History

THE BEGINNINGS!
2 April 1924 - The 'Inauguration of the Wiltshire County Golf Union' was established at a meeting in the Offices of Foley Son & Mundy, Trowbridge. The Chairman was Major W R Campbell-Laverton (he also captained the County 1924-26). The constituting Clubs were: Chippenham, Kingsdown, Marlborough, North Wilts - Chisledon (later to become Swindon GC and now Ogbourne Downs), North Wilts - Devizes, South Wilts, West Wilts. Pewsey Vale GC joined the County Union in June 1924..

4 JUNE 1924 - At a meeting of the Wiltshire County Golf Union held at the Offices of Foley Son & Mundy, Trowbridge, it was reported " the South West Counties Golf Association accepted Wiltshire's application to join the SWCGA"

8 JANUARY 1930 - At a meeting of the English Golf Union, held at the Waldorf Hotel, London, the Wiltshire County Golf Union was elected a member of the EGU

THE FATHER OF WILTSHIRE GOLF - COMMEMORATION, 1934
" the Council will be sorry to hear that their Vice-President, Mr G Field' is leaving the district during 1935 to reside in Cornwall. It is true to say that Mr Field is the father of Wiltshire golf. Before he came to live in the County there was no Wiltshire County Golf Union or Wiltshire Alliance (now defunct). His was the moving spirit which started both institutions and he was Secretary to them both for many years."

LET COMPETITION BEGIN!

30 AUGUST 1924 - Executive Cttee Meeting held at Warminster Club House " a letter from Viscount Long of Wraxall consenting to become the President of the Wiltshire County Golf Union and offering to present a cup.". It became the 'Long Challenge Cup' for the Wiltshire Championship (1924 - 55.????????)

The Programme for the County Meeting at Warminster on Oct 3rd and 4th was drawn up as follows:

1. Inter Club Championship (Teams of 4). Medal Play All scores to count. Winning Club to hold the Challenge Shield. Members of winning Team to have small mementoes Entrance Fee 5/- per team.
2. Running Sweep. 18 holes Medal under handicap. Entrance Fee 2/6.
3. Bogey Handicap. 18 Holes. Entrance Fee 2/6. Optional Sweep 2/6. 1st Prize value £2. 2nd value £1
4. 36 Holes Medal Competition under Handicap. Entrance Fee 2/6. Optional Sweep on each 18 holes 2/6. 1st Prize value £3 2nd value £2. 3rd value £1.
5. Wiltshire Championship. 36 Holes Medal Scratch. Winner to hold the Presidents Cup. Entrance Fee 2/6.

1st and 2nd Prizes to value of £1 each also given. It was decided to retain 10% of all Sweeps for expenses of the Union"

"It was resolved that the Union should forthwith purchase a Challenge Shield not exceeding £15 in value." (for the Inter-Club Championship)

The first County Championship was played at West Wilts and in favourable weather Capt L J Fairchild (West Wilts) triumphed with rounds of 81 and 74 (total - 155). Second was A S Hoare (West Wilts) with two rounds of 80 (total - 160)

19 MARCH 1927 - Annual Meeting of the Council held at Warminster Club House "Challenge Cup - Mr H G Ware generously offered to present to the Union a handsome Challenge Tankard, it was decided to allot the Cup to the 18 hole medal (handicap) at the County Meeting"

13 FEBRUARY 1937 - Annual General Meeting held at Warminster Club House. "...the County Championship be played over 36 holes and the first four to qualify to play Match play on the following Saturday"
"County Shield - .the Shield be held over 36 holes instead of 18" This decision regarding the County Championship was rescinded at the 1938 AGM and the competition reverted back to strokeplay.

2 MARCH 1950 - Annual General Meeting held at North Wilts Golf Club "The 1951 County Meeting should be split into 2 sections, and the County Championship should be played on Saturday, and the Handicap Competition for the Ware and MacDonald Trophies played on Sunday" (first reference to MacDonald!)

"It was unanimously agreed to re-introduce the County Foursomes Scratch Competition."

12 FEBRUARY 1954 - Annual General Meeting held at Agriculture House, Devizes. "...it was decided that The Ware Cup Competition should take the form of best ball medal and the MacDonald Cup be decided by foursomes medal play, both competitions on handicap"

27 JANUARY 1955 - Annual Report for 1955 "...the County Championship ended in a tie between the holder, D L Pugsley ….and M C Swift.. These two competitors were asked to re-play over 36 holes on the same course, their further endeavours resulting in a second tie The contest ended at this point although our rules do not cater for Joint Champions"

3 FEBRUARY 1955 - Annual General Meeting held at Agriculture House, Devizes "Ware and MacDonald Competitions - …….these Cups had been presented for medal play…...should be used for this purpose. It was agreed: (a) That the Ware & MacDonald Cups be played for, jointly over 18 holes, by foursomes medal play, and (b) That on the same day, two additional trophies be awarded for the best ball, four ball medal competitions on handicap. The President displayed the additional trophies which had been received from the Golfing Society of Wiltshiremen in London, a body which had now been disbanded. These to be known as 'The Moonraker's Four Ball Trophy'

