Original Clubhouse

 Clubhouse Today

The name of Glen Gorse is not entirely appropriate because the course is laid out on something of a plateau rather than a glen and commands a wide view to the west that includes Charnwood Forest and Bradgate Park. There may well have been some woodland gorse growing in the early days but it is hard to find any examples that are indigenous to the area flourishing today.

On the 2^nd October 1933, Ernest White and his sister purchased the 72 acre Woodside Farm, Oadby for £3,200 for the purpose of making an 18 hole golf course. The farmhouse was originally built in 1868. Although the farm and farmhouse were in a poor state they had been valued, in August 1929, at £4,320.

After purchase, Mr White invited five of his friends from Kibworth Golf Club to assist him in establishing the club and to make the necessary rules. The course originally consisted of nine holes and was opened for play officially on the 1^st January 1934.

 (The Club House - August 1965)

With the course open it was decided to make memberships available and an advert was placed in the local press. The response was instant and remarkable with more than 300 applications being received for membership of the private club. Some of these new members also belonged to Croft Golf Club, which subsequently closed around 1939.

The first competition was played in December 1933 over nine holes. At the time only seven holes were open, so holes one and three were played twice! Jack Loach was appointed in 1934 as Professional and the first hole-in-one was achieved by Tom Pollard on 31^st March 1934.

Ernest White purchased a further 19.868 acres in September 1934 and in the subsequent period prior to 1939 the course was extended to 18 holes. This was short lived, however, due to the outbreak of war. The course was reduced to 14 holes thus making land available for farming once more.

The first task at the end of the Second World War was to bring the course back to 18 holes and in October 1945 the course layout was altered to allow two starting points.

Competitions became a regular feature and a number of trophies were established, the oldest of these being the White Cup in 1934. Others included the Payne Cup 1934, Pollard Trophy 1934, Jubilee Bowl 1935, Threlfall Cup 1936, Garner Cup 1937, and the Starbuck Cup in 1938. In December 1945 the White and Starbuck Cups were merged.

Henry Coleman was appointed as Professional early in 1946 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1978.

Glen Gorse’s unusual local rule on tied scores, first five and last four, not the conventional back nine also dates from this period.

Other major competitions include the Coronation Cup (1953), Open Mixed Trophy (1956), Golden Putter (1957), Scratch Cup (1958), Club Championship (1963), Battle of Britain Trophy (1965), Autumn Salver (1968), Veterans Salver (1968), Family Foursomes (1974), Jubilee Salver (1983), Presidents Cup (1998) and the Handicap Cup (2001).