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Key Dates
October 1932
The club opened with nine holes on rented farmland
to the rear of Higher Lane, Whitefield, the site
it still occupies today. The original plan was
to convert some old cowsheds into a clubhouse
but there was a stroke of luck when two farm cottages
came up for sale. They were immediately purchased
for £500 and it was from these that the
first clubhouse was created. The first pro was
Arthur Phillips, who stayed at the club for a
remarkable 30 years.
June 1933
When some suitable land adjoining the rented
plot became available the whole site was purchased
to make an 18-hole course. It was designed by
Tom Renouf, a renowned local golfer who had designed
several other courses in the Manchester area.
September 1938
Whitefield Golf Club received a special VIP visit
by the American entertainer Eddie Cantor while
on a fund-raising trip to Britain. He was made
an Honorary Member of the club.
1939-1945
Like the famous Windmill Theatre in London, during
the dark days of the Second World War, Whitefield
Golf Club never closed. But there were still some
sacrifices which had to be made: for example,
members had to care for the greens and fairways
themselves, and some of the land was turned over
to raising crops to help with the war effort.
April 1963
A smart new clubhouse was opened, an expansion
of the original cottages which had previously
undergone several alterations and refurbishments.
After then growth continued as the club’s
reputation grew both regionally and nationally,
with the Lancashire PGA regularly holding competitions
there. Well-known golfing brothers Fred and Bob
Boobyer were the pros, and they attracted several
prestigious tournaments to the club.
Improvements to the course also continued to
be carried out, including the planting of 10,000
trees, making it one of the most wooded courses
in the country.
Over the years, Whitefield Golf Club has welcomed
many world famous golfers such as Harry Wheetman,
Max Faulkner, Tony Jacklin, Tony Grubb, Tommy
Horton and Dai Rees.
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