Cardiff Golf Club 100
The Ladies Sectiom
On January 23rd, 1922 the First General Meeting of Cardiff Golf Club was held in the Whitehall Rooms, Park Hotel. There had been 459 applications for membership of which 193 were ladies.
By 1924, the Ladies Section had 206 members. Funds were raised by Bridge Drives and competition fees to furnish the ladies lounge and cups were presented for annual competitions. By 1930 the membership had increased to 218 ladies. A figure the club dreams of today.
Throughout the war, regular events and knitting sessions were held to raise funds to enable provisions to be sent to Club Members who were serving abroad in the Forces.
The first Ladies Section General Meeting was attended by 60 Ladies and was presided over by Mrs Franklin Thomas with Mrs Watts Thomas supporting. Mrs H G Kemp was unanimously appointed the first Lady Captain of the Club and Mrs R H Bagley of Cyncoed was elected as Hon-Secretary. A Ladies Committee was appointed as follows: Miss Garland, Mrs Wall, Mrs Dan Lewis, Mrs Glossop, Mrs Senior and Mrs W R Jones. On the recommendation of Mrs Franklin Thomas, it was agreed that these appointments would stand until November 1923.
Mrs Kemp visited Radyr Golf Club which was established in 1902 to see how the Ladies set up worked there and brought recommendations back to Cardiff.
The Ladies Extract from the Western Mail 18.07.22
It was reported that members were in for a treat when an exhibition match was being held between Mrs John Duncan, holder of the Welsh Ladies Championship and Mrs D Rupert Phillips an ex-champion and winner of many competitions at her home Club of Radyr
March 1937 the Greens Committee recommended that Lady Members should be able to enter the Gold Bowl but there is no record of the Management Committee agreeing to it.
In 1994 a Ladies representative was co-opted onto the Greens Committee for the first time and at the Annual General Meeting in 1996, full playing Lady members were given voting rights. The first Lady member was elected to the Management Committee of the Club in 1997.
The Equality and Governance Committee chose to show that they valued the Ladies Section of The Club by the thoughtful and democratic decisions that were made. Ladies concerns were listened to and taken on board, and a great deal of goodwill was extended to the ladies to ensure that the new rules worked to everyone’s advantage.
It was gratifying that, at The Club AGM in 2012, changes to Club rules, which incorporated the new Equality Act requirements, were passed.
The Ladies Section has been hugely instrumental in helping to make this the success it has been by supporting the new ladies whilst having group lessons from the Professionals and including them in social events to help make them feel welcome. With the support of Wales Golf and Sport Wales, the scheme has attracted a considerable number of potential new Lady Members. This was implemented in 2012, 2017 and 2018. Due to the decreasing number of playing Ladies, the Club has taken on board the Wales Golf initiative of ‘New 2 Golf’.
Teams
The first team was formed in 1925 and a second team shortly afterwards. The first team still compete in the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Ladies County Golf League and regularly play in the Welsh Team Championships. Unfortunately, due to falling numbers of Lady members, the second team was disbanded in 2016.
The Lady Vets Section was formed in 1978 and quickly became an active and flourishing part of the Club scene. Coffee mornings are regularly held and Team Matches played.
We also have a Friendly Team that competes in matches against other Clubs.
WTC Rogerstone 1959
Mrs M Williams-Jones, Mrs E Griffiths, Mrs P Lewis, Mrs M Williams, Mrs E Fielding
WTC Prestatyn 1975
Dorothy Winton, Val Evans, Audrey Bennett, Kitty Collins, Jean Hughes, Jennie Price,
Betty Evans, Gray Francis, Claire Bell
WTC Conway 1989 (with caddies)
Kate Hurd, Marilyn Davies, Shirley Slatter,
Rosemary Graham, Marjorie Williams, Gray Francis,
Margaret Williams-Jones, Rosemary Harris
WTC Monmouthshire 2005
Margaret William-Jones, Ann Boyle, Elaine Caveney, Jean Judd, Victoria Curran, Ros Llewellyn
WTC Llangollen 2017 (with caddies)
Andrea David, Keris Servini, Victoria Williams, Sarah Jones, Kelly Miller, Belinda Brown, Elaine Caveney, Audrey Wong
Over the years, various Ladies have represented The Club in many prestigious events, including Kate Phillips playing for Wales in 1999-2000.
