting greens, from which the snow had been partially removed.
| A Darbyshire | 103 | 16 | 87 |
| A D Stuart | 113 | 25 | 88 |
| G W Moultrie | 100 | 11 | 89 |
| J C Hobbs | 114 | 25 | 89 |
| W Bell | 105 | 12 | 93 |
| T D Milne | 120 | 25 | 95 |
| G Macdonald | 101 | 4 | 97 |
| F Jones | 114 | 16 | 98 |
| D R Calvert | 124 | 25 | 99 |
| Lieutenant Pedley | 109 | 9 | 100 |
| A Monkhouse | 119 | 18 | 101 |
There were several no returns.
Result of the February 1891 monthly competition; L D Stewart, 92-16-76; J Macalister (club captain), 84+2-86; J C Hobbs, 112-25-87; F Jones, 104-16-88; D Swainson, 113-23-90; H Macdonald, 109-16-93; F Pattison, 128-25-103. There were several no returns.
The last of the series of winter competitions was held on Saturday 7 March 1891. Mr Bell finished with the lowest net sore of 79. Following are the winners of the monthly competitions who qualify for the final; Cummins, Knight, Darbyshire, L Stewart, Bowman and Bell. On Saturday the 14 the final was played, the winner was A C Knight who won with a scratch score of 92, A Darbyshire was second with 97 net.
Competition result from March 1894.
“Golf" Friday 23 March 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a match played in April 1894.
“Golf" Friday 18 May 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
On Saturday 6 October 1894 the first monthly competition for the winter season took place in fine but cold weather, result below.
| Capt C W B Farrant | 83 | 8 | 75 |
| E Gittens | 100 | 20 | 80 |
| L D Stewart | 88 | 7 | 81 |
| T A Brewis | 101 | 20 | 81 |
| H Smith | 97 | 15 | 82 |
| A C Knight | 87 | 4 | 83 |
| F Jones | 100 | 16 | 84 |
| R Holmes | 99 | 15 | 84 |
| W Harden | 102 | 18 | 84 |
| J Heron | 106 | 21 | 85 |
| Rev H H Brayshaw | 90 | 4 | 86 |
| R Maclure | 98 | 12 | 86 |
| W Lund | 101 | 15 | 86 |
| E H Hamp | 110 | 22 | 88 |
| R L Taylor | 99 | 10 | 89 |
| H Norris | 104 | 15 | 89 |
| A M McNicol | 113 | 22 | 91 |
| J R Newby | 114 | 18 | 96 |
| Mr Schneider | 115 | 18 | 97 |
More land acquired at Manley Park in October 1894.
"Golf" Friday 2 November 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Results from Christmas 1894.
"Golf" Friday 4 January 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of the third monthly competition in conjunction with the Captain’s Cup played at Manley Park on Saturday 7 December 1895; John Macalister, 89-4-85; R Brown, 95-10-85; G Haig, 94-7-87; E Gittins, 107-20-87; E H Smith, 106-18-88; H S Warman, 106-16-90; J J Franklyn, 108-18-90; W Bell, 91scratch; T C Dean, 103-12-91; E O Schneider, 108-16-92; A C Knight, 96-3-93; A Harden, 108-15-93; W W Lyall, 118-25-93; W C Adamson, 98-2-96; H Smith, 110-13-97.
Below, result of the August medal 1896.
| J H Aspinwall | 105 | 24 | 81 | W Lund | 93 | 8 | 85 |
| A Harden | 96 | 14 | 82 | E H Hamp | 102 | 17 | 85 |
| R Maclure | 92 | 9 | 83 | W H Norris | 98 | 12 | 86 |
| A Shearer | 97 | 14 | 83 | J W Schofield | 103 | 16 | 87 |
| J Macalister | 84 | +1 | 85 | R H Milner | 116 | 24 | 92 |
| G Haig | 91 | 6 | 85 | J E Hobbs | 109 | 15 | 94 |
Below is the result of the monthly competition played on Saturday 26 December 1896.
| L D Stewart | 81 | 5 | 76 | S B Graves | 91 | 8 | 83 |
| E H Smith | 92 | 16 | 76 | E Gittins | 101 | 18 | 83 |
| G Macdonald | 90 | 12 | 78 | W Lund | 95 | 11 | 84 |
| H Norris | 91 | 13 | 78 | C S Allott | 106 | 21 | 84 |
| H H Brayshaw | 80 | scr | 80 | G Haig | 92 | 7 | 84 |
| H Macdonald | 94 | 14 | 80 | R H Brown | 98 | 13 | 85 |
| A Darbyshire | 89 | 8 | 81 | J H Aspinwall | 105 | 20 | 85 |
| T C Dean | 94 | 13 | 81 | A C Knight | 91 | 5 | 86 |
| J Macalister | 86 | 4 | 82 | F Jones | 105 | 18 | 87 |
| J A Brewis | 100 | 18 | 82 | J C Hobbs | 105 | 14 | 91 |
Result of the monthly medal played on Saturday 3 November 1900. There were 78 entrants and the following are scores up to 88net.
