The Manchester and District Golf Alliance is the biggest golf organisation of its kind in the country with over 110 affiliated clubs in its membership within a 30-mile radius of Manchester Town Hall.
The MDGA enjoyed its Centenary Year in 2024/25 and has now organised its usual very busy Winter Season for amateurs and professionals plus the finals of its Inter Club Knock Outs in the coming weeks.
Winter Series and Order of Merit
The Winter series began at Chorley Golf Club on September 10 with competitions every Wednesday on different courses in the Alliance and it concludes with President’s Day at Leigh on April 29 next year with a seasonal break in December and January.
The Order of Merit prizes for professionals and amateurs run throughout the season and defending champions Josh Crumplin (Disley professional) and his amateur partner Chris Jackson (Tytherington) will be looking to defend their titles.
All members of affiliated clubs can enter the winter competitions and details on how to do this can be found on the MDGA website with the aim of keeping up the Alliance motto of ‘Friendship Through Golf’.
The Alliance also allows players (amateur and professional) from outside its area to affiliate individually to play in the competitions.
Upcoming Inter-Club Knock Outs
In Spring and Summer 2026 the hugely popular Inter-Club Matchplay Knock Outs, probably the biggest of their kind in the region if not the country, take place for the Dunham Forest Trophy, The City Glass Men’s Foursomes, the Archie Preston Mixed Foursomes, the Seniors and BMW Juniors.
The finals for the 2025 competitions will be played during September and October this year.
Long-serving MDGA President Ian Brooks, his cohort and technical genius Jim Cunliffe and secretary Ian Hales will continue to provide a top-class service for all events.
New Captain Alistair Holloway
The captain’s role each year switches between amateurs and professionals and looking to lead the MDGA into its second century is Alistair Holloway.
Alistair, a member of Denton Golf Club, is delighted to be the captain of the Manchester and District Golf Alliance for the next year.
He said: “When I was asked to be this year’s Alliance captain, I was shocked and said ‘Why Me?”
I am just a hacker! I should know better though as the Alliance to me is all about everyone being equal and inclusive and having a good time playing the game we all love. How could I refuse?
“I have been a member at Denton for around five years now. It is a very friendly and welcoming club where everyone joins in together. The social side is great and the clubhouse is always buzzing.
“From a golf course point of view I have a love/hate relationship with it. Denton is a tough track with very narrow fairways and certainly doesn’t forgive high handicap slicers like me!
“I love being part of the Alliance. We get to compete at some fantastic courses and it is great to be able to play alongside the local professionals and see just how good they are.
“I have managed a few podium places over the years and hope to add to them this year. It is an honour to be asked to be captain and I wish every player a fantastic winter season ahead.”
