British Golf Collectors' Society

Activities
National Competitions are held in March (Welsh Hickory Championships at Aberdovey) May (Scottish Hickory Championshipat Gullane) July, at a course close to The Open Championship; and September, at Rye for the English Hickory Championship.

There are also a number of regional meetings. An England vs Scotland match with hickory clubs takes place in August and matches are also held against golf clubs, often in association with centenary celebrations.

Archived Years 2007    2006     2005     2004     2003     2002

Fri 4 April - Annual Hickory Match v Machynlleth organised by Elizabeth McDonald. Web site: http://www.machynllethgolf.co.uk/

Sat 5 April - Annual Hickory Match v Aberdovey Golf Club organised by Elizabeth McDonald. Web site: http://www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk/

Sun 6 April - Welsh Hickory Championship at Aberdovey Golf Club, organised by Elizabeth McDonald.

Fri 25 April - President Day / Annual General Meeting at Royal Liverpool Golf Club - Hoylake organised by Peter Heath. Web site: http://www.royal-liverpool-golf.com/

Sat 3 May - North Scottish Region Fixture at Fraserburgh Golf Club organised by Hamish Ewan. No Website: Fraserburgh, Grampian, AB43 8TL. Tel: 01346 516616

Mon 19 May - Central England / BGCS Seniors at Coxmoor Golf Club organised by Tony Thorpe. Website: http://www.coxmoorgolfclub.co.uk/ Fri 23 May - Scottish Hickory Championship at Gullane Golf Club - No 3 course, organised by Ron Beatt. Website: http://www.gullanegolfclub.com/

Fri 6 June - Midlands Region Fixture at Walsall Golf Club, organised by Keith Bilbie. Website: http://www.walsallgolfclub.co.uk/

Mon 16 June - Centenary Hickory Match v Wimbledon Common and the Oxford & Cambridge GS, organised by John Hawkins / Philip Truett. Website: http://www.londonscottishgolfclub.co.uk/

Fri 20 June - Hickory Match v The Mackenzie Society at Cavendish Golf Club, Buxton, Derbyshire, organised by Tony Thorpe/Richard Atherton. Website: http://www.cavendishgolfcourse.com/

Sun 29 June - Centenary Hickory Match v Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxford, organised by Tony Thorpe. Website: http://www.frilfordheath.co.uk/

Fri 4 July - Centenary Hickory Match v Middlesbrough Golf Club, organised by Neil Hutchinson. Website: http://www.middlesbroughgolfclub.co.uk/ Mon 14 July - Bonhams Auction - Chester.

Wed 16 July - Open Championship Meeting at West Lancashire Golf Club, organised by Tony Thorpe. Website: http://www.westlancashiregolf.co.uk/

Sat 26 July - 11th Swedish Hickory Championship at Isaberg Golf Club, organised by Pehr Themanius / Jorgen Linse

Tues 5 August - Annual Match v The Seniors GS at Edgbaston Golf Club, organised by Peter Heath. Website: http://www.edgbastongc.co.uk/

Sun 17 August - Centenary Hickory Match v Mendip Golf Club, organised by Alan Jackson. Website: http://www.mendipgolfclub.com/

Fri 22 August - Midlands Region Fixture Oswestry Golf Club, organised by Keith Bilbie. Website: http://www.oswestrygolfclub.co.uk/

Fri 5 September - Annual Hickory Match: England V Scotland at Dunstanburgh Castle GC, Northumberland organised by John Pearson / Archie Baird. http://www.dunstanburgh.com/

Tues 9 September - North Scottish Region Fixture at Stonehaven Golf Club organised by Hamish Ewan. Website: http://www.stonehavengolfclub.com/

Thurs 11 September - Annual Hickory Match v Hunstanton Golf Club organised by Nigel Notley. No Website: Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 6JQ - Phone: 01485 32811

Fri 12 September - Annual Hickory Match v Royal Worlington Golf Club organised Nigel Notley. Website: http://royalworlington.co.uk/

Sun 28 September - Centenary Hickory Match v Little Aston Golf Club organised by Tony Thorpe. Website: http://www.littleastongolf.co.uk/

Fri 10 October - English Hickory Championship at Rye Golf Club, organised by Tim Smartt. Website: http://www.ryegolfclub.co.uk/

