|
ORIGIN OF THE ASSOCIATION
From a study of the Minutes of the Association, press cuttings, etc it would appear that the first Rabbit golf matches in Yorkshire were played between Oakdale and Knaresborough, (Extract from the minutes of Knaresborough Golf Club, dated 22nd September 1922, proposed by Mr. Kitching, seconded by Mr. Broadbank, that a match be arranged with Oakdale G.C. for Saturday next for players of 18 handicap and over). In about 1934 they were joined by Pannal and Wetherby being followed later by Garforth, Low Laithes and Horsforth.
The idea of forming an Association originated from Mr. Dibb of Wetherby G.C. A meeting was convened by Mr. Midgley who was Captain of Knaresborough Rabbits at the time. In October 1937 the clubs represented at this inaugural meeting, held at Knaresborough, were Knaresborough, Oakdale, Pannal, Wetherby, Horsforth and Low Laithes. Mr. Walker of Horsforth offered his Club for an open competition if required.
In 1938 the Association, known as the “West Riding Rabbit Golf Association” was formed and in 1939 arrangements were made to increase the membership and to organise the “Thornton” competition and Mr. Thornton was asked to be the first President of the Association.
After the War ended, a meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel in Leeds, in March 1946, to revive the Association and the membership that year was 15.
The Norman Watson Cup for the best gross score in the Thornton Competition was started in 1948.
In 1948 the Bradford and District Association was formed and by 1954 five Area Associations had been formed.
In 1949 the West Riding Foursomes Competition was started and this became known as the “Fowler Trophy” Competition when Mr. Fowler donated a Trophy later that year.
In 1950 an Inter Area competition was started and Mr. Plowright donated a Trophy and the competition became known as the “Plowright Trophy”.
.It was resolved at the 1955 Annual General Meeting of the West Riding Rabbit Golf Association that the name of the Association be changed to the “Yorkshire Rabbit Golf Association”.
The Fred Brown Salver for the best net score in the Thornton Competition was first played for in 1983.
The Association has continued to grow and is still growing, in 2000 there were 107 member clubs spread in six Areas over Yorkshire.
|
