Back in late 2024 the new officials, Captain Tam Donnelly, Lady Captain Paul Underwood and the club’s first-ever lady to be President Kate Turpie took over in their new roles looking to enjoy a great year at their club in 2025.
Then on the first day of 2025 their beloved club was hit by devastating floods from the River Mersey- for the first time since 1965.
The floods caused horrendous damage to their modern and well-used clubhouse and their excellent golf course causing a total shutdown to life at their club. But the club members showed their resilience as they looked to restore the clubhouse and course back to their normal standards with excellent results.
Their office, professional’s shop and the Busby Bar and Restaurant have returned back to their original high standards and members and visitors can once more play 18 holes.
Club director and Chair Hazel Foster said: “The memory of the devastation which submerged our course and clubhouse in over eight feet of water and caused considerable damage, is fast fading into the memory.
“After almost three months’ closure, the course was re-opened on March 26 and, whilst there are still some areas of damage, these are rapidly recovering and the course is almost back to its very best.
“Due to the tremendous hard work of Lee Purves, the Course Manager, and his team, including hand-jetting every green to remove the silt, playing conditions are again receiving high praise from members and visitors alike.
“The clubhouse ground floor, which was severely damaged, had to be stripped back to brick, re-plastered and refitted in order to resume normal service. The bar and catering facilities are now fully-functioning, and the locker rooms are gradually being re-instated.
“The first-floor function suite, which was undamaged, has been back in action since March 1 and our hospitality business has returned to its previous busy status, with many bookings for weddings, family celebrations and business meetings already in the diary.
“As previously, the feedback from our guests on the quality of food and service provided by Catering Manager, Carolyn Page, and our Head Chef, Will Page, along with our long-established staff, has been very positive.
“The efforts of the members and the generosity of many others have enabled NGC to recover. We owe a great debt of gratitude to them all, from those loyal members who have contributed so much, to Cheshire Golf, who were splendid in offering their support and also in broadcasting our plight to the Cheshire clubs.
“Many of these clubs, too many to mention, offered golfing opportunities to our members until our course reopened. We are enormously grateful and intend to hold a ‘thank you’ event for them all. We also benefitted from a grant awarded by Sport England.
“Considering where the club was in January, the transformation has been spectacular. We are now receiving plenty of applications from prospective new members and are able to accept new members in all categories.
“It’s fair to say that the recovery is almost complete and our future is once again very bright.”
Cheshire Golf Life Members conclude their season at Northenden in September and are looking forward to enjoying the restored course and clubhouse.
Copy & images: Geoff Garnett
