The Society of Hertfordshire Golf Captains was founded on January 21st 1966, (Our Inaugural Captains Badge). It now comprises some 600 members, both past and current Captains from most of the Hertfordshire Clubs. The Society has, over the last 50 years, brought together Captains and Past Captains of Golf Clubs in Hertfordshire not only to play golf but also to enjoy the fellowship of others who have held the honoured position of Captain of their Golf Club. Our fiftieth year in 2016 (Jubilee Newsletter) was celebrated in style at a special golden Jubilee dinner (signed menu & photos), at Knebworth, by Past Society Captains, on the 21st January, 50 years to the day of our founding. On June 23rd, a Jubilee Golf Day was held where a total of 154 members played 18 holes of golf (AM/PM), at Brookmans Park. This event was followed by our Annual Dinner in the evening, where numbers swelled to 248. During the nights proceedings, our guest speaker, Gavin R Caldwell, Captain of the R&A presented the Society with a Celebratory Quaich to mark its Jubilee. Now one of the trophies being competed for by society members each year. A series of seven Society meetings for members are arranged each year in Hertfordshire.
There are also Inter-County Matches against 12 other Captains Societies which are keenly, though cordially, played. The London Captains presented the Society of Hertfordshire Golf Captains, at our 2016 meeting, Mill Hill Golf Club, with a Silver Salver to celebrate its Silver Jubilee Year. Hertfordshire decided the salver will be competed for each year at the meeting between the two societies. The Membership is invited from Captains of Clubs affiliated to the Hertfordshire Golf Union. All enquiries for membership should be sent to John Saunders, Honorary Secretary via the online enquiry form here or by contacting your club liaison officer. The Annual Subscription is payable by Standing Order on January 1st.
The Crameri Cup, early in the 1980s, the Society’s Committee indicated that it would like to be seen to be fostering golf in the county. So in December 1982, the Society’s captain, Eric Scriven, wrote to clubs inviting them to enter two teams in a knock-out competition for members who were over 55 on March 31. The trophy was to be called The Society of Hertfordshire Captain’s trophy, and entry was £2 per team. It was first played for in 1983 by 28 teams, and Harpenden were the first winners. In June 1983 the committee decided it would be called the Crameri Cup in recognition of the contribution made by R.T. Crameri (Cram), who was then President of the society and who had served as honorary secretary from 1970 to 1983. In 2008, 80 teams competed for the Cup. In 2007 Brookmans Park created a record by being the first club to contest the final with their A and B teams. Please see ‘Honours Board’ for past winners.
The Herts Salver, the aim of the Society sponsoring this competition was to give an opportunity to both up and coming players and indeed experienced players who fell just short in handicap for automatic qualification into the County Championship. This Competition was proposed by Mr G. Nye and agreed at the committee meeting held on 18th January 1972. Ted Allison the Captain, tabled various Salvers for the Committee to select a suitable trophy to be presented to the Herts Golf Union. It was also agreed the Society would provide replicas of the Salver annually. The Salver would be inscribed “ The Hertfordshire Salver” presented by the Society of Hertfordshire Golf Captains. The competition would be held in early May at the Club of the current Captain. 66 Player’s would play off for the final 12 places. Please see ‘Honours Board‘ for past Champions.
Triangular Match – The Herve trophy was presented in 1967 by Bryan K. Herve, the then Captain of the Essex Captains’. He challenged Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire to compete for it annually. Its the one match a year when the Professional from each county “Captains Club” is invited to represent the Societies team.