| W P Montgomery | 81 | 6 | 75 | J W Grange | 100 | 18 | 82 |
| G Wragge | 95 | 20 | 75 | G Haig | 88 | 5 | 83 |
| H J Miller | 79 | 3 | 76 | S B Graves | 90 | 7 | 83 |
| L Rate | 86 | 10 | 76 | J T Franklin | 95 | 12 | 83 |
| H Naylor | 88 | 8 | 80 | T C Mellor | 85 | 2 | 83 |
| E Johnstone | 92 | 12 | 80 | A H Mills | 96 | 12 | 84 |
| A Stewart | 95 | 15 | 80 | A H Griffith | 100 | 16 | 84 |
| E Gittins | 97 | 17 | 80 | G Harrop | 102 | 18 | 84 |
| A G Hogg | 81 | scr | 81 | E Annacher | 97 | 12 | 85 |
| F C Near | 84 | 3 | 81 | J Pringle | 101 | 16 | 85 |
| W Lund | 87 | 6 | 81 | T C Dean | 98 | 12 | 86 |
| R H Prestwich | 84 | 2 | 82 | H E Berry | 99 | 13 | 86 |
| E E Steel | 87 | 5 | 82 | R D Lowe | 100 | 13 | 87 |
| H L Behrens | 89 | 7 | 82 | C S Allott | 108 | 20 | 88 |
In 1900 the secretary was W Maclure, Beaver Park, Didsbury. In 1903 the secretary at the club was W Ross Coubrough. The Steward of the Residential Quareters for Gentlemen was W Wardle.
Above is the plan of the Trafford Park course. Geo Lowe, the St Annes professional, laid out the course.
An open competition was held at the Trafford Park course in September 1901. A large crowd gathered to watch the professionals who were in great form. A Vardon, brother of the ex-champion, returned a score of 151 to claim the £15 first prize, P McEwan (Southport) and A W Brown (Worsley) tied for second, third was F Collins (Llandudno.)
Below is a report on the open tournament from the Tatler in 1904. In the text it states that the Manchester Golf Club was founded in 1818. This is actually the foundation date for the Old Manchester Golf Club (see separate entry for the history of Old Manchester.)
From the Tatler 14 October 1904. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
On Wednesday 21 September 1904 a record field of 135 golfers competed in the Manchester Golf Clubs open tournament at Trafford Park, the 91 professionals and 44 amateurs included many of the leading players of the day. There was a strong wind blowing but despite this there were some low scores. The winner was local professional J P Gaudin, a native of Jersey, with a score of 72 and 69,141. Other leading scores; J Parr, Brombrough, 72-72, 144. A H Toogood, West Essex, 70-75,145; G Pulford, Northwich, 75-70, 145; A Herd, Huddersfield, 74-73, 147; D McEwan, Birkdale, 76-71,147; H Cawsey, Ashford Manor, 73-75, 148; E Ray, Ganton, 75-74,149.
From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; "Instituted 1882; Membership of 460, ladies 65; Hon. Secretary - F G Callow, Trafford Hall; Ladies' secretary - Mrs Saatweber; Captains - J Collier and Mrs Maclaren; Entrance Fee £3/3s and Subs £2/2s; 18-holes; Professional - P J Gaudin; Professional course record - P J Gaudin (November 1899), 69; Amateur - T D Cumming (August 1899), 72 and N Macbeth jnr. (September 1902), 73; Visitors' 2/6 a day, 7/6 a week and £1/1s a month. "This course situated in Trafford Park, is undoubtedly the best in the neighbourhood of Manchester. The subsoil is sand, and the lies are always good. The first nine-holes are on undulating ground, while the last nine are flat. The course is some 5,600 yards long; the best holes being the second 400 yards; the fourth, 380 yards; the seventh, 360yards; the twelfth, 370 yards; the sixteenth, 400 yards - R O J Dallmeyer."
Below, result of a ladies’ match played against Timperley on Friday 30 March 1906.
| Manchester Golf Club | Timperley Golf Club | ||
| Mrs Rhys Davids | 1 | Mrs Cooper | 0 |
| Miss Ferguson | 0 | Miss Crawley | 1 |
| Mrs Fothergill | 0 | Miss D G Owen | 1 |
| Mrs Saatweber | 0 | Miss Ford Smith | 0 |
| Miss Dean | 1 | Mrs Lloyd Jones | 0 |
| Mrs Harrop | 1 | Mrs Anderton | 0 |
| Miss Collins | 0 | Miss Lawson | 1 |
| 3 | 3 |
The Mafeking Challenge Cup, bogey competition, was played at Trafford Park on Wednesday 16 May 1906, leading scores; W R Pope (3), 2up; J I Franklin (5), all square; George Lee (8), all square; A G Hogg (scratch), 1down; J E Pearson (1), 1down; P R Harrap (5), 1down; F Marsh (scratch), 2down; P B Burn, (1), 2down; F Percival (2), 2down; W Hewitt jnr (8), 2down; W Hayes (3), 3down; T J Edmonson (5), 3down; J B Heighway (10), 3down; M J Hardcastle (11), 3down; J Milne (3), 4down; J Mahoney ( 3), 4down; W H Brayshaw (3), 4down; D Nelson (6), 4down; J Abercombie (6), 4down; J H Cooke (7), 4down; A Platt (7), 4down; T Price (9), 4down.
