Wayfairers Golf Society
The beginnings ……
In 1995 Chiddingfold Golf Club opened and a small advertisement in the press offered reduced green fees as an introductory offer as not all facilities were up and running. Although John McDonnell and John Bateson lived quite close to each other and were both members of Holtye Golf Club, they were not at that time close friends. However, by chance they discovered that they had both independently with their friends, played at Chiddingfold and enjoyed it. They decided to combine forces and to revisit Chiddingfold with the prospect of forming a Society.
Those present at this initial gathering who, in the bar afterwards, slapped a £5 note in front of John Bateson who thus unceremoniously became the first Treasurer, were:
John McDonnell, Bernard McDonnell (deceased), Robert Marchbank, Mike Wilson, Frank Houlihan, Bill Broderick (deceased), Stafford Smith, Ron Bailey, Ron Harris, Dennis Shelley, John Bateson, Jeff Hogg, Peter Rushton, Mike Morgan-Rowe, Chris Tomlin and Mike Smith.
John McDonnell offered his services as Secretary and thus the Society was born.
The first meeting of the WAY-FAIRERS GOLFING SOCIETY took place at Chiddingfold on Friday 17th November 1995. This is still the title that appears on our bank account but with the passage of time this has been shortened to the WAYFAIRERS GOLF SOCIETY derived from Fairways rather than Wayfarers.
The first news letter following this meeting was issued by John McDonnell on 22nd November 1995.
16 players attended this inaugural meeting where the formation of the golf Society was formally ratified and an annual subscription of £5.00 agreed. The stated aim was to arrange 4 to 6 meetings a year over a variety of courses with the aim of providing enjoyment, good companionship and value for money. A quickly established principle was that participation should be considered as equally important as winning, and although glory should go to the victors, suitable consolation prizes should be given to those who underachieve.
It was intended to run the Society as informally as possible without the need for a formal constitution. It was to be non-profit making with its members being the sole beneficiaries. Some formalisation has since evolved with an AGM being held in November to report on the year’s activities, present the audited accounts, and appoint the Management and Handicap Committees and to consider/vote on, any other matters that have been presented.
A Handicap Committee consisting of Ron Harris, John McDonnell and John Bateson was set up to review handicaps after each event and to set a Society handicap based on Society performance which might well differ from ones official club handicap.
Development
Over the early years membership rapidly increased, and very soon a limit of 40 was established with an official waiting list introduced. Currently there are 39 full members and 4 honorary life members. Membership includes 5 ladies. Over the past 12 months average attendance at meetings has been 32, with this including guests who are always made extremely welcome. Altogether since the Society’s formation 27 different “local” Golf Courses have been visited, with several popular ones returned to on numerous occasions. During the Society’s existence many short golfing breaks have been organised both in England and abroad, and always been extremely well supported.
Basically a 4 man Committee holds the Society together, consisting currently of a President (Barry Richards) Secretary (John McDonnell now in his 12th year of office) Treasurer (Tony Warrilow) & Match Coordinator (John Bateson our first Treasurer). As the number of regular meetings each year grew to 7, so a pattern became established of holding different annual competitions on all these 7 occasions with separate trophies – mainly donated by members – for all these events. Also an Individual Stableford Award (the Wayfairers Trophy) is played for at every gathering. Society handicaps are reviewed after every meeting and go up to 36 for both men and ladies.
Having said this 7 of our current members play off 12 or below, with 3 of these in single figures. The usual months in which meetings are held are October/November (AGM) December (Christmas gathering), March, May, June, July & September. From time to time, when unexpected “bargain offers” are received, extra “unofficial” meetings are organised. Another opportunity to play comes through an annual pairs Knock Out competition in which members arrange their own playing dates and venues.
November 2005 saw the Society’s 10th Anniversary but as this was at the beginning of winter, celebrations were delayed until July 2006 when a splendid subsidised day was organised at Old Thorns G.C. in Hampshire and supported by almost the entire membership.
Information to members stems from the President who is also the editor & producer of a sophisticated newsletter “The Wayfairer” which is published and circulated after every meeting. Golf day prices are always kept as low as possible and little profit is made after all expenses have been paid. However at every meeting there is always a raffle or similar “swindle”, and this provides a great deal of fun as well as being a very healthy fund raiser. Money from this source provides the Society with a plentiful supply of its own logo embossed golf balls.
There never has been a concept of regular fund raising for charity. As one of the early meetings coincided with Red Nose Day, a cheque was sent to this charity, but up until very recently this was as far as it went. At the 2006 AGM however it was agreed to support St. Catherine’s Hospice at Crawley over the forthcoming year, and in August 2007 a cheque for £530 was presented to the Hospice, with nearly all the money raised through golf related activities.
For a nostalgic trip Early Days