This Article was written by Geoff Titt after acquiring as many old documents as possible.
I have published it in it’s entirety as Geoff has spent a lot of time and effort sorting them out and producing an Excellent Archive Document.
In each section I’ve copied the old papers and have reproduced them as accurately as I can to stand as our History.
Each article has been faithfully reproduced as a “Word” document, not a scanned image, this will allow us to keep them safe and reproduce them should we desire.
To see each paper just click on the arrow at the end of each sentence. -
WILTSHIRE GOLF CAPTAINS’ (Archive Material)
Gentlemen, at the club reps meeting on 14 March 2013 I mentioned I had some
archive material relating to the formation and early years of the Wiltshire Golf
Captains.
Listed below, and enclosed with this note, is the information passed on to me by Tom Sherry.
The first mention of a Captains’ Society goes back to 1961 when an Inaugural Meeting was convened at North Wilts Golf Club where a motion was proposed and supported unanimously that the “Wiltshire Golf Captains Society” should be formed. The minutes of the meeting, the rules of the society and the covering letter to members are contained as item 1 in the list below.
Whilst reading through the various documents I noted the polite yet formal way business was conducted in those days, somewhat different from the way things are today.
Listed below is a record of all the correspondence included with this note, as far as possible in date order. I have also included some personal comments of my own.
Item 1.
“Minutes of the Inaugural Meeting held at North Wilts Golf Club on 10 May 1961”.
“The Proposal Document”, signed by Bill Burridge, has a date of 16/5/62 which I
suggest is Incorrect as it looks to have been added later.
“Letter dated 13 May 1961” informing members of the formation of the society,
I believe this confirms the date on the proposal document is incorrect.
“The Rules”, under membership, note the strong link with the “Wiltshire County Golf
Union” (WCGU) and the inclusion of their Captains as members. The Wiltshire Alliance,
which no Longer exists, was also listed for membership.
Item 2.
“Spring Meeting 16 May 1962”
This letter, dated 27 April 1962 is an invitation to members to play in the first formal
event of the Wiltshire Golf Captains. The event was held at Swindon Golf Club, now
Ogbourne Downs. Note the paragraph stating, “ Swindon Golf Club have kindly given
members the courtesy of the course and there will be no Green Fee”.
Competition winner’s names are recorded on the back of the letter.
Item 3.
“Autumn Meeting 26 September 1962”.
This was the first Autumn Meeting; it was hosted by High Post Golf Club. Note once again
the host club have given courtesy of the course, no green fee charge. I make the point
regarding courtesy as it may well be that it was the clubs, in those days, who offered
the courtesy rather than a request for it from the society. Once again competition
winners are listed on the back of the letter.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Item 4.
“Wiltshire Golf Captains’ Society, Programme 1964”. This I suggest is the first
programme issued by the Wiltshire Golf Captains’. Note again the strong link with the
County Golf Union. The list of Events includes, what I suspect, is the first match against
another county, namely, Somerset.
Item 5.
“First Ever Dinner 24th November 1964”. Letter dated 4 November 1964. This, the
first of what might have been envisaged an annual event was held at the Ailesbury Arms
In Marlborough.
The menu, copy included, details a meal of 6 courses, all of which are named with slogans
To encourage each and every player. Also on the menu card is a suggested motto
“From passive pivot to massive divot”. Should we readopt this?
The society did not hold a second dinner until 5 December 1966. Doubt had been express
as to the merits of this event by the secretary in his report to members at the 1965 AGM.
(See Item 6, Secretary’s Report 1965). Notification of the second dinner is attached, letter
dated 4th November 1966.
Item 6.
“Spring and Autumn Meeting Invitations 1963 -
Spring Meeting 15 May 1963, hosted by West Wilts Golf Club, letter dated 19 April 1963.
Also detailed in this letter is the news that Somerset had formed a Captains Society and a
match with them had been arranged at Kingsdown Golf Club on 4 July 1963.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Autumn Meeting 19 September 1963, hosted by North Wilts Golf Club, letter dated
16 August 1963.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Spring Meeting 12 May 1964, hosted by Kingsdown Golf Club, letter dated 5 May 1964.
