History of The Dorset Golf Captains (DGC)

Dorset Captains was formed in 1971 at an inaugural meeting held at Ferndown Golf Club.
George Newton of Ferndown Golf Club was appointed as the first President, with Colin Chataway of Broadstone Golf Club as Secretary. (Colin was uncle to Chris Chataway). The founder President generously donated a Silver Salver to be presented annually to the winner of the Spring Meeting, also known as Presidents Day. This event is usually, but not always, held at the Presidents home course.

J. W. Jackson of Parkstone Golf Club was elected in 1972 as the first Captain.
The Autumn Meeting, also known as Captains Day, is usually, but not always, held at the Captains home course.

In 1982 the first match against the Ex Lady Captains was held at the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club and has subsequently been played annually. Harold Singleton, Isle of Purbeck GC ( DGC Captain 1975 and DGC President 1980-82) generously donated a trophy for this event.

The Colin Chataway Trophy, organised by The Dorset Golf Captains, was introduced in 1982 to help Juniors 16 years of age and under with etiquette and the interpretation of the rules of golf. It is a team competition consisting of four players. The team with the highest total score of all four players win. Each group of players is supervised by a Dorset Captain to advise them as necessary. The winning team receives a wooden shield and each player their own trophy. There are also trophies for various age groups including youngest player. Between 2006 and 2009 Georgia Hall (the 2018 British Ladies Open Champion) took part in the event as a junior.

During 1994 the Mixed Greensomes (DGC and Ex-Lady Captains) was introduced at Cheddington Court Golf Club, at that time a nine hole course. In 1996 the event was moved to 18 hole courses. It is played in the St Andrews format and a member normally invites the Lady Captain in his Club Captaincy year as his guest but not necessarily so, many partner their wives providing that they are members of the Ex Lady Captains. In 1996 Les Watson (Came Down GC) the DGC Vice Captain at the time, generously donated a Chalice for the annual winner of the Captains Prize.

1997 saw the inaugural match against the County Juniors at Ashley Wood, it was played there annually until 2019 (Covid).

In 1999 in memory of Harry Roffey, Ferndown Golf Club (Captain 1979 and President 1996-97), a trophy was introduced to be presented annually to the member who has the most aggregate points for Presidents Day and Captains Day.

Although the DGC have been playing both Devon County (since 1981),and Cornwall County (since 1986), it wasn't until 2002 that the Cornwall and Devon tour started.

In 2006 The Dorset Golf Captains entered the world of electronic communication and the use of emailing became more popular and the website was launched.

In 2008 the Four Counties Golf Tournament was introduced to the events list with the intention of allowing committee members to meet each other hence priority is given to applications from committee members. The Counties taking part are Berkshire, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. Each County hosts the event in alphabetic order therefore the inaugural event was held in Berkshire at the Newbury & Crookham Golf Club. It is a Betterball format for a team of 12 members and is held during the first week of June. Up until 2015 Dorset have been victorious three times.
Dorset won the 2016 Four Counties event held at Reading GC under the captaincy of David Kimberley of the Dorset G&CC.
Dorset was again successful winning the the 2019 Four Counties held at Mendip Springs GC under the captaincy of Peter Brickell of Highcliffe Castle GC.

Although the Captains held a Dinner in1997, which was intended to be annual, it was not until 2008, when it was re-introduced, that our Annual Dinner became an annual event. It is held at the Dorset Golf & Country Club and has a guest speaker, usually a comedian, and other Counties are invited. The original cost was maintained for 10 years. Since 2018 members are invited to bring guests.

In 2012 the West of England Inter County Championship was introduced, this is a one day event, in BetterBall format, for 24 members using both courses at Saunton Devon and includes teams from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. It is usually held just before Easter each year.

Since 2016 the Saunton Salver has taken place during October. It is a BetterBall event for a team of 24 members and has entries from 12 Counties ranging from Staffordshire to Sussex to South Wales and Cornwall. It is a two day event and each pair has to play both courses at Saunton GC. It is usually played in the first two weeks of October.
Dorset won the 2016 event under the captaincy of David Kimberley of the Dorset G&CC.
Dorset was again successful winning the the Saunton Salver in 2019 under the captaincy of Bill Kent of Broadstone GC.
Saunton subsequently declined to run this fixture.

In September 2018 the first Captains Annual Invitation day took place at Sherborne GC. Members are invited to bring a guest providing that they are not a member of Dorset Golf Captains.

2020 was the year of Covid-19 restrictions. Most golf was cancelled but an excellent Captain's Day at Ferndown and Invitation Day at Dudsbury were held. It was also the year we successfully held our first DGC virtual AGM.

2021, the 50th Anniversary of our forming in 1971, was due to be a bumper year but was initially affected by Covid-19. However it proved to be possible to re-arrange all fixtures (except the events at Saunton which were permanently cancelled by them) for the second half of the year and they were successfully completed. These included two new 50th Anniversary additions to our calendar - a team event held at Dudsbury GC and a novel President's 9-hole challenge held at Canford School GC. Both were highly successful.

In 2023 the Saunton Salver event was replaced by the Inter Counties Captains Challenge, held at St Mellion, Cornwall played over both courses by teams of 12 from 7 counties playing on both days. This inaugural event was won by Dorset with a team lead by captain Peter Brickell of Highcliffe Castle GC.

In 2024 the Saunton West of England competition was replaced by a 6-Counties competition, organised by Devon Golf Captains, and held at Stover GC. This inaugural event for teams of 6 pairs was won by Dorset with a team lead by captain Dave Picton of Weymouth GC.