Wed 22 October - Annual Hickory Match v Clapham Common GS at Mitcham Common GC, organised by Philip Truett. Website: http://www.mitchamgolfclub.co.uk/

Death of BGCS Honorary Secretary Tony Thorpe It is my sad duty to report the death of the BGCS Honorary Secretary, Tony Thorpe. He died yesterday, from complications after a very serious stomach operation, at the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. BGCS Captain, David Hamilton, paid this tribute "Tony was tireless in his attention to the business of our BGCS. In spite of an increasing concern about his health, the internet was still busy with his messages and his prompt arrangements for our future meetings. Though just out of hospital, and awaiting surgery, he did not wish to miss the Hoylake meeting and guided us skillfully through the AGM. Our thoughts are with his family. " Keith Bilbie, a close and dear friend of Tony's, has said "As you will appreciate Tony's death has been a great shock to his family and I would ask that at present members refrain from contacting them. All enquires should be directed to me at this time on either 0115 9203842 (home) OR 07870 297186 (mobile)." Funeral arrangements will follow in due course. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his partner Doreen, his son Nicklaus and his daughter Heidi at this sad time.

Central England Hickory Championship at Coxmoor Golf Club There was a sombre mood amongst the Society members who gathered at Coxmoor for the Central England Hickory Championship on 19 May as this was the Society's first event following the recent death of Tony Thorpe, the Honorary Secretary, who did so much to promote this event. Competitors and Official gathered on the 1st tee prior to the event where the Society Captain, David Hamilton, gave a short address followed by a minutes silence in memory of Tony. The fine dry weather conditions and a good golf course promised an interesting championship especially as several bumpy greens made putting a challenge. Chris Walker proved a worthy champion with a score of 34 points, which incidentally has been the winning score for three years, followed by John Pearson with 31 points. John Weston won the Seniors event with a score of 33 points. The Championship trophy has now been dedicated to the memory of Tony Thorpe

Draw for Scottish Hickory Championship Scottish Hickory Championship, 23 May 2008, Gullane No3

Funeral arrangements for Tony Thorpe The funeral service of our late Honorary Secretary, Tony Thorpe, will be held at 2pm on Thursday 29 May 2008 at St James Church, Church Lane, Brinsley, near Eastwood, Nottinghamshire followed by a committal service at 3.30pm that date at the Mansfield Crematorium, Derby Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. At the request of Tony's family these two services are for family and close friends only. There will only be family flowers. Doreen requests that any donations in Tony's memory should be to the Notts Union of Golf Clubs for the Nippers Tour which is a scheme developing golf for under 11 year olds that was close to Tony's heart. Cheques should be made payable to 'NUGC' and can be sent to me at 42 Willerby Road, Woodthorpe, Nottingham NG5 4PB so I can pass them on to the NUGC Treasurer. A Memorial Service has been arranged at Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire on Wednesday 25 June 2008 at 11am to which all who wish to pay respects to Tony are invited to attend. If you require any further information please contact me either on my home telephone number of Nottingham (0115) 9203842 or mobile number 07870 297186 . Keith Bilbie

William Tanner from Dunfermline won the Scottish Hickory Championship with a net 67 Ove Werner (Sweden) won the scratch trophy with a 77

MEMORIAL SERVICE You will be aware that the Memorial Service for our late Honorary Secretary, Tony Thorpe, is to be held at Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire at 11am on Wednesday 25 June 2008. Tony's family extend a cordial invitation to Society Members wishing to attend. Refreshments will be available after the Service at the Coxmoor Golf Club, Coxmoor Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts NG17 5LF. The golf club is located about 13 miles to the west of Southwell near Mansfield and a map showing the location of the club can be found on the website www.coxmoorgolfclub.co.uk. Those attending the Service who require overnight accommodation will find details by logging onto the Newark and Sherwood District Council website namely www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.org.

The list of Members and guests wishing to play in the Open Meeting at West Lancs Golf Club on Wednesday 16 July 2008 is filling up fast. As it is Open Week the golf club is being requested for tee times by visitors to the Open so it will probably be necessary to finalise our numbers earlier than the original closing date of Friday 6 July 2008. Therefore it is imperative to get your entries in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. The Organiser of the event is John Bambery, a BGCS member at West Lancs Golf Club, and entry forms and cheques should be sent to Keith Bilbie at 42 Willerby Road, Woodthorpe, Nottingham NG5 4PB without delay.