Following is the result of a mixed foursomes competition played on the Trafford Park course in July 1908, the net aggregate of the best three cards were taken to decide the winners.
| Mrs Fothergill and W Nelson | 248 | 15 | 233 |
| Mrs H Hacker and R D Lowe | 289 | 51 | 238 |
| Miss Wilson and T Mackay | 263 | 24 | 239 |
| Miss Collins and K G Fison | 303 | 60 | 243 |
| Mrs Rhys Davids and E Thomas | 261 | 15 | 246 |
| Miss Plant and W H Riley | 275 | 27 | 248 |
| Mrs Harrap and J S Barker | 268 | 18 | 250 |
| Miss Ferguson and F C Thomas | 299 | 42 | 257 |
| Mrs Eshelby and A Platt | 300 | 42 | 258 |
| Mrs Dixon and H C Dixon | 328 | 66 | 262 |
| Mrs Saatweber and B Thomas | 292 | 27 | 265 |
| Miss Owen and J I Franklin | 317 | 51 | 266 |
All the competitors, about forty, were entertained to supper in the clubhouse by the captain and Mrs Dixon.
Also in July 1908 the winner of the Captain’s Cup was H W Bllomer, runner-up was T Mackay.
Below is the result of a ladies' match played at Burbage (now defunct) in July 1908.
| Burbage Golf Club | Manchester Golf Club | ||
| Mrs P Shaw | 1 | Mrs Hartop | 0 |
| Mrs Little | 0 | Mrs Fothergill | 1 |
| Miss de Montmorency | 0 | Miss Ferguson | 1 |
| Miss Parkinson | 1 | Mrs Wilson | 0 |
| Miss Shipton | 1 | Mrs Botsford | 0 |
| Mrs Braithwaite | 1 | Mrs Eskelby | 0 |
| 4 | 2 |
The Boxing Day competition in 1909 for the best gross score was won after a play off by J R Abercrombie.
Over 30 prizes were played for in the New Year’s Day competition played in January 1910, leading scores below.
| H Morris | 84 | 9 | 75 | T Mackay | 87 | 2 | 85 |
| J B Heighway | 83 | 6 | 77 | H S Qualtrough | 95 | 10 | 85 |
| W Coventry | 87 | 10 | 77 | G Clayton | 99 | 14 | 85 |
| F Clay | 89 | 12 | 77 | H H Longworth | 102 | 17 | 85 |
| C W Allott | 95 | 16 | 79 | S Heaton | 93 | 7 | 86 |
| J H Cooke | 89 | 9 | 80 | A M Robbie | 102 | 16 | 86 |
| W H Riley | 88 | 7 | 81 | R A Pugh | 91 | 4 | 87 |
| W E Rogers | 96 | 14 | 82 | T E Qualtrough | 93 | 6 | 87 |
| W Nelson | 83 | scr | 83 | P R Harrap | 90 | 2 | 88 |
| A D MacLaren | 88 | 5 | 83 | H C Dixon | 97 | 9 | 88 |
| R E Winsloe | 96 | 13 | 83 | G M Fox | 98 | 10 | 88 |
| K Heighway | 88 | 4 | 84 | A F Stockton | 108 | 20 | 88 |
| F C Thomas | 97 | 13 | 84 | T Birley | 94 | 5 | 89 |
| E H Smith | 99 | 15 | 84 |
In 1911 the club secretary was A S Wright and the Steward F W Morgan. With industrial development planned it became obvious that the lease was unlikely to be renewed in 1912. So once again the Manchester Club would be looking for a new home. In 1912 the club took the opportunity to move to its current course at Hopwood Park.
Trafford Hall was severely damaged by bombing in WW2 and was demolished soon after the end of the War.
Manley Park, home of the first Manchester (St Andrews)course. Grid reference SJ82265,94725, co-ordinates 382265,394725.
Location of the Manchester course on Trafford Park. Grid reference SJ78635,97675, co-ordinates 378635,397675.
Golfers on Trafford Park, Trafford Hall in the background. Postcard by Whittaker & Co, Gaff series no P216.
Above is Hopwood Cottage in 1907, at the time a private residence. This became the clubhouse for the current Manchester Golf Club. Thanks to Frank Accleton for supplying the image.