Ramsey (or in Manx gaelic Rhumsaa - garlic valley) a coastal town in the north, the second largest town on the island with a population of 7,309 according to the 2006 census. It has one of the biggest harbours on the island and features a prominent pier, called the Queen's Pier. Ramsey is known as "Royal Ramsey" on account of royal visits by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1847 and King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902.The sunniest area of the Isle of Man, with relatively low rainfall due to Ramsey being in a 'rain shadow' just to the north-east of the Manx hills, on the edge of the northern plain of the island. Rain clouds coming from the prevailing wind direction, the south-west, tend to lose most of their moisture over the hills before they reach Ramsey.
A distinctive landmark of the town is the Queen's Pier, named after Queen Alexandra, it's made of iron and built in 1886. As well as recreational purposes, the pier had a landing stage for visiting ships. However it has fallen into disrepair and consequently been closed for many years. Its future is looking brighter though as the lease has recently been taken on by the Friends of Queens Pier, who aim to restore it gradually.
Ramsey is built mostly on sandy ground and has miles of sandy beaches. To the north of Ramsey they run continuously to the northern tip of the island. On the southern edge of Ramsey, at the base of the hills, is a network of woods and glens: Ballure Walk, Lhergy Frissel and Elfin Glen. The Millennium Way and other paths and roads lead up to and across the upland heath ('the tops' and 'the hills'). The new 'Ramsey Forest' project aims to increase the tree cover in this area and connect areas of woodland.
Built in 1848, the Albert Tower, from its position at the top of Lhergy Frissel, overlooks the town and our course. Built to commemorate the royal visit of Prince Albert on 20 September 1847.
The visit had not been planned, in a severe gale Queen Victoria's Royal Yacht had anchored in the bay, heavy seas had made it impossible to enter Douglas Harbour. Recovering from seasickness, Victoria remained on board, leaving Prince Albert to venture ashore. Climbing to the top of the hill he viewed the town and the northern plain. It was renamed Albert Mount there and then. A year later, following a public subscription, the tower's foundation was laid. The tower, made of granite, rises 45 feet (14 m) high. It is not only a landmark for the town of Ramsey but also for the north of the Isle of Man. A public path leads up the hill to the tower.
The TT races interrupt the peaceful nature of the Island and Ramsey in particular - the course brings the bikes into the town centre and on up to the mountain climb section of the course that winds around the Albert Tower.
Our Island
The Isle of Man (Manx: Ellan Vannin, also known simply as Mann), a self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea lying between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The head of state is King Charles III who holds the title of Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Governor.
The Isle of Man has its own government with its parliament, Tynwald, laying claim to being the oldest continuous assembly in the world, able to trace its roots back to eighth century. Ranked by the World Bank as the 5th richest nation in the world by GDP per capita, its largest sectors are insurance and eGaming followed by ICT and banking.
The Island has been inhabited since before 6500 BC. Gaelic cultural influence began in the 5th century from where the Manx language, a branch of the Gaelic languages, emerged. In 627, Edwin of Northumbria conquered the Isle of Man along with most of Mercia. In the 9th century, Norsemen established the Kingdom of the Isles. Magnus III, King of Norway, was also known as King of Mann and the Isles between 1099 and 1103.
In 1266 the Island became part of Scotland under the Treaty of Perth after being ruled by Norway. After a period of alternating rule by the kings of Scotland and England, the Island came under the feudal lordship of the English Crown in 1399. The lordship revested into the British Crown in 1765 but the Island never became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain or its successor the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it retained its status as an internally self-governing Crown dependency.
Tynwald, became in 1881 the first national legislative body in the world to give women the right to vote in a general election, excluding that is, married women (they do have the vote now!).
In 2016 the Isle of Man was the first whole nation to be awarded biosphere reserve status by UNESCO.
It has a temperate climate permitting all year round playing on the course and although it can be wet in the winter, the course is rarely closed.
Ramsey Golf Club Limited, Brookfield, Ramsey, Isle of Man. IM8 2AH.
Telephone 01624812244 ramseygolfclub@manx.net