Thanks to the efforts of Roy Swift the following Minutes of the Formation of the Society are a copy of the original minutes.
Meeting held at Great Lever & Farnworth Golf Club
26th.October 1959 at 7:30pm
The meeting had been called to consider the formation of a Bolton & District Society of Golf Captains.
Attended by:- Mr.J.Corser Secretary of the Bolton Golf Association
Mr.T.H.Crossley Breightmet G.C
Mr.G.Hinchcliffe Breightmet G.C
Mr.H.Potter Deane G.C
Mr.J.Haslam Dunscar G.C
Mr.J.Corrigan Great Lever & Farnworth G.C
Mr.G.Fielding Great Lever & Farnworth G.C
Mr.N.Gibson Great Lever & Farnworth G.C
Mr.J.B.O’Hara Great Lever & Farnworth G.C
Mr.J.Parker Great Lever & Farnworth G.C
Mr.W.Richards Great Lever & Farnworth G.C
Mr.H.Richards (Captain) Great lever & Farnworth G.C
Mr.D.Dougill Horwich G.C
Mr.J.Holden Horwich G.C
Mr.J.K.L.Jones Horwich G.C
Mr.H.Hutchinson Harwood G.C
Mr.J.G.Mellor Harwood G.C
Mr.A.E.Smith Harwood G.C
Mr.A.Bailey Bolton Old Links G.C
Mr.W.Calvert Bolton Old Links G.C
Mr.T.L.Crumblehulme Bolton Old Links G.C
Mr.A.Stanley-Hughes Bolton Old Links G.C
Mr.J.Openshaw Bolton Old Links G.C
Mr.J.Lambert Regent Park G.C
Mr.S.Hamer Regent Park G.C
Mr.W.Johnson Press Representative
Chorley G.C, Hindley Hall G.C, Bolton G.C, Turton G.C & Westhoughton G.C were not represented at the meeting.
Proceedings
In the absence of the President of the Bolton Golf Association (B.G.A), which had called the meeting, the Hon.Secretary, Mr.J.Corser opened the proceedings by a brief reference to the Manchester Society of Golf Captains and to the purpose of the meeting.
He then moved, and Mr.N.Gibson of Great Lever & Farnworth seconded, a proposal that the Captain of Great Lever & Farnworth, Mr.H.Roscoe should take the chair. This was carried unanimously.
A short discussion ensued on the activities of other Captains Societies after which it was formally proposed by Mr.G.Hinchcliffe (Breightmet G.C), seconded by Mr.A.Bailey (Bolton Old Links G.C) that a Bolton Society of Golf Captains be formed.
This received unanimous approval as did the next proposal, by Mr.J.Openshaw (Bolton Old Links), seconded by Mr.J.G.Mellor (Harwood), that the name of the society be
“The Bolton & District Society of Golf Captains.”
Election of Officials
The following Officials were elected.
Hon.Secretary Mr.J.K.L.Jones (Horwich) Proposed by Mr.A.Bailey (Old Links)
Seconded by Mr.F.Haslam (Dunscar)
Hon Treasurer Mr.G.H.Hinchcliffe (Breightmet) Proposed by Mr.A.Bailey (Old Links)
Seconded by Mr.F.Haslam (Dunscar)
President Mr.J.Openshaw (Old Links) Proposed by Mr.G.H.Hinchcliffe (Bre)
Seconded by Mr.H.Potter (Deane)
Captain Mr.F.Haslam (Dunscar) Proposed by Mr.G.H.Hinchcliffe (Bre)
Seconded by Mr.H.Potter (Deane)
Presidents Remarks
The President then took the chair and expressed his thanks for his election.
He voiced hopes for the Society to become a strong and marked institution in the towm.
He had felt for a long time that there was a need for such a society and looked forward to its future with confidence.
After remarking on the strength of the Manchester Society of Golf Captains, of which he was a member, he tentatively suggested that the Bolton Society should hold both a summer Golf Meeting and an Annual Dinner.
Captains Remarks
In returning thanks for his election, the Captain of the Society confidently anticipated its future success and suggested that its activities should take place at the weekends.
Further Proceedings
At the instigation of Mr.A.Stanley-Highes (Old Links) each member present introduced himself and the following Committee was elected to represent the Clubs present.
Old Links G.C Mr.H.Openshaw
Breightmet G.C Mr.G.Hinchcliffe
Deane G.C Mr.H.Potter
Dunscar G.C Mr.F.Haslam
Great Lever G.C Mr.J.B.O’Hara
Harwood G.C Mr.J.Mellor
Horwich G.C Mr.J.K.L.Jones
Regent Park G.C Mr.J.Lambert
It was decided that each club should have one representative, weather he be an Official or not.
Clubs not represented were to be notified, prior to the Committee Meeting to be held to formulate the Rules and Constitution of the Society.
An exchange of views took place on the proposed activities and finances of the Society following which a proposition by Mr.J.B.O;Hara (Great Lever) seconded by Mr.A.Bailey (Old Links) that “for the time being the Subscription should be 10/6d, for the first period.”. This was carried unanimously.
Mr.H.Hutchinson (Harwood) proposed that Mr.A.Bailey (Old Links) seconded , a proposal that “The Annual Dinner be confined to Members of the Society, except for official guests.”
An amendment by Mr.J.Parker (Great Lever) “That each Member of the Society be allowed one guest.” Failed to find a seconder and the original proposal was carried.
The Meeting gave favourable consideration to a suggestion by Mr.J.Corser (Secretary of the B.G.A) and Mr. G.Hinchcliffe (Breightmet) that the first golf meeting should be held on the Presidents or Captains home course and that Members should sound out their Committees on their attitude to offering the “Courtesy of the Course” for this purpose.
A suggestion by the president that the Competition should be 18 Holes, its type left to the Committee to decide upon and that consideration should be given to a 9 Hole subsidiary competition.
Any Other Business
There being no further business the President than thanked the Captain of Great Lever & Franworth, Mr.H.Roscoe, the Hon Secretary of the B.G.A, Mr.J.Corser and the Press Representative Mr.W.Johnson for their part in convening and publicising the meeting and Great Lever G.C for affording the facilities to hold it.
The Meeting closed at 9:20pm
Signed as a true record:- Mr.J.Openshaw (President)
21st.January 1960