This meeting was originally scheduled to take place at South Wilts Golf Club Salisbury but
had to be rearranged. I was hoping the reason for this would come to light later but
unfortunately I have not found anything.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Autumn Meeting 17 September 1964, Hosted by Chippenham Golf Club, letter dated
20 August 1964.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Spring Meeting 12 May 1965, hosted by Kingsdown Golf Club, letter dated 23 April
1965.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Autumn Meeting 21 October 1965, hosted by Tidworth Golf Club, letter dated 6
October 1965. Also attached is the draw and start times.
The Draw for the Burridge Salvers
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Spring Meeting 17 May 1966, Hosted by Swindon Golf Club, letter dated 4 May 1966.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Autumn Meeting 13 October 1966, hosted by High Post Golf Club, letter dated 9
September 1966.
The Secretaries Report for the 1966 AGM is on the back of this letter.
Spring Meeting 30 May 1967, hosted by North Wilts Golf Club, letter dated
12 May 1967.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Spring Meeting 13 June 1968, hosted by West Wilts Golf Club, letter dated 31 May
1968. Competition winners are listed on the back of each letter.
Scores as recorded on the back of the document
Spring Meeting 4 June 1970, hosted by South Wilts Golf Club, letter undated,
plus 2 letters From captains attending this event. I have assumed this is a Spring
Meeting event due to the time of year and previous fixture dates.
See also the interesting correspondence at item 10.
Item 7.
“Secretary’s Reports”
Secretary’s Report 1962/63, dated 16 August 1963. The report, paragraph 3,
refers to ties. “Further supplies, in delicate blue are available”, does anyone have one?
Secretary’s Report 1963/64, dated 20 August 1964. This report highlights a number
of events, Bideford Bay Foursomes etc, entered by members of the society.
A Copy of the notice to members for the Bideford Bay Foursomes, letter dated 4 March
1967, is included here. Although we do not enter any of the events listed in the 1963/64
report today we do of course have the 4 way and 6 Counties events.
Secretary’s Report 1965. This report highlights the fact that the “Annual Dinner” held
for the first time in the previous November was a minor financial failure.
Members were asked to consider if they would want a regular annual dinner in future.
Secretary’s Report 1966. Membership continues to grow, now totalling 90.
Item 8.
“Clothing”
The only item of clothing in the early days was the society tie, somewhat different to
today’s requirements and indeed expectations. The letter from “Robert Kemp and Son”
dated September 18/62, is a small insight into the procurement process in 1962.
Item 9.
“Fixtures with Somerset”
As stated earlier Somerset was the first county with whom the Wiltshire Captains had
a match fixture. The first match was played on 9 July 1963 at Kingsdown Golf Club.
Unfortunately we do not have the team selected for the first match, however attached
are the Wiltshire Golf Captains team selections for the matches played in 1964, 65 & 66.
Item 10.
“Problems with Fixture Arrangements”
It would seem that there was some “Argie Bargie” connected with the 1970 Spring Meeting fixture resulting in the match being moved from Kingsdown to South Wilts. The protagonists I think include, John Lumley, John Lucas, Tom Cox. Whoever was involved they make interesting reading and contribute to the valuable, all be it limited record of the Wiltshire Golf Captains early history.
These History Items are in picture form because of their frail nature
A couple of the correspondence relating to this fixture include a reference to a match arranged with Oxford Captains on 22 September 1970, Was this the first meeting between Wiltshire Golf Captains and the Oxford Captains?
Item 11.
A letter from Ernest Newell,
Captain of Marlborough 1968/69 expressing his frustration at the lack of response to his application for membership.
List of officials from the start of the society in 1962 to 1994. I believe we have most of the information contained on the list; however I can see no record of C Phillips as Secretary referred to in the above letter from Ernest Newell.
In conclusion, the information we have is limited but valuable. May I suggest the committee consider placing it in the Archive section on our website. Can we also please ask if any of our more senior members have records, correspondence etc which could be used to enhance the information we already have?
Regards
Geoff Titt
West Wilts Club Rep
Original
Documents
The History of the Wiltshire Golf Captains
