Woodsome Hall's big birthday

Preparations are at advanced stages for the official launch of Woodsome Hall Golf Club’s Centenary Year, with a packed calendar of events ready to roll out. It was on October 13, 1921 that a small group of golf enthusiasts met at Huddersfield’s historic George Hotel with the lofty idea of turning the 16th century listed Woodsome Hall into a golf club. In just a few months, by March 1922, those men’s ambitions had taken shape and their legacy continues to grow a century later. The golf club’s big day is Sunday March 20th, the day after the formalities of the AGM and election of officers. The Centenary Opening Ceremony on Sunday morning will see the raising of the Centenary flag and unveiling of a commemorative stone and planting of a time capsule, with the Clifton and Lightcliffe Brass Band present to lend a suitably festive atmosphere. The club actually launched a Centenary fundraising effort as far back as 2010, which has raised £88,000 towards club and course improvements including a pond complex and Centenary Bridge which enhance the 8th and 9th holes. Following the opening ceremony, members and guests are invited to play five holes of ‘Edwardian style’ golf using hickory shafted clubs Woodsome has managed to acquire for the occasion. Period dress is encouraged if not required – the emphasis is on fun! Guests will be given a presentation about and tour of the Grade 1 Listed hall before a celebration lunch. To mark the Centenary, Woodsome Hall member David Russell has compiled literally hundreds of fascinating facts, members’ special memories and photographs. Together they are being made into a Centenary book, ‘100 Years of Memories’. On the golf course, the club’s celebrations will actually precede the official opening, with representatives of Woodsome’s reciprocal clubs playing the course on Thursday 17th – St Patrick’s Day – and enjoying the club’s hospitality while staying in the Dormy House. In April some 28 club members will be heading to Portugal and staying at Estoril Golf Club while playing a match against Lisbon Sports Club. Major social events for the year are planned around the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Captains’ Week, a Centenary Ball and Fashion Show. The club’s charity is the Forget- Me-Not children’s hospice. Centenary Captains are Mark Fielding and Carol Dudley and Mark commented: “It is with great excitement that Woodsome Hall Golf Club is about to commence its Centenary Year. “Our intent for the year, after two years of Covid, is to ensure our members, visitors and guests have a fun year of golf and social activities. Carol Dudley and myself are very honoured to be representing the club as Captains for this special year and the club have many events planned. “A lot of hard work and preparation has gone into planning the year and our team are very much ready to show Woodsome Hall of at its best. There have been a number of projects completed in the last couple of years which have enhanced the offering of the club and we hope you will take the chance to come and visit. The combination of our mature parkland course, fabulous clubhouse, Dormy House, high quality food and welcome makes Woodsome a hidden gem in the Yorkshire golfing community. We look forward to offering you a warm Woodsome welcome.” General Manager Rick Devine added: “I am personally delighted to be part of a special year for such a special golf club. The hard work and heavy investment into the course and clubhouse has been inspiring despite of all the challenges the pandemic brought us. It is going to be a pleasure to watch our members, their guests and visitors enjoy all we have to offer in 2022.”