17 OCTOBER 1960 - Special Meeting held at North Wilts Golf Club "Team Shield - Following a proposal by Swindon Golf Club it was agreed that competition be decided on a 'round robin' basis with each participating Club playing each other (once per annum). The Club winning most matches to hold the Shield for one year"

14 FEBRUARY 1961 - Annual General Meeting held at North Wilts Golf Club "Junior Golf - Resolved: (a) That a competition for junior male members (18 years of age and under)……..shall be sponsored by the WCGU annually and (b) That the offer of a trophy - given by the Hon Anthony Herbert, DSO. - shall be accepted and used as the premier award for this competition and the winner to be designated as Junior County Champion "That a sub committee……..be formed to organise and arrange this and any other competition or activities for the benefit of junior golfers and junior golf generally in the County"

5 FEBRUARY 1968 - Annual General Meeting held at Agriculture House, Devizes "The changed method of contesting the Team Shield (back to medal play) and for the new shield presented by Mr Coombes (Coombes Salver), as recommended by the Executive Committee, were endorsed"

7 FEBRUARY 1967 - Annual General Meeting held at Agriculture House, Devizes "The following were confirmed…… Team Shield - Veteran Handicap Competition (later to become the Ramsbury Shield?)

30 JANUARY 1970 - Annual General Meeting held at Agriculture House "Qualifying age for Ramsbury Shield - minimum age extended from 50 to 55 years". First reference in the minutes to the 'Ramsbury Shield'

31 JANUARY 1972 - Annual General Meeting held at Agriculture House, Devizes "Amateur Match Play Competition - recommendations forwarded by R B Robertson were endorsed" A trophy was presented by RBR but this was not minuted! Need to check trophy inscription.

11 DECEMBER 1972 - Annual General Meeting held at Agriculture House, Devizes "Ken Swift Trophy……….to be awarded to the competitor at the County Championship Meeting returning the lowest gross score in either the morning or afternoon round.….."

16 DECEMBER 1974 - Annual General Meeting held at Agriculture House, Devizes "Colts Section. Matches were planned…….and the County Championship (inaugural?) would be played…. J T Lumley presented a trophy for this event"

12 DECEMBER 1978 - Annual General Meeting held at the Bear Hotel, Devizes Ramsbury Senior Trophy - "……A use for the Trophy presented to the Union in 1926 by the Wiltshiremen in London Association which used to be presented for the best 36 hole handicap score on the day of the County Championship was discussed and in view of the character of the Trophy it was decided that it would make an excellent trophy for the best net individual score on the day of the Ramsbury Senior Trophy"

1980 WCGU WIN THE SOUTH WEST COUNTIES GOLF ASSOCATION'S CHAMPIONSHIP (for the first time!)m Team: R F Buthlay(Capt), J N Fleming, J C Lawrence, T J Collett, N C Garfoot, M R Lovett, R B Robertson(President), K A Clark, R E Searle, B M Townsend.

3 DECEMBER 1984 - Annual General Meeting held at the Bear Hotel, Devizes "Col Hugh Gillson's proposal to present a trophy was accepted……..should be given to the player who contributes most points for the County in the Channel League……and during the SWCGA Championships……. Trophy presented at the Annual Dinner"

4 DECEMBER 1989 - Annual General Meeting held at North Wilts Golf Club Matchplay Championship. "…those players with the leading 16 scores (County Championship Strokeplay) will qualify for the Matchplay Championship.

1990 WCGU WIN THE SOUTH WEST COUNTIES GOLF ASSOCIATION'S JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (for the first time!) Team: J Brien, P Lee, D Howell, A Collar, S Hodges, G Harris, J Hempleman.

1992 WCGU WIN THE SOUTH WEST COUNTIES GOLF ASSOCIATION'S JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP Team: M Burton, I Mercer, S Swales, D Howell, D Wright, M Brown, G Harris

5 OCTOBER 1993 - Executive Cttee Meeting held at Chippenham Golf Club "County Trophies. The increasing incidents of trophies returned uncleaned and, in some cases, damaged……..decided that, in future, the Club from which the winning player entered would be held responsible for the safekeeping, condition and return of the trophy"

5 OCTOBER 1999 - Council Meeting held at West Wilts Golf Club County Championship - "It was decided to try a 72 hole twin venue Championship this coming Millennium year"

26 JUNE 2000 - Officer Group Meeting held at North Wilts Golf Club Boys Championship - "David Howell has presented a very nice trophy for the Boys Championship"

5 DECEMBER 2000 - Annual General Meeting held at Chippenham Golf Club "Competition Changes. …………….Brian Townsend (Secretary) thanked Trevor Head and Mark Lawrence for donating the trophies for the Autumn Meeting."