Harwood Golf Club Timeline
One Hundred Years
1926 – 2026
Harwood Golf Club was established in 1926 by, it is believed, four founder members, F Standring, J L Wardle, T M Redfern and one other (unknown). These four members were all shop keepers, which is why Harwood held their competitions on Sunday when their businesses were closed. The Ladies section held their competitions on Wednesday as it was half day closing for shops.
The course initially comprised of four holes on land immediately behind the Nab Gate Pub, now Baci.
The Club holds its AGM on the third Wednesday in February, and it is thought that this was maybe the date the club was established.
Further land was acquired on which the clubhouse now stands and holes 1, 2, 3 and 18 are situated enabling a 9 hole course to be played.
On the 13th November the club held its first Annual Dinner.
On the 25th March the Club received a 'notice to quit' 28 acres of land on which their 9 hole course was laid. The deadline for this was 31st March. The land was wanted for building purposes.
13th April the committee decided to disband the Club. It was deemed unwise to start afresh due to low membership and lack of finance.
John Allen, Captain of the Club, held a further meeting with members. It was decided to rent further land from Springfield Farm as they had lost tenancy to the land behind the Nab Gate. John Allen was instrumental in making sure that Harwood was able to continue as a Golf Club. It was quoted in BUFF that this "has only been possible through the loyalty of the members not least the womenfolk. Such clubs could not exist without that admirable spirit."
The new 9 hole course was opened. An exhibition game between L Allenby, professional to Bolton Municipal course and W Simms, member of Harwood with 100 members gathering to watch.
This year saw the first Lady Captain of Harwood Golf Club but it is thought that the ladies had been involved from 1926 and had full voting rights along with the men.
A wooden structure served as a clubhouse with water being drawn from a well outside the men's locker room, the only other facilities were two outside chemical toilets.
The 9 holes on the course were all named: Toots, Valley, Alps, Blakes, Pavilion, Stiles, Nab, Ponder and Home.
The land was rough, virtually undrained land on which cattle grazed and chickens laid their eggs. The fairways were covered in cow pats and the greens on the land had to be fenced with posts and wire to keep the cattle off.
A large "Nissen Hut" replaced the wooden structure that had served as the Clubhouse. This building approximately 100ft x 30ft had been used by the Army at Heaton Park and was purchased for £100.
The building was heated by two stoves, had a rough wooden floor, seating on the rear wall consisted of old tip-up cinema seats and a billiard table was housed and the provision of a separate room for the ladies. This was financed by an interest free loan of £5.00 from each member. The well and chemical toilets were still in use.
The two stoves heating the Clubhouse were replaced by two tiled fireplaces and the ladies chemical toilets were moved into the main building. Virtually all the work was carried out by members working parties.
Harwood Golf Club joined Bury Golf Association.
The Club continued to improve its facilities. A brick wall was erected at the front of the Clubhouse and new windows were installed providing an area for the members to sit and look out over the course. Shortly after this time a further wooden building was erected to provide a locker room for the ladies and running water was available to the Clubhouse.
Further 25 acres of land was rented from Bury Meadows and the practice ground was established.
On the 21st January Harwood had its first flushing toilet. This was celebrated by a ceremonial flushing by the Lady Captain.
In the early hours of 22nd January a devastating fire destroyed the Main Clubhouse and Ladies Locker Room. The fire was discovered by Roy and Joan Nicholson who lived on Bramhall Avenue. Joan rang the Fire Brigade and the Captain of the Club. Realising that the fire had caught the troughing on the barn and was alight, they woke the farmer and helped get his vehicles out of the barn.
It was a very foggy night and the Fire Brigade took some time to arrive, during which time the people present witnessed the Club Trophies, which were on the top of the piano, melt and run down the piano. The gents snooker room and locker room were saved from total destruction though a great deal of damage was done and it was apparent that the rebuild would have to be done from scratch. Most of the Club records, honours boards and trophies were destroyed during the fire but some photographs were saved.
During the next few days members worked tirelessly to remove the rubble and remaining buildings to prepare the site for the building of a new Clubhouse. Breightmet Golf Club were very supportive during this time and offered the use of their Clubhouse for meetings and an extraordinary meeting was held at Breightmet to plan for the provision of a new Clubhouse.
The present Clubhouse was opened in May '64 providing facilities of a standard which members never previously dreamed possible.
The Junior section was formed by Joan Nicholson with her son Howard being one of the first junior members.
A new Porch was added to the front of the Clubhouse.
The Dining Room and Kitchen extension were added.
Preparation began to develop Harwood into an 18 hole Golf Course. A development committee was formed ably led by David Fisher and Arthur Dulson . Arthur gave walking tours to members around the course as it was being developed.
Harwood won The Archie Preston trophy at Dunham Forrest under the Captains of John Simms and Rita Towler. The team was very ably managed by Steve Towler. This was a huge achievement for a small club such as Harwood and the excitement within the club was enormous! It has never been won by the club since.
The new 18 hole course was opened on opening day in April '98 by Ken Turner, The Captain and Judith Simms, Lady Captain. The excitement in the clubhouse that day was one to behold!
Harwood saw its first Lady President of the Club, Joyce Greenhalgh, possibly the longest living serving member of the club at the time.
The club had a brand new bar built which meant the bar staff now had substantially more walking to do!
It was agreed in principle that plans would be started for the construction of a new clubhouse. An extra element would need to be added to the budget to realise £100,000 over a period of five years. The original building put up in 1964 had a life expectancy of thirty years so it was agreed this was long overdue! A development committee with a variety of expertise was formed. Sadly none of these plans came to fruition as several years later the money was needed for roof repairs and a new greens facility.
A new bridge was erected on the 9th fairway. This was to celebrate 75 years of Harwood Golf Club history and to stand as a reminder and recognition of the many past and present members who, in various ways, had worked so tirelessly on behalf of the Club to progress from very humble beginning, to the 18 Hole Course it is today. The club also held a 75 years celebratory commemorative dinner.
An application was put in to Management by the Junior Organiser, Lucille Grime to enable the Junior Captain to 'drive in' alongside the Captains on opening day. This was granted and Phil Wrigley became the first ever Junior Captain to be able to carry out this honour.
A new bridge was built over the 14th fairway due to the generosity of the Tigers. The junior section was going from strength to strength. Louisa and Anthony Stirling were both selected to play for Lancashire. The club also had 12 junior girl members alongside approximately 50 junior boys.
New Greens facilities were added adjacent to the 15th tee after many applications to town planning via Dave Barrington. The greens shed was previously in the barn which was part of the farm next door to the club. Three new water fountains were also added to the course due to various kind donations.
Over the last 25 years Harwood Golf Club has continued to make improvements, both in the Clubhouse and on the Course.
During it's history, Harwood has hosted both Bury and Bolton Championships, has won both Bury and Bolton Association Leagues and has won team events in the Manchester Alliance including the Cavanagh Timber and the Archie Preston. The Ladies section has also seen great successes both in the bronze and silver teams.
We have also had several members who have become Bury and Bolton champions both in the ladies and the mens sections.
The club continues to raise money for charity including the most recent event which saw £10,500 raised for Bolton hospice.
