The original hole given the name Hydes was constructed after the negotiations with farmer Hobson to provide more land in 1964, but was played from the present 18th tee. This hole was abandoned when the present green was constructed in 1967, as the second hole, from turf obtained from tennis courts(negotiated by the late Alan Heap) being abandoned at Westholme a mansion on Stockport Rd. Mossley. The new hole was played in the opposite direction to and replaced the then Sycamore No.6 hole which had been played in the opposite direction from a tee situated on the right of the present fairway, about 100 yards from the present green. The hole was named after Herbert Hyde one of the earliest members of the club whose generosity along with then President H.Mumford Smith and Herbert Shaw, saved the club from closure in 1941 by donating £50 each. Their generousity made a big difference to the financial position at the time and their gesture will nver be forgotten by the club. Herbert Hyde reluctantly resigned as president, a post he had held for 15 years, at the age of Eighty four.

Summit is played to one of the five original greens still in use today. Originally named Scout due to the direction of play from a tee close to the present railway green, being towards the area known as Scout, far in the distance. The hole was played from the present tee from 1967 and the hole renamed because the visible line of sight to Scout was now obscured and was towards the obvious summit of the fairway. The holes greatest claim to fame is being used as a setting for numerous scenes in the 1967 film "Yanks" staring Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Gere and William Devene. The temporary direction of the hole was changed for the film to show the cooling towers at the power station, as can be seen from the photo at the top of the course page. The photo is a scene from the film and shows Richard Gere and his entourage' approaching his second shot, taken from what is in fact the present green.

The Dyke, a fine sporting hole, requiring the greatest accuracy, is one of the five original holes still being played today, therefore well over a hundred years of age and is one of only two that retaining its original name. Dyke is an old name for a ditch or watercourse, which presumably flowed from the hill on the left across the front of the green. The hole had been abandoned at the end of the 2nd World War due to maintenance difficulties, before being culverted by the voluntary efforts of the membership in 1967 in draining the fairway and reverse the slope of the fairway approaching the green, to stop balls bouncing into the woods on the right. From the building of Hartshead power station in 1926 to its demolition in 1997, the best!!! view of it was from the Dyke tee.

At one time called Wood this hole shared the Dyke green, but played from the opposite direction from a tee presently out of bounds about 70 yards to the south-east. When the line of play convention was adopted it was renamed railway due to its original line of play being parallel to the railway line. Later in 1967, on the addition of the present green, it was temporarily planned to be called dragonfly, presumably because of the abundance of the insects eminating from the pond to the left of the green at the time. However, it was finally given the ingenious dialect name Out O' Railway (Out of the Railway), because the direction of play was now away from the railway

Oakfield is one of two original holes keeping its name from the time when the nine hole Crows i'th Wood Golf Club was renamed Stamford and incorporated in 1901. It is still played along its original fairway but has been extended back into the woods over the years. So named because the direction of play was towards Oakfield House which later became the Clubhouse.

The Castle green was built in the early 60's and played from a tee close to the present pond green as hole No.9 of nine. A wall ran straight across the fairway close to the green which was protected from grazing animals by a wire fence with a spring loaded gate, both of which had to be cleared to reach the green. Originally called Home the hole was named Castle on the resignation of President George Castle in 1964. He was also made a life member for his legal work, for his generosity and willingness to conduct many labour intensive negotiations and modifications over the years.

From the very beginning there has been a hole called Pond, which is not surprising because at the time of the inaugaration of the club there was three expanses of water within or in close proximity to the course. There was a triangular reservoir, a lake and a mill pond, all have figured in the design of the course at some time. Although not known for sure the first hole of the original nine in 1901 could well have been called Pond as the hole was played to a green at the side of the mill pond. Recently the seventh has been played to what is now the temporary green, past or most likely over a pond created by the club, where Broadbent brook takes a sharp left turn from the moors to Stalybridge, recently filled in to detract invasion of the course by local children. The present green was envisaged by a development committee in 1969 but due to various difficulties was not completed until 1992. The result is a most attractive
and challenging hole assisted the brook traveling in the samedirection as the fairway and so forming an appreciable hazard.

The Rabbit was first built in 1919, the green reconstructed and the hole lengthened in 1964 and becoming hole No.7. There is some reason to believe that the hole was so named due to a proliferation of rabbits which used to congregate in the area of the green, due no doubt to the safety ofthe woods close by. Current members can cast their minds back to a season just a few years ago when the same fearless baby rabbit seamed to appear as you walked to the tee. It patiently waited, watching as you played your shot, only to disappear forever a few months later, no doubt promoted to someones Sunday dinner across the Road. The Rabbit was made hole No.8 of nine in 1967 and has become one of the best, most feared and respected holes in Cheshire.

