LGC Features

This picture of the 5th green was taken a good few years ago when there were no wires around the greens. This trial period did not last very long. There also seems to be a lack of rushes!

The Wednesday 9 hole Competition's began in 1963 or 1964, with a prize being given to the two best 18 hole aggregates at the end of the series. At one stage these competitions were referred to as the 'Summer League'. Prior to this a number of 18 hole competitions were held on Wednesday's during May, June and July, including the Alan Stevens Shield, the Alfred Hargreaves Trophy and Captain's Qualifying Rounds.

Ever wondered about the Pylons that cross the course.

Here we have an interesting card from May

17th 19**. Mr. Ian Ogden scored a hole-in-one wedged between two eights. As we can see the 'ace' had little effect on his subsequent scores but he did finish with a creditable 36 net, which included three pars and an eagle. Mr Bert Rushton, playing off a handicap of 14, also recorded a hole-in-one in the Centenary Open Fourball Competition on 7th August 1988, played between members of both Lobden and Rochdale Golf Clubs. The 'ace' came at the par three 210yd 12th hole, which converted to a 1 net 0 for 5 points. Both Steve Brown and Ronnie Crabtree have achieved the same feat in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Dean Hill, during his year as Captain, had a hole-in-one within a few weeks of the start of the 1996 season.

Alan Barber had a hole-in-one at the 9th on his way to winning the Captain's Final in 1980.

Twenty-four handicapper W Hacking had a hole-in-one on 17 July 1948 in the first round of the Jubilee Trophy at the 145 yd 12th hole.

Jared Ellison - currently a member of Manchester Golf Club playing off a handicap of 3 - had a hole-in-one in the 2nd round of the Captains Final in 1997 on the 3rd hole. Yes, and we remember it cost his father Roger Ellison a small fortune in drinks!

There have of course been other 'holes-in-one', and the webmaster would like to here from anyone who has details of any of them.

1952 to celebrate winning the Manchester Evening Chronicle Fourball

Top

Arthur Wilson, Ray Hulse, Jimmy Sprowell, Clifford Ellison, Geoffrey Rhodes, Jack Hill

Middle

Alan Cumberbirch, H Ormerod, Roy Mills, Jack Carr, Jimmy Albiston, Ernie Rushton, ?

Bottom

Ray Hudson, Alec Mills, Jim Hawkard, John Hill, Harry Gartside, Morritt Cropper

This photograph was taken to celebrate Jim Hawkard and John Hill winning the Manchester Evening Chronicle Fourball in 1952. The final was played at Stockport Golf Club. The prizes at the front of the table are Silver Cigarette Boxes. (Special thanks to Life Members Derek Stott & Bert Rushton for providing this information)

Interesting facts from the record books

12th May 1906

C B Hudson scored a record round for 9 holes playing for a prize by A Hargreaves with 5 up on bogie or a gross 34. His total for 18 holes was 73 gross. The bogie for the course at the time being 39/78.

7th December 1906

Probably the highest winning competition score was when the Stevens Shield was won by R Ashworth with 103 - 2 = 101 net. The course was covered with a light covering of snow and ice!

29th July 1908

The first minute book shows that on this date Mr R Ashworth recorded the following score.

5 4 4 3 4 4 5 4 4=(37)

5 4 3 3 4 4 4 3 3=(33)Total 70

However, this score does not appear in the record books for some reason.

21st June 1938

Each member present at the Jubilee Dinner received a memento in the shape of a 'Lynx' golf ball with the markings L.G.C. 1888/1938.

This ball was found on the course by 'Old Cobb ball Ray' who used to come up on Saturdays until a few years ago. He was a caddie at the club as a youngster and once carried two bags during one round whilst caddying for the Ladies. This ball was dated from between the first decade of the 1900's or early teens by Antique Golf Clubs of Scotland. The 27 refers to the dram weight of the ball (lighter than the modern ball) and most companies produced three weights, often 27, 29 & 31 dwt. The R&A introduced the standard weight of 1.62 oz in 1921. Interestingly the club had a professional called Mr E Cobb from 4 March 1892 on a three month trial. It is not known whether there is any connection.

1904 - The time allowed in searching for a ball was reduced from 10 to 5 minutes.

1922 - Limitations were made on the weight and size of the golf ball.

1929 - Steel shafts were permitted for the first time.

1939 - Only 14 clubs were allowed to be carried from this date.

1984 - Ball no longer dropped over the player's shoulder, but at arm's length and at shoulder height.

1990 - The 1.68" ball becomes the only legal ball. This was to be the final demise of the small 'British' ball.

An interesting prize from the 1948 season was Mr R Hudson's Prize which read as follows:

Medal Play - Cards may be taken out (6s each) at any time other than a Competition, the winner being the player returning the best two net scores from the Competition Tees during the period of the fixture list with no limit to the number of cards that my be taken out.

9 August 2003

A new course record of 63 (-7 under par) was set by 3 handicapper Chris Chrimes on Saturday 9 August 2003 in temperatures that reached 32°C (or 90°F in old money - the hottest day since 1976 in Rochdale). His round, including 7 birdies and 11 pars beat the previous record of 65 set by Craig Hardman (3) on the 7 September 1996 in the Barrie Hill Memorial Trophy.

The card for the previous course record set by Craig Hardman read 4 4 2 4 3 4 5 4 3 = 33 5 3 3 4 3 4 5 3 2 = 32 Gross 65.

Prior to this record holders included Clive Turner (handicap 3) on the 26 October 1985 with a gross 66 (including a double bogie on the 6th) and Rodney Sanderson (handicap 5) on the 8 August 1981 with a 68 (also including a double bogie on the 17th).

R R Osbourne was one of the original members of the club and played for Rochdale Hornets and played in the first England v Scotland Rugby match. He was the first captain of Hornets Rugby Club in 1871 and also later, the club president. At that time Mr Edward Healey was their first Honorary Treasurer - he was also the captain of Lobden Golf Club in 1906. Mr W A Scholes was first team captain of Hornets from 1885-86.