The story of the Association begins with a vision, sparked by Mrs. Glascott of Didsbury Golf Club, who sought to establish a championship for lady golfers in the Manchester area. Her inspiration came from the well-established Balfour & Houldsworth competitions for men, but Mrs. Glascott’s dream was something uniquely her own, an event where skill, sportsmanship, and camaraderie would take center stage. While some were skeptical of the idea’s feasibility, the concept quickly evolved into something even more meaningful. Rather than a simple championship, the “Challenge Trophy” was born, a competition that would set the tone for generations of friendly rivalry and golfing excellence.

In 1902, Mrs. Glascott reached out to 35 golf clubs within a 20-mile radius of Manchester Town Hall. Of those, 20 responded positively, 4 declined, and 11 did not reply. With the support of Mr. Ross-Couborough, the then secretary of Manchester Golf Club and a passionate advocate for ladies’ golf, a meeting was convened on March 19, 1902, at Parkers Restaurant in St. Anne’s Square. It was here that the foundation of the Association was laid, with representatives from the 20 clubs present. Many of the original clubs are still active today, though some, like Entwistle (now Davyhulme Park) and Burbage (now Cavendish), have undergone name changes over the years.

The Challenge Cup concept was enthusiastically accepted, and a committee was formed with Mrs. Glascott as the Secretary/Treasurer and Mrs. Prestwich from Old Manchester Golf Club as the first President. A draft set of rules, presented by Mr. Ross-Couborough, was adopted and has evolved little since. The inaugural competition took place on June 5, 1902, at Manchester Golf Club, drawing 90 women participants, with a handicap limit set at 9. At the time, the Ladies Golf Union (LGU) was still in its infancy and largely Southern-focused, so handicaps for the event were managed by a committee of gentlemen. This system remained in place until around 1914, when the handicap limit was raised to 15.

The Challenge Cup rapidly grew in stature, but it wasn’t long before the competition expanded in scope. In 1907, Mrs. Glascott became the Association’s President, and Mr. Ross-Couborough took on the role of paid Secretary/Treasurer for a modest fee of 5 guineas. The following year, Mrs. Glascott proposed extending the geographical boundaries of the association, widening its reach from 20 to 25 miles from Manchester Town Hall.

By 1911, under the presidency of Mrs. Bell, the Association inaugurated the Bell Cup, a match-play tournament played annually and regarded as one of the highest standards of inter-club competition in the country. The first Bell Cup final, between Anson and Burbage (now Cavendish), was held at Trafford Park with seven-player teams, though earlier rounds featured only five players per team. The competition has only grown since, and in 2000, 84 clubs participated.

Like many organisations, the Association was impacted by the Great War, suspending its activities temporarily and donating £5 to the Manchester & District Distress Fund. Post-war, the association resumed its activities and, by 1920, the entry fee for the Challenge Cup had risen to 2/6, though one could still hire a caddie for just 1/6!

As the years passed, new competitions were introduced, further enriching the Association’s calendar of events. In 1951, the foursomes competition was launched, followed by the presentation of a Scratch Trophy in 1952, marking the association’s jubilee year. These tournaments, alongside the ever-popular Challenge Cup and Bell Cup, have become staples in the region’s golfing calendar, each offering a chance for women to showcase their skill and enjoy a sense of community.