Members ‘heartbroken’ as 112-year-old golf club closes

Gatley Golf Club

The last shots have been played on an historic nine-hole golf course near Manchester as builders move in

Controversial plans to build new homes on a golf course in England are set to go ahead.

The bid by Hollins Strategic Land was initially rejected by in 2021 as the project would have meant a loss of open green space.

But despite a 1,600-strong petition to save the land from development, the government’s planning inspector has overturned the decision after a report revealed the borough was nowhere near meeting its target to build new homes.

It means the nine-hole course at Gatley Golf Club will now be used for up to 300 houses, half of which will be deemed “affordable”, while the developer has also promised to donate money to local sports facilities.

The clubhouse at Gatley, which was founded in 1912, will be used as a “community hub”, while 26 acres of the land will be used as a public space.

Gatley resident Sharon Lindsay said residents are “heartbroken” by the decision.

“Although it’s a private club, we feel it has many links to the community that go back to the early days of the club, with generations of family connections,” she told the Manchester Evening News. “We have a lot of affection and love for the club.”

Another, Anne Foulkes, said her parents ““My parents “were heavily involved” in Gatley Golf Club.

She added: “My father was treasurer and captain, his picture is still up and their ashes are scattered on the club, so it’s quite an emotive thing for me.

“If it does have to go it should be for something like for like so the next generation have something similar to what we had.

“If the club was struggling then they could have asked the community for help but they haven’t given it that chance. It seems a crime against the local community to lose this beautiful space.”

About the Author

Alex Perry – News Editor

Alex has been in the golf industry since 2007 and has helped shape a number of publications in that time. He also spent several years at ESPN and joined Today’s Golfer in January 2025 to lead the brand’s news division.

He is a keen golfer playing off 12 and enjoys traveling the world to try new courses. His three favorites, though, are all in the UK: Royal North Devon, the Old Course at St Andrews, and Royal Portrush – with special mentions for his home clubs, Okehampton and Bude & North Cornwall, where he first fell in love with the game.