In August 1983 Mrs Ann Boyle, played in the Ford Club Golfers Women’s Home Internationals held at Royal Lytham and St Annes. A newspaper reported that Ann, partnered by Louise Millett (Clyne) “Made a spirited recovery after being 3 down, took the lead at the long 11th before capturing three of the next four holes for an unlikely 5&3 victory.”
Mrs Margaret Williams-Jones gained many golf achievements during her many years as a member of Cardiff Golf Club and was Ladies Club Champion 8 times.
This photograph was taken in 1988 at La Manga Spain, when Margaret qualified to play in the Rover Cup.
Mrs Margaret Williams-Jones meeting Tony Jacklin
On 5th August 1999, Mrs Ros Llewellyn won the Welsh Final of Bronze Challenge Bowl at Aberystwyth GC with an impressive net score of 67
Longest Standing Lady Member
Currently, the longest standing Lady Member is Mrs Marjorie Williams who joined the Club on 1st January 1937 as a junior. All the members of her family played golf and were members at Cardiff and it was part of family life to play golf. Marjorie said that at the time of joining, she was told she was the youngest Lady to have ever played golf at the Club.
In 1958 Marjorie became Ladies Captain, a year she enjoyed very much, and it was an easy-going year without problems. She said that her husband Alan, was supportive of her. Marjorie raised money during her year and wanted to donate it to have a loo built on the 10th hole but had second thoughts as she didn’t want to be remembered as ‘The Loo Lady!’
Marjorie felt that a lot of the character of the Old Club House was lost when the new one was built. The Oak Room in the old Club House had a great atmosphere and it was there that meals were served after team matches had been played. She played in the Ladies Team for many years and represented the Club in the Welsh Team Championships. She also played golf with her husband and longed for the day to beat him but when the day eventually arrived it didn’t have the pleasure she hoped it would have had as Alan was no longer on the top of his game, but she said he was still a better player than her and a good putter.
When asked which hole stands out in Marjorie’s mind, she said that she liked the course very much, but it was the par 3, 2nd hole she found the most difficult to play and she remembers being very pleased when she worked out how to play it.
Marjorie said she feels she would have missed Cardiff Golf Club had she not been a member as she had so many good times there and there was such a lot going on and she never felt that Men were better treated than Ladies.
In 2011 Marjorie was made an honorary member.
In 2019 at the age of 95, Marjorie still attended the Club to play bridge and the former Captains Lunch.
Privilege of Office
It is obviously a privilege to be asked to be Ladies Captain of Cardiff Golf Club and this is illustrated in a quote from Mrs Elaine Caveney, “My most memorable moment in golf I think would have to be when I was asked to be Vice Captain in 2002 by Linda Jenkins the then Lady Captain. I felt it was an absolute honour to be asked as I had only been a member of the club for five years, I didn't give her an answer straight away I went home and discussed it in great length with my husband John and I was really nervous and worried about would I be capable of taking on such an important role but after about three days I told Linda I would do it.
I had a few sleepless nights but I knew I would get lots of support from both John and the ladies and I told myself you will be fine, it isn’t an easy job but very rewarding and a great pleasure to have done it.”
Elaine then took on the Captaincy for a second time in 2015.
Social Events
In the early days of Cardiff Golf Club, the Annual Dinner Dance was held in the Whitehall Rooms in the Park Hotel, Cardiff. Ladies must have made extra effort with their gowns for the occasion as every year it was reported in the Western Mail and each gown was described in detail, for example,
Mrs Joe Simpson wore a black velvet gown with ruched bretelles lined with pale pink taffeta.
In years gone by, it was important for lady golfers to be able to play bridge because if it was raining on a Tuesday, ladies would play bridge instead of golf, with Tuesday evening being a vibrant place at the Clubhouse. Claire Bell remembers the Club, “Socially, it was a lovely Club to belong to as there was always a function going on.”
Also, table tennis was very popular after golf on a Tuesday.
