Ilkley Golf Club News

Ilkley Professional Shapes US Championship

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:10:55 +0100

Ilkley Golf Club members will have an additional interest in this year’s US Open Golf Championship, because a former professional helped design the course.

Sam Whiting, who was the professional at Ilkley from 1911 to 1921, left the club to take up a post at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, which plays host to this year’s competition.

The Olympic Club is America’s oldest athletic club having been established in 1860. However it was in 1922, when the club acquired enough land to replace the original golf course with two 18-hole courses, that Sam made his mark.

Working with renowned golf course architect, Willie Watson, Sam was the course superintendent who designed the first Lake and Ocean courses in 1924.

Unfortunately, storm damage led to Sam redesigning both courses again in 1927.

The Lake course, on which this year’s championship will be played, remains true to the 1927 design. There have been minimal renovations in the intervening years, apart from a little toughening up of the course by Robert Trent Jones Senior prior to the 1955 US Open.

Part of Sam’s legacy is the fact he planted 40,000 trees, which has helped to create the narrow tree-lined fairways. Another aspect that is likely to strike a chord with Ilkley members.

This years US Open Golf Championship with be held on 14 to 17 June 2012.

Investing for your enjoyment

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:40:17 +0100

As we move into Spring we would like to take the opportunity to wish you all the best for the forthcoming golfing season.

Over the Winter we have continued to invest in the clubhouse and the course to ensure we have wonderful facilities for both our members and visitors.

Improvements on the course include new bunkers on the 17th and 18th holes. We have also re-laid the new 18th tee and landscaped the area around it. Hopefully those who played it last year will agree that it is now a fantastic finishing hole.

Improvements to the clubhouse include a significant investment in the ladies toilets and showers.

Although it is still early in the year, the course is in excellent condition and the warm spell has brought it on even more.

We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Ilkley Golf Club Opens Spectacular New 18th Tee

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:24:37 +0100

The Captain of Ilkley Golf Club, Ian Hepworth, has officially opened a new 18th tee, which has been described by international golf course architect Jonathan Gaunt as one of the best finishing holes in Yorkshire.

The new tee has been taken back 55 yards and brings the River Wharfe into play. Golfers will now have a carry of approximately 100 yards across the river to reach the fairway.

According to Ian Hepworth the newly designed hole really adds to the experience of playing a round at Ilkley.

“We were advised by Jonathan to make even more of the fantastic scenery which surrounds the course, especially the river which is ever present on the first seven holes.

“By bringing the river into play at the 18th Jonathan has really created a spectacular driving hole. Although the drive is quite daunting it really adds a lot more excitement to the hole and we are certain it will be enjoyed by all those visiting the course.”

Leeds-born Jonathan Gaunt has made a number of other improvements to the course during the last 12 months, including the return of the 15th green to its former glory when you could clearly see the influence of Alister MacKenzie, who had previously remodelled the hole.

Photograph: (L to R) Captain, Ian Hepworth, Lady Captain, Bernice Cawthra, President, John Hepworth, and Lady President Maggie Mitchell.

Congratulations to the Scratch Team

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:07:55 +0100

Having been promoted from the Yorkshire Third Division last month at Scarborough, Ilkley Golf Club's scratch team team played in the Second Division on Wednesday 3rdAugust. With two of our successful team from Scarborough unavailable, we drafted in Henry Flather and Chris Atkins to join Oliver Shaw and Ed Cowen to play the 36 holes competition.

Renishaw Park is a relatively short but very tricky course and there were some very high scores carded by some excellent players from other clubs.

18 clubs compete with six being promoted and six relegated. All scores count, so there is a lot of pressure on the players. Our aim was to retain our second division status. However after the first 18 holes, the team played so well that we were in one of the promotion spots.

Oliver Shaw played magnificently being the only player in the competition to break 70 in this morning round, with a two under par 69. Unfortunately, we were unable to hold onto the promotion spot in the afternoon but we achieved our aim of consolidating our second division status. (There are eight divisions).

Ollie continued his birdie spree in the afternoon, eventually achieving 14 birdies during the two rounds and ended with a final score of two over par, putting him ahead of the field. The two players just behind him in the morning round played at the end of the field so Ollie had a nail-biting late afternoon waiting for their scores to come in. Eventually they both failed to catch him by one shot.

So congratulations to Henry, Ed and Chris, but particularly to Ollie for achieving the best gross score over the two rounds.

Gold Medal Winner

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:14:35 +0100

Congratulations to Ilkley member Ben Horner who has won a gold medal for golf at the Special Olympics in Athens.

£300,000 Improvements to Course and Clubhouse

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:44:19 +0000

We are delighted to announce the completion of a £300,000 programme to improve the clubhouse and on-course facilities.

The old bridges which link the mainland with the island holes have been removed and replaced by two extremely impressive and substantial bridges. The original bridges had been a feature of the course since it was first played more than 100 years ago. In those days the narrow bridges were all that were needed to transport the golfers across the River Wharfe. ##more##

However, with the old bridges needing essential maintenance we thought it was an opportune time to replace them with much wider ones to accommodate the greenkeepers machinery and golf buggies. We have therefore spent about £90k for each bridge. I am sure you will agree they are a great investment and, if they last 100 years, good value for money too.

If you visit the clubhouse you will see that we have completely refurbished the men's showers and toilets. You could be forgiven for thinking you have stepped into a five star hotel. It is ultra modern and the four power showers will refresh the weariest golfer and provide constant hot water for the largest golf party!

However it is not the end of our investment programme. We are now starting on the Lounge Bar and the former Ladies Lounge, so watch this space.

Our president, John Hepworth, and his committee believe it is money well spent.

“Although it may seem a considerable amount of money to spend, this level of investment has been planned for a number of years and funds have been built up to accommodate it," he said.

“At a time when a greater number of clubs are competing to attract both members and visitors it is essential we provide excellent facilities in the club house and a course they find a pleasure to play.

“With the combination of the River Wharfe and Ilkley Moor we are lucky to have one of the most picturesque courses in the UK. It is vital that we make the most of this setting by providing golfers with an unforgettable experience both on and off the course.”

Depicted in the photograph below are (from L to R) Ilkley Golf Club Lady Captain Bernice Cawthra, President John Hepworth, Captain Ian Hepworth and Lady President Maggie Mitchell