Skip to content

History of London & Home Counties

The London & Home Counties Region was formally inaugurated on Thursday 13 August 1981, originally under the name Greater London & Home Counties Region. The minutes from this first meeting outline how the region was formed and the early priorities of its members.

Inaugural Meeting Overview

Date: Thursday 13 August 1981
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club
Attendance: Approximately 50 members from Greater London and the Home Counties

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Jock Murray, Captain of the Association of Golf Club Secretaries. He welcomed attendees, thanked Mr. John Digby-Smith for taking on the Secretaryship, and expressed appreciation to the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club for hosting the event. Murray then introduced Mr. John Crowther, Secretary of the Association.

Appointment of Captain

Mr. Crowther invited nominations for Captain of the newly formed Region.

  • Mr. John Digby-Smith proposed Wing Commander Frank Bartle.
  • Bartle accepted the nomination.
  • The proposal was seconded by Mr. Jim Maples.
  • The appointment was carried unanimously.

Aims of the Association

Mr. Crowther outlined the Association’s vision:

  • To support Golf Club Secretaries across all regions.
  • To offer advice on all aspects of golf club administration.
  • To help Secretaries adapt as golf clubs increasingly shifted from a social model to a business-focused operation.
  • To provide a platform for sharing challenges and solutions through regional meetings.
  • To escalate unresolved issues to the Association Secretary where needed.
  • To encourage the southern regions to use the Association as effectively as those in the north and midlands.

Crowther emphasised the value of sharing ideas and discussing problems collectively for the benefit of Secretaries nationwide.

Questions & Discussion

After his appointment, Wg. Cdr. Bartle took the Chair and opened the floor to questions:

  1. Bonuses for Stewards
    • Question: Mr. D. Lampard (Flackwell Heath) asked for clarification on bonus payments.
    • Response: Mr. Lionel Warne advised that bonuses are permitted but must not be linked to bar profits. Clubs must ensure tax is deducted on all bonuses and gratuities.
  2. Gratuities and Taxation
    • An observation from the floor noted that gratuities can be given as National Savings Certificates, which are not taxable.
  3. Meeting Invitations
    • Question: Mr. L. Denning (Reading) asked how many had been invited.
    • Response: Mr. Digby-Smith confirmed that 120 invitations were issued and 80–90 replies were received, all expressing support. Response was described as very encouraging.
  4. Catering Price Difficulties
    • Question: Mr. J. Miles (Wimbledon Common) raised concerns about setting catering prices.
    • Response: Mr. Crowther said he would collate information on this topic for members who requested it.

Next Meeting

The next Regional Meeting was scheduled for Thursday 29 October 1981 at 10:30 a.m. at the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, and members were encouraged to send in any items they wished to have included on the agenda.