History

Founded 1966

On Thursday 10th February 1966 a meeting was held in the clubhouse at Allestree Park Golf Club near Derby. Those present were A.(Albert) Goodsell (Chesterfield), C.(Cyril) F.Ibbotson (Mickleover), A.(Alfred) Jones (Allestree Park), D.(Don) MacFarlane (Mickleover) and F.(Frank) Rodgers (Chevin). These gentlemen decided to form the Society of Derbyshire Golf Captains, and that they would be the Founder members.

Certain decisions were made that evening, the main ones being that Sidney Cartwright, a Past President of the English Golf Union, was to be invited to be President, Cyril Ibbotson would be the first Captain, and Don MacFarlane agreed to be Honorary Secretary.

The inaugural competition was held at Burton on Trent Golf Club on Thursday 26th May 1966. The President agreed to donate a salver, to be known as the Sidney Cartwright Salver. The first winner of the Salver was Cyril Ibbotson, Society Captain, with a gross score of 74 – 70 nett with 24 members playing. A second competition was organised for the autumn and members played for the Founders Trophy. As the name suggests it was donated by the founders of the Society. The winner on this occasion was the Society President Sidney Cartwright. Both these trophies are competed for to this day and to have ones name engraved on one or other of these trophies is a cherished ambition amongst members.

A further development in 1966 was that the Duke of Devonshire agreed to be Patron. He continued to fill this role until his death in 2004. After an approach by the President of the Society, J. S. (Spen) Stanway, Sir Richard FitzHerbert Bt. kindly agreed to fill the Office of Patron. The Society is delighted that he has joined us for golf and attended our Annual Dinners.

It was also resolved that an Annual Dinner should be held. The first one was held on Friday January 27th 1967 at the Mackworth Hotel near Derby. The cost was 35/- (£1.75). The Dinner was held annually at the Mackworth until 1973, then at the Pennine Hotel Derby until 1982, except for one year at the Palm Court Restaurant, Allestree. For the next eight years the venue was the Swallow Hotel Alfreton before returning to Derby and the Midland Hotel. By the Millennium attendees had increased from an original 30 to over 200 and it was necessary to find bigger premises. Pride Park, the home of Derby County football club, has hosted the event recently.

At the end of 1966 the Society had enrolled some 84 members, and by the end of 2009 the numbers had risen to 567. Needless to say such an association requires steadfast and dedicated officers. The SDGC have, in 43 years, had just three Secretaries and three Treasurers. Perhaps most notable amongst these are one of the founders Don MacFarlane who acted as Honorary Secretary for 31 years and Fred Pitt who retired as Honorary Treasurer in 2005 after 30 years service.

One of the aims and objectives of the Society is to organise competitions and functions, and the calendar of events now includes matches against ten other Captains Societies, the Derbyshire Lady Captains plus five in house stroke-play competitions. An Annual Dinner is a popular social occasion, and as a result of all the above some £2,500 a year is afforded to various charities.

As the Society enters its fifth decade it strives to maintain and uphold the traditions, integrity, rules and honour of the game not only within its membership but to help other golfers attain those same attributes.