Norfolk PGA - History

A meeting was held at Great Yarmouth & Caister Golf Club on Thursday 9th April 1970, where it was agreed to form a NORFOLK PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS ASSOCIATION, those present at the meeting were:-

Bert Kelly, John Carter, Alan Poulton, Chris Hanlon, Robin Page, Chris Norton, Terry Symmons, Norman Arthur, Angus MacKenzie, David Watts, Vic Crabtree, Malcolm Leeder, from this group, a committee was formed, consisting of:John Carter, Chris Hanlon and Malcolm Leeder.

Bert Kelly was appointed as the CAPTAIN.

An annual subscription was proposed of £2 for Professionals, £1 for Assistants.

Among the items on the agenda at the meeting were:

A Professional Winter Match Play Competition
Matches against the Norfolk Ladies & Norfolk Amateurs, Norfolk Pros/Ladies v Suffolk Pros/Ladies.
A further suggestion was to appoint an Honorary Secretary/Treasurer, outside the profession.

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Time passed before the first Pro-am was proposed, the spring of 1972 was decided and that Norwich Union should be approached with the view to sponsor this event.

At a meeting held at Sheringham Golf Club on 4th November 1971, it is recorded in the minutes that a reply from Norwich Union indicated that “Norwich Union were not prepared to sponsor such an event as they had all the publicity they needed locally”.This news was not well received.

It was also discussed that owing to the lack of fund available, and bearing in mind that Sheringham Golf Club was to hold a Pro-am in 1972, it might be advisable to wait until 1973 to hold such an event.

John Carter, at the same meeting, proposed a Pro only event, as there were now 15 members in the Association, or playing with 2 Amateur partners, making a total of 45 players @ £3 per Professional, £5 per amateur, this was agreed.

At the next meeting held at Eaton Golf Club on 7th February 1972, at last, a tournament was going to be played at Eaton Golf Club on Tuesday 11th April 1972, who had kindly agreed to charge no green fees on the day.

The format being in the form of an 18 hole better ball medal, playing with 2 amateur partners with the food consisting of high tea. A loss on the day was recorded @ £1.79.

It was further agreed that each Professional would present his amateur playing partners with a golf ball.

There was also a long discussion in regards to introducing a handicapping system, which applied to the Professionals, this was agreed, with some pro’s playing off a handicap of 6, down to the better players off scratch, and so the Norfolk PGA finally had its first event.

Today the Norfolk PGA has grown to over 33 Professionals & Assistants, with some 15/20 events taking place each year.