Bury Golf Club

Bury Golf Club is one of the oldest in its district. The club was instituted in 1890, just before the late 19th century's golf boom, and was attached to a nine-hole course in Redvales, Bury (sometimes referred to as Redvales Links). Harry Vardon was the professional at the Redvales site for three years, and was the club's first professional, before leaving in 1896 for Ganton Golf Club.[3] According to Spalding's Official Golf Guide, it was at Bury that he adopted the "Vardon Grip", a popular grip used by many today.[4] Sandy Herd also played on the Redvales course during this time.[5]

On the character of the course, then captain, S. F. Butcher in 1892 writes:

"The Green is at Redvales, about one mile from Bury. It consists of nine-holes over grassland. Hazards: hedges, roads, and boggy land. Hitherto only a winter course, it is now open in summer also."[6]

Harry Vardon, both club professional and greenskeeper at the time, wrote the following in 1893:

"The course is of the unusual inland character, being mainly meadow land, and the hazards are hedges, roads, and a few artificial sand bunkers. It is situated about one mile from the Bury Station [...], about twenty minutes by rail from Manchester."[7]

In 1904, the club first presented a plan to extend the Redvales course by a further nine holes to create an eighteen-hole course,[8] in 1907 funding was secured, and the work began.[9][10] The new eighteen-hole course was formally opened on 19 September 1908.[11]

During its time at Redvales, the club hosted regular monthly medal competitions in both seasons,[12] an annual Boxing Day tournament,[13][14] ladies' day competitions,[15] the Kay Gold Medal, the St. Anne Cup,[7] and the Schofield Gold Challenge Medal (awarded by A. B. Schofield).[16] Also, there was the Sir Henry James Challenge Cup (also referred to as the James Challenge Cup), which was awarded by Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford, who was the club's president during the 1890s.[7][14]

During the First World War, the Redvales course was commandeered to support agricultural food production. The club gave the course up for ploughing in January 1918, and so the club closed down for the remainder of war.[17] The club remained out of operation until after the war had ended, when it then began searching for a new home.[18]

Looking over the golf course towards Unsworth Pole.

In 1920, the club acquired the building and land surrounding Unsworth Lodge with money collected from donations, renaming Unsworth Lodge to Unsworth Hall. The hall, an early 19th century Georgian mansion, was formerly occupied by the first mayor of Bury, Alderman John Duckworth.[19] Since its purchase by the club, the building has been refurbished, and then extended some time around the 1950s,[20] and is currently on Bury Council's list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest as a non-designated heritage asset, due to its landmark status and ties to the first mayor.[21]

The club commissioned golf course architects Colt, Mackenzie and Alison to design a new 18-hole course for the new location.[22] The Unsworth site was chosen due to its proximity to both Bury and Manchester, and its moorland terrain.[23] The construction took place through the course of 1920-1922, with the first of the nine links opening in 1921, and the rest fully operational by 1922. The club continues to operate from the Unsworth course to date.

Before its centenary in 1990, the Earl of Derby became the club's patron, providing the club with a trophy.[24]

The 18-hole semi-moorland course is around 6,000 yards, and contains some classic holes including three designed with McKenzie two-tier greens. The course contains diversified natural features and undulating contours; no two holes are alike, nor are there many which lie in the same direction, providing a varied and fair testing round.[25] Parr Brook meanders through the lower terrain, though pathways and bridges have been constructed to allow the use of buggies in the main season.[26]

Bury Golf Course entrance on Blackford Bridge.

The present clubhouse, located at Unsworth Hall, contains a licensed bar, two lounges, and a dining room named the Vardon Room (in honour of alumnus Harry Vardon).[27] The hall is also licensed to hold events,[28] and contains a commercial kitchen capable of serving up to eighty guests.[29] There is also a pro shop offering equipment, repairs, and facilitating equipment and buggy rentals.[30]