Sixty three years old and still going strong.
That’s the track record of the Halifax Huddersfield and District Golf Alliance, which has been going from strength to strength in recent years.
After a highly successful 2014-15, Tuesday was set to be the season’s climax with the hotly contested 36-hole battle for the Page Trophy at Crosland Heath.
However, it was not to be; the notoriously fickle Pennine weather intervened. The start was originally delayed for 20 minutes while greenkeepers squeegeed the greens.
The early birds had almost completed the first round and the last out were on the ninth when the first and second greens flooded. A subsequent inspection resulted in the club’s staff reluctantly having to close the course. As luck would have it, the rain then stopped and the afternoon was dry. However, the event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 23 at Crosland Heath.
It wasn’t the first time that the weather has beaten the fixture, and it certainly won’t be the last. The Winter Alliance is in rude health.
The Alliance was originally set up in 1952; a time when clubs didn’t usually organise competitions in the winter.
The idea was to provide competition for both professionals and amateurs during the traditional closed season and generate visitors and income for the member clubs. Competitions run from October to May, but none in December or January, due to lack of light.
That philosophy has continued today. There is a Pro-Am and Am-Am competition at each event and pairs pay an entry fee of £40, which includes a two-course meal, with half the money going to the caterers.
After minimal admin expenses, the host club is paid a fee and around 25% of the entry fee is spent on prizes.
Membership of the Alliance is different to membership of the Halifax/Huddersfield and District Union, Huddersfield and Woodsome Hall are not involved as host clubs.
According to assistant secretary Trevor Williams, the Alliance is as popular as ever, with the average entry this winter being around 56 pairs.
The events are growing in popularity with local professionals, particularly the district’s young assistant pros, and competition between them is fierce.
As things stand, touring pros like Chris Hanson, Rob Booth and Jamie Bower can also attend. Many players like to see class players compete to compare their own game and even play alongside them.
Trevor added: “It would be nice to see Fixby and Woodsome Hall back in the fold, we have quite a few of their members who play as independents.”
