Halifax

Founded in 1895, when members had use of a 12-hole layout at Lightcliffe, Halifax Golf Club moved to Ogden in 1902 and the opening of the new course was marked by a 36-hole exhibition match between Sandy Herd and Harry Vardon on 2nd October that year.

Changes were made to this course soon after it had been unveiled, resulting in another official opening, and this time the match on 8th September 1906 was between James Braid and J. H. Taylor. It's not documented who made the course alterations, but it's possible that the club's first professional, George Lowe, who designed the original course at Royal Lytham & St Annes, may have influenced the shaping of the Ogden layout.

Derek Markham commented as follows in A Matter of Course: The life of William Herbert Fowler 1856-1941: "Fowler's frequent visits to Yorkshire yeilded a further assignment. This was at Halifax Golf Club where he paid a visit in late 1908. Fowler recommended the installation of new holes and various other changes which were carried out by the club's newly appointed greenkeeper Lawrence Birch."

According to the book James Braid and his Four Hundred Golf Courses by John F. Moreton and Iain Cumming, “in 1908 Herbert Fowler was called in to advise, and in 1912 Dr. Alister MacKenzie, when further changes were made.

Finally, in 1920 in the October it was to Braid to whom the directors turned, and his plan for course improvements was accepted, notably a new 6th, 7th and 8th, and apart from subsequent minor changes, this is today’s course.”

The Ogden layout extends to a 6,388 yards from the back tees, playing to a par of 70, but don’t let such a modest overall length fool you into thinking this is an easy course – a standard scratch score of 72 might just indicate otherwise.

Holes of note include MacKenzie’s par three 2nd and Braid’s trio at 6, 7 and 8. On the back nine, there are testing par fours to negotiate at the 10th and 16th, before plummeting down from the top of the moorland at the par three signature 17th.