The Club was inaugurated in 1893 and has seen huge changes since
those very early days.
The first three years of its life were spent in Gargrave, alongside the
banks of the River Aire and in those early days, it was known as
Craven Golf Club.
It was in 1896 that the Club moved from the "links", with its closely
mown fairways, to the present site on the outskirts of Skipton. The
existing site, when acquired, consisted of rough meadows, stone walls
and fences and was grazed by horses, cattle and sheep.
The reason for the sudden move in 1896 is unknown but it is well
documented that the new 9 hole course was just 2,216 yards in length.
It was altered in 1911 and then again in 1931 when it was extended to
2,777 yards.
Further changes came in 1964 with the addition of three more holes and
finally, in 1980, when it became an 18 hole course.
The club has always applied an ongoing policy of change and improvement
to the course and this included a new 8th green in 1988. The
construction of this green allowed the old "Devil's Cauldron" to be
converted to today's 14th green, creating one of the most beautiful and
memorable holes, not only on the course but also in Yorkshire golf.
The early part of this millennium has seen the continuation of a policy
started in 1998 to improve the course in many ways. This has to date
included the extending of teeing areas, building of new paths,
implementation of drainage schemes and work on course presentation.
Some tremendous improvements have been made and consideration is
currently being given to a programme to renew/rebuild the 18 greens.
This is likely to commence in the next 2 years with the building of a
completely new second green.
Skipton is committed to continuing the improvements of the last 113 years.
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Skipton is a country market town set at the southern end of the
Yorkshire Dales. It's a small and very friendly town with a population
of around 16,000. It has considerable history and evidence of this can
be seen in both the Castle and Holy Trinity church.
The name Skipton comes from the Saxon word for sheep and the town
really began as a trading centre for sheep and wool. Skipton was
probably just a sheep farm back before the Norman Conquest and the
settlement commanded the Craven Gap, the best passage through the
Pennines and so grew in importance to become the main market town of Craven.
The town of Skipton was granted to Robert Romillie after the Norman
Conquest and he was responsible for building the first castle.
Skipton Castle
Skipton supported the Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses, and was
on the Royalist side in the Civil War. After the battle of Marston
Moor in July 1644, Skipton was the only Royalist stronghold left in
the north. The castle fell under siege for over a year until December
1645, when a surrender was negotiated.
Oliver Cromwell had the roof of the castle removed, but it was replaced
just 10 years later on condition that the new roof wasn't strong
enough to hold cannons. In 1659, Lady Anne Clifford planted a yew tree
in the conduit court of the castle to mark its restoration. It's still
there. She also had the Clifford family's motto carved over the main
gateway entrance to the castle: 'Desormais' which apparently means
'henceforth'.
Skipton has now become a centre for tourism and attracts visitors
from all over the UK.
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