The Pannal Golf Club (Harrogate) Limited, one of the premier golf clubs in the North of England, has a rich history and heritage. It was founded on 28th June 1906, on land leased from The 5th Earl of Harewood, who became Club President. A 9-hole golf course was opened for play to golfers on 8th September 1906.
It soon became evident an 18-hole golf course was required and Sandy Herd, Open Championship winner in 1902, was retained to lay out the golf course. An Exhibition Golf Match between James Braid and Harry Vardon heralded the official opening of the extended golf course on 11th April 1908.
During 1933 a scheme was submitted jointly by Sir Guy Campbell and Major C A Mackenzie for alterations to the golf course to give Pannal Golf Club a true championship layout. The resulting course has stood the test of time, being able to test golfers of the highest ability to this day over its 6614 yards (Par 72 SSS 72).
The golf course was purchased from the 7th Earl of Harewood in September 1950, complete with superb views of Almscliffe Crag to the west, Crimple Valley and viaduct to the north, and the rolling plains of York to the east.
Over its long history Pannal Golf Club has hosted many Professional and Amateur Championships and a full list can be viewed by clicking here. Most recently the club has been proud to host the Open Championship Regional Qualifier, Yorkshire County Championship, North of England Under 16 Amateur Championship, ELGA Northern Counties Match Week and the EGU Boys County Finals.
A more detailed history of the Club and Course is given below (prepared by Anne Smith), extracted from the Centenary History Book of Pannal Golf Club 1906–2006 entitled "Minute by Minute," written by Anne Smith, which can be purchased from the club for £10.00. Anne also provides details further below of some of the many famous people who have played the course.
1906 - 1918
Opening of the course 8th September 1906 which was given extensive coverage by the local Harrogate press: "A nine-hole course second to none in the North of England with ample room for extension to a full eighteen holes.” Mr F Barber, the first captain, performed the opening ceremony and he said that he would give an explanation on how he came to be Captain. He had attended a meeting in the North Eastern Hotel, Harrogate (now a pizza restaurant!) in September 1905 to give his moral support to the proposal to establish a new club, but found himself elected as Captain of the Club.
The land was leased from The 5th Earl of Harewood and plans were already being made covering the laying out of an eighteen-hole course. James Braid and Alex (Sandy) Herd were approached and Sandy Herd (winner of The Open Championship in 1902) was retained. The 6th Earl of Harewood agreed to be the club's President.
The full course was officially opened on 11th April, 1908 with a match between James Braid and Harry Vardon watched by over 500 spectators. Vardon won in the morning by 3 and 2 and the match was halved in the afternoon.
Pannal was placed on the list by the Railway Company of "Golfing Stations". Club members were issued with an individual Golfer's Certificate by the NE Railway to travel First Class at a special discount rate when the journey was for the sole purpose of playing golf.
In 1909 the Lady Members joined themselves into a separate club and their first Lady Captain was Miss Sheepshanks. The club now had a membership of 488. In 1911 His Majesty King Manuel was given Honorary Membership.
Years 1912 and 1913 saw the disappearance of many old pot bunkers and their replacement by bold hummocks. Dr Alister MacKenzie was engaged to improve the course. The work was to be carried out over a three-year period at a retainer of 50 guineas. In 1913 The Duke and Duchess of Connought were given Honorary Membership.
The club carried on gaining more members until 1914 when we were at war with Germany. The carefree days were over. The Pannal Unit of the Ripon Division of Training Corps was drilled on the course. Captain Snowden a popular member was killed, as was Private GH Wilde, a member of staff Mrs Hudson's son also died followed shortly after by the deaths of Lt. MH Schunck and Lt. Sidney Burnley, Mrs Burnley's (the caterer's) son. The professional EH Cassidy enlisted as did the clerk and caddy master. A long struggle for survival lay ahead. In 1915 the club played host to wounded soldiers and concerts were arranged at the Winter Gardens, Harrogate in aid of British prisoners of war in Germany.
1919 - 1929
Viscount Lascelles and HRH Princess Mary accepted Honorary Life Membership to celebrate their engagement. An exhibition match was played on 20th May 1923 between Walter Hagan of Detroit USA, the reigning Open Champion, and Joe Kirkwood from Australia who had been the Open Champion of both Australia and New Zealand. More excitement built as the famous lady golfer Cecil Leitch had entered The Barnehurst Trophy being held at Pannal, but to the disappointment of the large crowd of spectators was unable to travel from London. In 1927 The English Ladies Close Championship was held and won by Mrs Edith Guedella, sister of Cecil Leitch.
