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Warwickshire Golf Captains History and Organisation

 

We are indebted to Bill Hiscox, a SWGC Past President, who examined the archived minutes and rooted out old memories with names to enable the following summary of our formation history to be compiled.

 

Conception

 

The Warwickshire Golf Captains Society was the idea of Bill Blake who was Captain of Handsworth Golf Club in 1979 and after completing his year became, like every other Captain, a Past Captain! He was already aware that some counties retained their Past Captains’ interest with organised tournaments through a county society.

 

In early 1981, Bill approached the Warwickshire Union of Golf Clubs with his idea of forming a golf captains society for Warwickshire clubs, and in reply, they agreed to include this as an agenda item at their AGM, after which they agreed to support the formation of such a Society and provided details of the 36 clubs in the WUGC.

 

Of the 36 WU clubs, 8 were municipal, 4 were commercial, and 3 were golf societies with no course. Bill contacted the 21 golf clubs owned and operated by their members and they responded favourably agreeing to gather on 14th September 1981 at Handsworth Golf Club for an afternoon competition followed by an inaugural meeting.

 

Helpful advice had already been sought from 11 existing County Societies which assisted in the compilation of our constitution and name Society of Warwickshire Golf Captains.  The elected Council was agreed and comprised the Captain, Secretary, Treasurer and 3 Council Members. This was amended shortly afterwards to include the Match Secretary. The specific decision not to have a Society President was agreed.

 

Formation

 

At the inaugural Meeting, 19 of the 21 clubs attended with Copt Heath and Maxstoke Park holding back. Vic Branson of Sutton Coldfield was elected Captain and Bill Blake as Secretary. Three members of the Council were elected and the order in which each club would be represented on the Council was established. This procedure also determined which club would provide a Society Captain for one year.

 

The Society name was approved, with the membership rule stating “Membership is restricted to Captains of Golf Clubs affiliated to the Warwickshire Union of Golf Clubs, which have their own golf course and are controlled by a Committee of Members”.

 

Golf preceded the first meeting in the form of a 4-ball better-ball Stableford competition playing for the Founders Trophy which had been kindly donated by Bill Blake. The winners were Ian Thomson and Alan Lees of Leamington & County Golf Club. This trophy is still contested at the annual Autumn meeting.


The Society’s annual seasonal pattern was established when it was agreed that a Spring Meeting would be held at the home club of the member voted onto the Council at the last AGM and an Autumn Meeting (in conjunction with the AGM) be held at the current Captain’s Club, coinciding with the end of his term in office.

 

In 1999 Bill Blake became ill and the Council considered the Society was now established enough to have a President, it was their unanimous decision to persuade him to accept the position.

 

The design and procurement of the Society tie, with Warwickshire Bear and Ragged Staff motif on a red tie, was undertaken by 1983 Captain, Lynn Harris of Olton, (alternative dark blue version is now also available). The Society blazer badge was designed by 1989 Captain, Freddie Walker of Stratford on Avon. Society shirts, sweaters and caps have since been added to the merchandise range.

 

The creation of a Fixture and Members List booklet was undertaken by Roy Broady of Leamington & County and Harry Field, Captain in 1997 of Maxstoke Park, maintained the name and address list on his home computer. These tasks nowadays are carried out by the Secretary.

 

At the 2011 AGM, the President proposed changing our name from Society of Warwickshire Golf Captains to Warwickshire Golf Captains and this was accepted.

 

Organisation

 

The affairs are managed by a Council of members comprising President, Captain, Treasurer, Secretary, Match Secretary, three elected members and three co-opted members.

 

Council Meetings are held three times a year – November (to prepare the following year’s events), March (to review the year’s programme and approve the Accounts), and in August (to prepare for the AGM and election of Officers at the Autumn meeting).  

 

Member Clubs

 

The 21 Member Clubs have individual rich histories starting from as early as 1888.

 

Club Established

1888         Coventry Golf Club 

1889         Kenilworth Golf Club 

1889         Sutton Coldfield Golf Club 

1891         Rugby Golf Club 

1892         Walmley Golf Club 

1893         Harborne Golf Club 

1893         Olton Golf Club 

1893         Robin Hood Golf Club 

1894         North Warwickshire Golf Club 

1894         Coventry Hearsall Golf Club 

1894         Atherstone Golf Club 

1894         Stratford-on-Avon 

1895         Handsworth Golf Club 

1896         Edgbaston Golf Club 

1898         Maxstoke Golf Club 

1905         Nuneaton Golf Club 

1907         Copt Heath Golf Club 

1908         Leamington & County Golf Club 

1908         Ladbrook Park Golf Club 

1932         Moor Hall Golf Club 

1955         Shirley Golf Club 

 

Currently there are over 300 members and an annual events programme which commences with the Spring Shotgun Four-ball meeting, followed by 11 County matches and concluding with the Autumn Shotgun Four-ball meeting incorporating the AGM.

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Matches

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These are currently played against the following 11 counties on an alternate annual home then away basis.

 

Bedfordshire

Buckinghamshire

Derbyshire

Devonshire

Gloucestershire

Hereford and Shropshire

Leicestershire

Northamptonshire

Oxfordshire

Somerset

Worcestershire

 

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