Speaker Paul Broomhead - Northcliffe Golf Club

Golf has been played in the Northcliffe Park area since 1896 when a 9-hole course was developed. At that time the first 2 holes were on the opposite side of High Bank Lane while the remaining 7 holes were where Northcliffe Park is currently situated. At this time the club was called Shipley Golf Club. However, in 1921 some members decided to move to a new 18-hole course at Beckfoot. Another group of members wanted to stay at Northcliffe. These members decided to form Northcliffe Golf Club.

At this time Sir Norman Henry Rae MP, said that he felt that the club and course should be used by everybody including people with limited means. Sir Norman Rae and his family lead the club for 10 years during which time the course was extended to 18 holes through fund raising and bequests from the Rae family. The new 9-holes were over the ravine and were designed under the supervision of Harry Vardon and James Braid.

One problem that arose was that there were restrictions on both playing the holes on what is now Northcliffe Park and serving alcohol in the club house on a Sunday. Sir Norman came to the rescue again when he acquired land on the Heaton side of the course in February 1928. This enabled Northcliffe to develop a full 18-hole course on land that is effectively in Bradford thereby overcoming the restrictions from Shipley council. James Braid then further designed the whole course as it stands today which opened in September 1930.

The only change since then is that the 18th was originally played back over the ravine to a green situated in the vicinity of the current clubhouse. It was moved to its present location at the bottom of the ravine when the current clubhouse was constructed on the site where it stands today. The golf commentator Peter Alliss said that this new 18th was the hardest in the whole country.

These changes meant that access across the ravine was needed and in 1933 the bridge over it was built at a cost of £296. This bridge now costs £3,000 every 3 years just for a safety inspection.

During World War II the club was requisitioned by the army and the club house used as an officer’s mess. The grounds were used for training purposes and anti-tank blocks, pillboxes, and minefields were built to fortify the area. Parts of the course were also dug up to grow food.

The 16th hole on the course has a dark history: -

• In 1932 a De Havilland crashed there with only 3 survivors.
• A hammer linked to Peter Sutcliffe was discarded there.
• In 1986 lightening killed a lady member at that location.

There are various traditions in the club as with most golf clubs: -

• Sydney Wheldon the first pro gave his name to committee who select captains and presidents.
• A coffee club was formed by Fattorini the Bradford jeweller who presented a silver coffee set. This still exists today and is made up of members are who've done good for the club.

The land and buildings of the club have belonged to the Norman Rae Foundation since 1921, and the club pays a peppercorn rent. This same trust owns Northcliffe Park and woods and if the golf club ever closes the land must be returned to meadow land, it can’t be used for any form of development. The club’s only responsibility is for maintenance of the land and buildings.

In 2017 the Greens Shed burnt down and cost £750k to rebuild and replace the machinery. . Unfortunately, the builder went bust. All this proved a big challenge to sort out but eventually a new building was complete that now incorporates an office on the top floor which is rented out to a golf course maintenance company. There are 8 grass cutters kept at the shed each worth around £40,000 when new. 4 are for cutting the greens and 4 for the fairways.

In 2016 the club became a limited company to avoid members being personally liable if there was a large claim against the club for personal liability. 

A combination of the Covid pandemic and a poorly designed membership fee structure caused membership to fall from around 400 before Covid to 230 2 years ago. At that time the club was very close to having to close. However, the board of directors (5 directors with experience of running companies) took over the management in place of the 16 strong committee made up of general members. A new professional and a new manager were hired. Catering was brought in house, and a new subscription system was introduced.  This has helped to increase membership from 230 to 370 meaning only another 30 or 40 members are needed to get back to membership pre Covid levels.

The location of the new crematorium has also been a blessing as much more revenue is now being generated from the bar and catering side of the business with funeral teas. The nongolf side of the business needs to raise around £350,000 per annum on top of membership fees for the organisation to break even which it is now doing.