BRAMLEY GOLF CLUB - The Senior Section,
(known as The BOBS i.e. Bramley Old Boys).
The BOBs section of Bramley Golf Club goes back to the end of 1981 when:
The Committee of the Club approved a proposal to set up a Veterans Society,
open to male members of the Club who were fully retired or had attained the
age of 60 years. If formed, the Society would play mid-week home and away
matches against other Clubs in the locality , in 'four ball better ball' 18 hole
games.
This proposal was to be considered at a Meeting to be held in the Club House
on Wednesday, 2nd December 1981, at 7.30 p.m. and all members interested
and eligible for membership of the proposed Society were invited to attend....
The meeting was duly held and attended by the Club President, Captain of
the Club, Chairman of the Club Committee and 20 members. Subsequently
10 other members expressed an interest with the overall result that 31
members played in the opening Stableford.
The qualifying requirement for joining this new section of the Club was that
the applicant had to be a male who had attained the age of 60 years or who
had attained the age of 55 years and was not in full time employment. This
simple requirement was to undergo frequent re-examination over the following
years the upshot of which came at the AGM of 1994 when "After prolonged
discussion it was decided, by majority, that in future new members of the
Bobs be 60 years old" The state of retirement was not mentioned but
perhaps it was presumed as it had been the original intention of the Bobs
when formed?
No specific objectives or goals were stated but that would have been out of
step with the time and it became very evident that the assumption was for this
group of nature's gentlemen to embark upon friendly competition at Bramley
and other nearby Clubs, with golfers of like mind and seniority.
This assumption was partly covered under the Rules agreed at the inaugural
meeting: 'Matches shall be arranged with other Club Societies in the area on a
home and away basis for teams normally comprising 12, playing 'Better Ball
Four Ball''
Four weeks prior to a match members would be considered for selection.
Matches would start at 8.30 a.m. or earlier so as to clear the 1st tee by 9.30
a.m. Lunch would be provided for the visiting teams and the members
playing would be required to contribute £3.00 each etc., etc.
In the early days it was sometimes difficult to raise teams to fulfil the fixtures,
unlike today when every fixture is oversubscribed. Part of the team
shortages may have been due to the fact that most of the early matches
called for teams of 16 (not 12 as envisaged). In addition seven of the original
BOBs History
members had failed to take any further part in the activities and therefore
recruitment became a desirable objective. Some of the Clubs competed
against at that time were, Puttenham, Guildford, Hindhead, Leatherhead,
Hanley Common and Dorking. It says at lot for the goodwill and bonhomie of
the Bobs that most of those teams still play against us today. One could also
admire those worthy opponents for their stoic tenacity and dogged
determination to play at all cost.
The names of the BOB's officers shall remain anonymous in these few notes
as it would otherwise overflow with the names of so many worthy people who
have undertaken the task of putting time and effort into creating a friendly
focal point for those Bramley golfers in their retirement years. The nature of
the positions held has varied over time and in accordance with the growth of
the section. The original proposal allowed for the election of a Captain, Vice
Captain, Hon. Secretary and any other officers thought appropriate. Since
that time a Treasurer has become a vital addition and a President was
suggested but became finalised as Honorary Captain. The latter title
indicating a non playing captaincy as opposed to the playing captains
appointed to head up competing Bob's teams and assist in the running of
individual events. The Secretarial job has expanded greatly over the years
requiring the addition of assistants plus specialised help with the main
competitions held.
In 1998 further changes became necessary. The modest Veterans Society
started in the winter of 1981 had grown from 31 to over a 100 members with
other applicants waiting in the wings to join. A group of 7 members was
appointed at the AGM to cover various matters that that had developed at that
time but having cleared these points during their year of office the AGM of
1999 reduced that number to 5. In effect the BOBs evolved to the position
where the secretary plus a flexible number of members run the BOBs, this
basic team calls upon other volunteers as and when needed.
At the millennium membership had reached 125 but the basics reason for
running a senior section remains in principle much the same as when the
number was 31. It provides a focal point for Bramley members aged 60 and
over, for the purpose of engaging in social meetings and friendly competitions
at Bramley and other Clubs, with golfers of like mind and seniority.
(The above notes were issued in the year 2000, some changes have since
occurred notably the age qualification which now stands at 55 years, the need
to be retired no longer seems to be pressed but with the matches taking place
on midweek days this may suffice to impose its own restriction)
May 2007 John Bennett. Ref BGC BOBS history.
BOBs History