First Nine Holes

THE FIRST NINE HOLES

The 50 acres that were leased from Mr T Noden in 1936 is some of the land which comprises the present front nine. The clubhouse was rebuilt on a site which is presently occupied by the greens compound. This clubhouse was eventually destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve 1970.

Although there is no record in the minutes appointing James Braid to design the new course, it is recorded that Mr James Braids plan for the new course had been examined and accepted. Apparently a Mr Hardwick settled Mr Braids account and the committee thanked Mr Hardwick for his generosity.

During the early months of 1937 work continued on the course and working parties of members met each week to clear ditches, hedges and general tidying up.

5th May 1937, all handicaps were revised to a standard scratch of 78. Cheshire Union were requested to allot a new standard scratch.

Discussions were held on ways and means of getting cattle off the course, of providing a bar, and employing a steward or stewardess to collect green fees, and man a small shop selling sweets, cigarettes and golf requisites. The first competitions were held on the new course on Saturday 5^th June.

24^th June 1937, County court summons Brandeth v Britland & Huntington. It was reported that the club had lost the case over the removal of turf.

May 1938, the Ladies’ room in the clubhouse was extended at a cost of £54 and £10 was spent on new furnishings. Number of Ladies allowed to join without paying an entrance fee was increased from 60 to 75.

27^th Oct 1939, the club accepted a gift of a rose bowl (The Briant Bowl) from Mrs Briant in memory of the first secretary of the club Dr AJ Briant.

17^th Feb 1940, annual subscriptions increased from £2.5.0 to £2.10.0

18^th Jan 1941, letter received from Cheshire Agricultural Committee stating that all golf clubs were requested to consider ploughing up more land for food production.

It’s not possible to determine how much of HGC land was ploughed up. The ridges visible today on the 1^st  and 7^th fairway are evidence of the plough and most of the 9^th fairway was also ploughed up.

Problems arose with the farmer M T Noden with regard to his cattle. He had turned over a lot of his farmland for food production. Obviously he still required land for grazing and if necessary they would be put on what was left of the course. The farmer offered to share any profit from the cultivated land with the club.

29^th April 1943, virtually impossible to get spare parts for broken machinery. Also very difficult to obtain any sort of labour. Unless working parties from the members undertook ground maintenance it would be impossible to play golf.

During the late forties the club had financial problems and even cancelled monthly medals to accommodate visiting societies. The situation got so bad that consideration was given to giving up part of the course. It was agreed to approach the landlord to ask whether a reduction in rent could be made if they reduced the course by 12 acres.

After examining this proposal however they concluded that the cost of fencing and alterations to the course the suggestion to reduce the course was impractical.

25^th Feb 1954, first discussions regarding taking up the option to purchase the land on which the course was situated. Lease expired at the end of 1956

Report from land valuer recommended the club exercise the option to purchase the land for £5000. The chairman commented that the club would have to purchase the land or cease to exist as a golf club. It was suggested that an approach should be made to B.I.I.C regarding the possibility of obtaining a loan from them.

29^th Sep 1955, B.I.I.C agreed to assist with the purchase of the land and to bear the cost of taxes and stamp duties.

The situation was that the landlord was only prepared to lease the land for 5 years at an increased rental and the option to buy the land would be withdrawn under the new contract with no guarantee that the lease would be extended.  With a membership of just over 70 men and 30 ladies there was no way that the club could afford to buy the land.

B.I.I.C agreed to loan £5000 to the club to enable them to buy the land with the proviso that they immediately sold the land back to B.I.I.C Terms of lease with B.I.I.C would be 10 years. The club would also have grazing rights on the course which would amount to about 7 shillings per week for each head of cattle.

26^th Jan 1956, conveyance of the land from Mr T Noden to the golf club was signed on behalf of the club by Messrs R.W Bloomer, F.G Briant J.Hughes and E.J Harding.

The conveyance of the land to B.I.I.C was signed by the same signatories.