Harridge is an acute dogleg the second part of which was originally in 1920 played as a straight hole called woodside, from a tee many yards back from the temporary tee located right on the elbow. In those days there was an additional obsticle in the form of a water trough to the right of the green. There is a tale worth relating here concerning a hole named reservoir which used to run parallel to Woodside but in the opposite direction. It concerned Tom Taylor who in April 1922 holed out in one at the reservoir hole. Instead of buying the traditional bottle of whisky he offered to buy everyone a drink, the news spread like wildfire to the farthest reaches of the course and in no time at all the queue for the bar extended three times round the clubhouse.

Roadside was originally named Corner and is one of the five original greens still used and which had been a double green but played from a totally diferent directions. In the earl twenties Corner was straightened and renamed the Road. It was named Roadside in the traditional manner upon its rebuild in the 1940's when it was played alongside the Crowswood Rd. also renamed as Buckton Vale Rd. when the Manchester overflow estate was built in the 1960's. Since that time in 1966 the tee has been moved to its present position due to sliced shots endangering the local residents.

Barlows School green was built in 1970 along with the fairway from grazing land no longer required by farmer Winterbottom. The name derives from the National School run there by William and Martha Barlow in the 1850's. The hole has been referred to incorrectly by members as Telephone due to a telephone kiosk on Huddersfield Rd. lying in view of the direction of play. A few years ago the dangers of golf were demonstrated when a member affectionaly known as "Cack Andy" due to his grip being left over right despite playing right handed. Having played his first shot on Barlows to the far side of the seventh fairway, Andy took the next shot over the patio and the concert room as a challenge. Had there not been a wedding in progress at the time and had his shot been executed with the skill in his mind, all would have been well. Fortunately it was a warm day and the conservatory doors were open, which saved the wedding party from being hit by flying glass. The ball finished embeded to at least half its diameter in the internal wall of the Conservatory, having given the bride the fright of her life.

Stamford was so named because of its proximity to the Stamford Arms public house where many of the early committee meetings of the golf club were held. Also, the green stands at one end of what was once a football pitch played on by a local team known as Stamford. This hole and the following four holes were built between 1973 and 1976 from new land acquired in 1969.

Jerry's Hollow was named after the gully running between the fairway and the cemetary wall, a popular picnic area in the early years of the century. The place had been known by that name ever since the late nineteenth century, after a carthorse named Jerry was found dead there after being put out to overnight pasture. Owned by a local carrier Mr. Robert Wrigley, the horse had been a favourite of the local children. The flat area in the middle of the fairway near the marker post and extending across the trees to the fifteenth fairway, is known as "The cricket pitch". This used to be the home pitch of the Mossley Methodist Sunday Schools.

The target is named for an obvious reason, if you stand on the White Tee, whilst getting your breath back, you can look down on the green laid out before you. Do not be taken in by the illusion of the green being close, in fact the back part of the green is over 150 yards away. On this highest part of the course you can also admire a wonderful view of the pennine hills to the east or the town of Mossley to the West.

Boundary is named because of its proximity to Boundary Cottages and the boundary between Mossley and Stalybridge. The old boundary marker can still be seen near the bus stop at the side of the Stamford Arms on Huddersfield Rd.

Booths was named at the time of the death of the popular club President Mr. John Booth in January 1976. This is the last of the five newest holes at the opening of the new course in April 1977. In reply to the Captains welcoming speech, Guest of honour Mr. David Spiers said that "the whole course is now full of character and a real test of golf".

Hobsons Choice as it was first called was added in late 1964, becoming the 1st hole of nine,when the club secured the rights for Hobsons field from the land owners. Farmer Hobson at this time removed a stone wall that crossed the present 12th, 7th, 18th and 17th fairways, making things much easier for golf in the vicinity of the clubhouse. Around 1970 the hole name was changed to Hobsons and upgraded from a par 4 to par 5 by the addition of the present tee near the entrance to the course. Be careful and insured when driving from the tee and trying to gain advantage of the dogleg, the clubhouse and car park is out of bounds and action will be taken for problems so caused.

Sycamore was added at the same time and for the same reasons as the 17th, it got its name because the original hole was from a tee in line with the magnificent sycamore tree which is now a significant obstacle on the first drive on Hydes. The hole was later shortened to a par 3 when Hydes was upgraded and became the last hole, many a sigh of relief is heard as players move off the green.