Kirkbymoorside Golf Club - History

In the Golfing Annual for 1907-08 Kirkbymoorside is mentioned for the first time as being instituted on November 20th 1907. Annual subscription was 1 Guinea. The Captain was Viscount Helmsley and the Secretary Dr. T. W. Tetley of Elmshurst, Kirkbymoorside. The Professional was A. W. McDonald. The guide pointed out that the club was 10 minutes from the Railway Station and that 'the Trout fishing in the area was of the best'. This course was closed in 1916.

In Nesbit's Golf Year Book for 1914 the Secretary has changed to T. Isherwood and the Pro to W. Reeve and the station is quoted at 1/4 mile away. The same details were given in the 1921 edition of the Golfers Handbook, but in view of the fact it had closed in 1916, the mistake was probably due to copying the previous entry without checking. In the 1940 edition the course is shown as being 1 1/2 miles away, this obviously ties in with the fact that the Club was then off the Fadmoor Road and remains of some of the greens and tees can be seen in the Football field, as can the foundations of the clubhouse and Pro's shop.

On October 2nd 1945 a letter was sent out to previous members, trying to revive the club. It was stated that the club had debts of £180 and that to clear these an entrance fee of 1 guinea would be instituted as well as annual subscriptions of 3 guineas for men and 2 guineas for women. It was hoped to open most of the holes that were remaining, to reseed the area that had been ploughed and to re-build the two greens that had been ploughed.

This letter was signed by W. P. Frank as Chairman and G. Robinson as joint Hon Sec.

As far as can be gleaned nothing came of this, and nothing more happened until 1952 when a public meeting was called in the Church House on Wednesday April 23rd. It was agreed to go ahead with a course that Col Holt had already started to create with the help of T. K. Cotton, a golf course architect. The course would be maintained at cost by The Holt Bracken Breaker Company, until such time as a full-time greenkeeper could be employed. Col Holt was elected President and J. F. Watson was elected Captain. Jack Watson still lives in Scarborough and has visited the clubhouse. The course was opened on Friday July 1st 1952, as reported in the Malton Gazette of July 11th.

About 1982 the course was extended to 18 holes. Ron Cole and the members did all of the work, helped by the local Scout Group, who spent a long time destoning the fairways.

On April 4th 1990, five trustees of the club signed contracts for the purchase of the land from the Ravenswick Estates. All members bought 4 debentures at £50 each to finance the purchase. These to be repaid at a future date, one per year. At an E.G.M. on October 28th 1991 it was agreed to buy an additional 12.64 acres of land adjoining the course, and to install a watering system. The latter to be paid for by the retention of 2 debentures per member. On 9th April 1992 planning permission was granted for change of use from agriculture to Golf course for this land. Starting in spring 1992 and completed by the summer 1992, the sprinkler system was installed. A golf course architect was employed to design 3 new holes on the new land and these were opened in May 1997. Meanwhile plans were drawn up for a replacement clubhouse and a new greens shed. The new clubhouse, partially funded by the National Lottery was finally opened on 10th November 1998 by Bernard Gallacher.