Ringway

Situated in Hale Barns, close to Manchester airport, Ringway Golf Club was established with a 12-hole course in 1909. Three years later, Harry Colt extended the layout to eighteen holes.

James Braid suggested changes after a visit in 1950 and the club’s centenary book states that he “tightened up the course” but it’s not known what, if anything, was done by Braid as a clubhouse fire in 1987 destroyed the records.

Authors John F. Moreton and Iain Cumming in their book James Braid and his Four Hundred Golf Courses speculate on what might have been done: “he must have lengthened holes, put in new bunkers, maybe changed a few greens.

In 1960 James Junior [a club member since 1927] made changes to the 17th and 18th holes. Like father, like son.”

Today, the course extends to 6,455 yards from the back markers, playing to a par of 71. Highlight holes include the short par four at the 4th; the shortest of the par threes at the 8th; the lone par five on the back nine at the right doglegging 10th; and the birdieable 344-yard 18th.