SEEN across the solid new houses of a developing Utley, the Keighley Golf Club was considered a fitting subject for this Edwardian postcard.

The golf club had been founded in 1904, initially with a nine-hole links at Black Hill, but it acquired this site at Howden Park four years later, on land still reached on the river side by flat-bottomed boat.

Utley offered greater scope, for the new links accommodated 18 holes, five of over 400 yards and seven over 300. The total course was three and a half miles long. Ample room remained for possible future expansion.

Presidents and vice-presidents constituted a roll-call of top local names: BS Brigg (the first mayor of Keighley Borough in 1882), Sir Prince Smith, Sir Swire Smith, JR Craven, JE Haggas, MH Merrall – men who could afford expensive gestures, like WW Vint, who gave “a handsome silver cup, to be competed for annually, the winner three times to become the owner”.

The official opening of the Howden Park links, serenaded by the Kildwick Brass Band, included a game between Yorkshire Amateur championship winners, a four-ball match and a driving competition.

The ladies had to be content with a putting contest!

The photograph has been supplied by Kevin Seaton, of Shann Lane, Keighley.