1930 - 1950
Jack Busson was engaged as professional and was selected for the Ryder Cup. The 1933 course alteration was submitted and carried out by Sir Guy Campbell and Major CA MacKenzie. Pannal celebrated the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935 and life and golf went on until war was again declared with Germany in 1939. Mr Stringfellow was Captain all through the war years with the Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer also retaining their roles. 250 sheep grazed the course and crops were grown on the 11th and 12th fairways and the practice ground. Competitive play was abandoned but in this year an Exhibition Match was played with Henry Cotton, Jack Busson, JE Gent and Hector Thomson.
In 1942 a meeting was held with representatives from the Harrogate, Oakdale, Knaresborough and Pannal Golf Clubs to discuss a "Cotton" match for the benefit of the Red Cross and it had far reaching developments for Harrogate golf. The combined effort was to be known as a Harrogate and District Golf Clubs promotion. The match took place on 16th August and a cheque for £1,584.14s was despatched to the Red Cross.
It was 1949 before the eighteen holes were once again ready for play and it was in this year that recognition was given to Officials and Foundation Members who held the club together during the dark days of war. 1950 was a momentous year with the purchase of the course from the 7th Earl of Harewood . Also in that year members’ subscriptions were £8.8s and in 1952 they were raised to £11.0s.6d - there were 42 resignations!
1951 - 1981
Coronation Year 1953 was celebrated with competitions, dinners and teas. The 7th Earl of Harewood was now President having taken over on the death of his father. The Club's Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1956. Refurbishment of the clubhouse was undertaken. Happiness reigned on the course and in the clubhouse.
In 1972 there was great excitement once again as Lee Trevino, the Open Champion, was coming to Pannal to play in an Exhibition Match on Sunday 16th July. The excitement was understandably intense as only the day before, as defending champion, he had won The Open at Muirfield. The match was played with Lee Trevino, Michael Bonallack, Rodney Foster and Lionel Platts – the scores being 66, 71, 68 and 68 respectively. Wonderful golf was played and Lee talked and joked with the spectators. 1981 ended with heavy snow and blocked roads.
1982 - 2006
1982 also started with heavy snow and blocked roads. The Southern-bypass was built but did not affect the club. The Earl and Countess of Harewood came to present prizes at the August Golf Weekend and the weather was atrocious. In 1989 Pannal won The Vauxhall Golf Club Team Classic at St Pierre out of 110 clubs that had entered. The Bass Leeds Cup, the oldest of the professional golf tournaments, was held at Pannal. It was first played in 1902 when Harry Vardon won the trophy.
The subject of enfranchisement of Lady Members was becoming an issue and Ladies received the vote on 29th November 1999. 2001 saw the terrible crisis of foot and mouth disease that was sweeping the country. Public footpaths could not be walked on but we could continue to play golf.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews invited Pannal to host the regional qualifying rounds for The Open Championship for a six year period starting from 2006. Centenary Celebrations took up the whole of this year and what a great and exciting year it was with so many events and the whole club joining in the celebrations.
Famous Players at Pannal
Hopefully, the above condensed history illustrates the vibrant nature of the club and we have been proud to welcome many famous people to Pannal Golf Club over the years. Past and present who have played at Pannal, including some of their achievements:
James Braid (1870-1950): One of the greatest figures in golf. James Braid, Harry Vardon and JH Taylor made up the Triumvirate which dominated British professional golf for twenty years before the First World War. He was the first person to win The Open Championship five times. This record was later equalled by JH Taylor and broken by Harry Vardon.
Harry Vardon (1870-1950): Record win of six Open Championships, plus The US Open.
Alex (Sandy) Herd (1868-1944): Won The Open in 1902.
Walter Hagen USA (1892-1969): Four consecutive wins in the US PGA, US Open twice and The Open four times.
Joe Kirkwood Australian (1897-1970 ): Won Australian and New Zealand Opens. Toured round the world with Walter Hagen.
Cecil Leitch (1891-1977): Won English Ladies twice, French Open five times, Ladies British four times, Ladies Canadian.
Sir Henry Cotton (1907-1987): Won The Open three times, PGA three times, Argentine, Belgian, Italian, German, Czech, French, Vichy Opens. Holder of ten record lowest scores. Ryder Cup player, instructor and author of a number of books.
Bobby Locke (1917-1987): Won The Open four times, Irish, Transvaal, South African six times, New Zealand, Canadian, France, Germany, Switzerland, Egypt Opens.