The Ladies social calendar has included the Turkey Supper every year since 12th January 1945. The Committee at the time was: Miss Luke, Mrs H Davies, Mrs E W Jones, Miss Black and Mrs R D Jones. They were concerned whether they would be able to hold the event the following year due to a shortage of turkeys. Unfortunately, it was not recorded how many ladies attended or the cost of the evening. It is still a very important part of the Ladies social calendar.
One evening in January the Ladies all gather together at the Golf Club for a Turkey Supper with entertainment - in years gone by the entertainment was provided by lady members themselves. It is a great evening for playing ladies and social members to come together. The evening has been so popular that there have even been occasions when performing artists (Lady Members) have been unable to book tickets as they had sold out.
For many years the evening had a cabaret performance by the Ladies of the section who would put in many hours rehearsing as ‘practice made perfect’. The costumes were well planned and executed, and Mrs Gray Francis, Mrs Barbara Radcliffe and Mrs Muriel Lewis choreographed the performances for quite some time. In more recent years outside entertainment has been provided by the Ladies Captain.
It is obviously a privilege to be asked to be Ladies Captain of Cardiff Golf Club and this is illustrated in a quote from Mrs Elaine Caveney, “My most memorable moment in golf I think would have to be when I was asked to be Vice Captain in 2002 by Linda Jenkins the then Lady Captain. I felt it was an absolute honour to be asked as I had only been a member of the club for five years, I didn't give her an answer straight away I went home and discussed it in great length with my husband John and I was really nervous and worried about would I be capable of taking on such an important role but after about three days I told Linda I would do it.
I had a few sleepless nights but I knew I would get lots of support from both John and the ladies and I told myself you will be fine, it isn’t an easy job but very rewarding and a great pleasure to have done it.”
Elaine then took on the Captaincy for a second time in 2015.
Past Captains Competition and Lunch
There is also a Past Lady Captains Dinner that Miss Claire Bell set up during her year as Captain in 1973, which comprises of a competition for those ladies still playing, followed by lunch.
Charity Coffee Morning
The Ladies Annual Coffee Morning was held for many years and was a fund raiser for the Lady Captain’s Charity. Considerable sums were raised each year and it was open to the community of Cyncoed. People would queue, waiting for the doors to open, such was its popularity. Examples of the stalls were, the boutique, garden/flowers, cakes, bric-a-brac and jewellery.
The event grew bigger and bigger and was held until 2011 until it became too onerous for the Lady Captain as it could detract from her role in organising golf matters. It was agreed to hold smaller events to raise money for charity such as the Lady Captains’ Golf Day which is held annually.
ously a privilege to be asked to be Ladies Captain of Cardiff Golf Club and this is illustrated in a quote from Mrs Elaine Caveney, “My most memorable moment in golf I think would have to be when I was asked to be Vice Captain in 2002 by Linda Jenkins the then Lady Captain. I felt it was an absolute honour to be asked as I had only been a member of the club for five years, I didn't give her an answer straight away I went home and discussed it in great length with my husband John and I was really nervous and worried about would I be capable of taking on such an important role but after about three days I told Linda I would do it.
I had a few sleepless nights but I knew I would get lots of support from both John and the ladies and I told myself you will be fine, it isn’t an easy job but very rewarding and a great pleasure to have done it.”
Elaine then took on the Captaincy for a second time in 2015.
Margaret Williams-Jones & Gray Francis
Charity Golf Day in aid of Velindre Hospital
Coffee Morning 1990 Margaret Williams-Jones & Pam Naysmith
Away Day
The Ladies Away Day takes place annually. It is organised with two days of golf and an overnight stay at a golf club generally within one and a half hours driving distance of Cardiff.
There is a competition on the first day with refreshments at the half way house, after which play is sometimes compromised! Prizes are awarded at dinner in the evening. The second day is a non-competitive round before the drive back home. It is a great fun filled event.
Puckrup Hall, Ladies Away Day 2015
Elaine Caveney and Jackie Davies
Cottrell Park 2017. Extra Away Day using County Cards
Ann Boyle, Jennie Francis, Elaine Caveney, Keris Servini, Jackie Davies, Gill Jones, Victoria Williams, Megan Tiltman, Pam Ford, Kay Andrews, Jennifer Ingram-Evans