Our History
1892
Where It All Began
It all started on November 19th, 1892, when James Rigby (Medical Officer of Health) and Nicholas Cockshutt (local solicitor) teamed up with George Lowe, a golf professional from Lytham & St Annes. Their goal? Bring golf to Preston.
A site was chosen next to Preston Pleasure Gardens in the district of Farringdon. Within just a week, a 9-hole course was ready – spread across 43 acres of scenic, rolling meadows overlooking the River Ribble. It came with modest changing facilities and was officially opened by Sydney Hermon, former captain of Lytham & St Annes Club.
1895
A New Home in Fulwood
Golf remained in Farringdon for two years until the club moved north to Fulwood in 1895. The new course was built on land owned by the Clayton family, and the club became known as Preston and Fulwood Golf Links.
With guidance from George Lowe, a full 18-hole course was laid out across 4,210 yards of undulating meadowland. Though the name “Fulwood” was later dropped, this is where Preston Golf Club found its permanent home.
Legends of the Game Helped Shape Our Course
Over the years, some of golf’s biggest names helped design and refine our course:
Harry Vardon – 6-time Open Champion and creator of the famous “Vardon Grip.”
James Braid – 5-time Open Champion and a prolific course designer.
Alister MacKenzie – Master of terraced greens and architect of Augusta National.
Sandy Herd – 1902 Open Champion who beat both Vardon and Braid.
Much of what they envisioned is still part of the course today.