Lee Trevino (1961- ) Won The Open, US Open, US PGA Champion, Canadian Open three times. Ryder Cup player.
Sir Nick Faldo (1957- ): The Open Champion three times, US Masters three times, French twice, Swiss, Spanish, Irish twice. Ryder Cup player and Captain.
Norman Von Nida (1914-2007): Won Australia Open. Author.
Hon. Joan Gee: 15 times Derbyshire Champion.
Harry Weetman (1920-1972): Won Harry Vardon Trophy. Long hitter who strengthened his arms by chopping down trees.
Miss Enid Wilson (1910-1996): Won British Ladies three times, English Ladies twice, US Ladies Amateur twice, Curtis Cup player.
Jessie Valentine MBE (1915-2006): Won British Ladies three times, Scottish Ladies six times, Curtis Cup player.
Roberto De Vincenzo (1923- ): Won Open Champion 1967, North British, Argentine, Chile, Columbian, Uruguay, Belgian, Dutch, French, Mexican, Panama, Jamaican, Brazilian, German, Spanish Opens.
Dai Rees (1913-1983): Won Belgian, Irish, New South Wales Opens, British PGA four times.
Ken Bousfield (1919-2000): Won German twice, Swiss, Belgian, Portuguese Opens, PGA. Ryder Cup player.
Max Faulkner (1916-2005): Won The Open, Spanish, Portuguese Opens. Ryder Cup player.
John Jacobs (1925- ): “Dr Golf” Won Dutch Open. Ryder Cup player, golf teacher and author of many golf instruction books.
Alex Kyle: Amateur Champion. Walker Cup player whose wife was a noted player and a member at Pannal.
Peter Oosterhuis (1948- ): Won French, Italian, Canadian, Transvaal Opens. Ryder Cup Player.
Christy O’Connor (1924- ): Won Transvaal, Canadian Opens, PGA Seniors twice. Ryder Cup player ten times.
Peter Butler (1932- ): Won French and Canadian Opens. Ryder Cup player.
Brian Barnes (1945- ): Won Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Zambian, Kenya Opens. Scottish Professional Champion. Ryder Cup player.
David Thomas (1934- ): Won Belgian, Dutch, French Opens. Ryder Cup player.
Maurice Bembridge (1945- ): Won Kenya, New Zealand, German Opens. Ryder Cup player.
Michael Bonallack (1934- ): Secretary of the Royal and Ancient. Amateur Champion, English Amateur Champion six times. Walker Cup player.
Neil Coles (1934- ): Won German, Spanish Opens, Dunlop Masters, Sumrie Penfold. Ryder Cup player.
Tommy Horton (1941- ): Won South African, Nigerian, Zambian Opens. Ryder Cup player.
Brian Huggett MBE (1936- ): Won Dutch, German, Portuguese Opens. Ryder Cup player.
Bernard Hunt MBE (1930- ): Won Egyptian, Belgian, German, Brazalian, French Opens. Ryder Cup player.
Tony Jacklin OBE (1944- ): Won The Open, US Open. Italian, German Opens. Ryder Cup player and Captain.
Sandy Lyle (1958- ): Won The Open, US Masters. Walker Cup and Ryder Cup player.
Bernard Gallacher (1949- ): Won Spanish, French Opens. Ryder Cup player 8 times and Captain three times.
Vivian Saunders (1946- ): Won British Ladies Open. Curtis Cup player.
Bernard Darwin CBE (1876-1961): Captain of Royal and Ancient. Noted golf writer.
Rodney Foster (1941- ): English Amateur Champion, Yorkshire Amateur five times. Walker Cup player.
Peter Alliss (1931- ): Won Spanish twice, Italian, Portuguese, Brazilian Opens. Ryder Cup player. BBC commentator, raconteur and author of many golf books.
Howard Clark (1954- ): Won Portuguese, Spanish, Madrid three times. Ryder Cup player.
Lionel Platts: Yorkshire Open Champion, Won Portuguese Open. Ryder Cup player.
Ann Irwin (1943- ): British Ladies Champion, English Ladies Champion. Curtis Cup player.
Guy Wolstenholme (1931-1984): Boy International and Walker Cup player.
Hedley Muscroft: Professional at Moor Allerton, golf teacher.
Herbert Sutcliffe, Freddie Trueman, Geoff Boycott, Ian Botham - Cricketers.
Eddie Gray - Leeds United & Scotland (a member).
David O"Leary - Arsenal & Republic of Ireland.
Charlie Williams - Comedian.
Craig Doyle - TV Personality.
