ABOUT THE COURSE
Glossop and District Golf Club was founded in October 1894
After the official opening of the Glossop Club on 4th May 1895, The scarcity of extensive tracts of land, and the difficulty in negotiating with their occupiers, compelled the Club, to be content with a six hole course.
The principal founders of the Club were Samuel Hill & Oswald Partington, both born in 1872.
Woodcock farm on which the Club stands, was historically known as Coldharbour, and anyone who has experienced a winter blizzard on the course will confirm the truth and suitability of that title. But in spring and early summer it is a most attractive site for a Golf Club, with idyllic views all around and the hills of the Peak District providing a dramatic and constantly changing backdrop.
The Club took up residence in its first headquarters, "The Royal Oak Hotel" on Sheffield Rd. here, teas were served and two rooms were rented which contained the first set of lockers.
In 1902 the Club left its first headquaters at the "Royal Oak" moving into Woodcock Farmhouse. This was the year that the course was re-designed by George Lowe of Lytham St.Anne's. The Club really began to take shape with the building of the first purpose built clubhouse in 1904.
In 1905 many changes took place, The committee became the Council and a house committee was formed. The Club registered for the sale of drinks. Whiting, the groundsman, had his salary raised from £1 to £1 0s 10d, and the entrance fee was raised from one guinea to two.
In 1906 it was decided that there would be two classes of caddie on the course, who would be paid at the following rates per round : 1st class 8 pence. 2nd class 6 pence.
In 1907 a new lease was negotiated with Lord Howard, and the course was further extended within the farm, paving the way for the present basic course layout to be established, "The Snake" hole was a six ( now a four stroke index 1 ).
During the 1914-18 war the new extended land was ploughed for wartime cultivation and in 1919 subscriptions had to be raised to restore the new two holes, Men's raised to £2.12s.6p : Ladies raised to 25 shillings.
In 1925 the new deeds were signed, Woodcock Farm with its 47,151 acres became the property of Glossop & District Golf Club.
The post war era of the 1950's and early 60's was probably the period which saw the greatest development in the history of the Club to date, Men who had returned from the war were queueing up to become captain, and as the membership increased, the need for overall improvements became apparent, a new clubhouse and a new 3rd tee, These improvements were to take a decade of fundraising, planning and building.
These extracts are just a fraction from the book "100 years of golf in Glossop" available from the Pro's shop
