Northcliffe Golf Club

About the club

Northcliffe Golf Club was founded in 1921 by a small group of golfing enthusiasts, who suggested the establishment of a municipal golf course on the Northcliffe Estate, Shipley. This Estate was given in trust to the people of Shipley by a well known benefactor Sir Henry Norman Rae, MP. Golf was first played over nine holes on what was then the Moorhead course. A year later, due to the high demand for golf by Shipley residents and through the generosity and foresight of Sir Norman Rae, further land was acquired for an extension to the course. In 1922, James Braid and Harry Vardon were commissioned to supervise the design and construction of an additional nine holes. Between 1922 and 1930, the 18 hole course consisted of nine holes on the present site of Northcliffe Park Meadow, while the back nine holes were positioned in their current location, but in a different configuration. During 1928, Sir Norman Rae conveyed to Trustees (The Norman Rae Playing Fields Ltd.) some 41 acres of land on the Heaton side of Northcliffe Wood. Mr James Braid was again commissioned to construct a new layout of the entire golf course, which by and large, remains the course as it stands today. By deed of trust, the Norman Rae Playing Fields Ltd., ensured that the "townsfolk of limited means" would continue to be able to use the land for recreational purposes. The present lease term which commenced in 1999, is for 999 years.