BlueBell Golf Society History

History

The BlueBell society is one of the longest existing golf societies in the Manchester area. It was formed way back in 1973 at the BlueBell public house in Moston,Manchester.Some of the founding members are still active in the society and its through their efforts that it enjoys continued success today.The original membership was restricted in numbers and therefore membership became coveted and joining was a case of filling "dead mans shoes". Not so today.

Nowadays the BlueBell is based at Blackley Golf Club,Manchester,the membership is strong with around 50 playing members who maintain the original values of the gentlemens game,playing at various courses round the country.

How it all began

A small group of friends from the Moston area would meet in the Bluebell Hotel most evenings during the week. All were members of Blackley Golf Club and so decided to have a golf day out. Stand Golf Club was chosen as an appropriate venue, and the day was arranged for early September 1973.

From memory the following played:- Bernard Dunn, Ewan McIntosh, Jimmy McHugh, Derek Horner, Ged McGowan, Malcolm Black, Gordon Clarke, Ray Daniels, Bert Wall, John Foy, John Burns, Frank Osborne, Alan Garside, Jim Wilson, Jack Hurst, Mike Lupton & Stan Dawson.

The day proved to be a success and so it was decided to have other days out in 1974. Although there were not many golf societies around at the time, it was helpful to have a formal group established that would help in securing tee time slots when visiting clubs, so it was decided to formally name the Blue Bell Golf Society, It was originally thought to call it the BBB’s Golf society (or the Bluebell Boozers Golf Society) but this suggestion was soon dropped as it was thought that some Golf clubs would object to a pub group playing their course. The first formal meeting was held at St Anne’s Old, as it was felt that the course being near the coast would be more advanced in April than many inland courses, and as this proved the case the first meeting of each year was held at a seaside venue. With the founding members all being members at Blackley G.C., word got round that the Society had been formed and several other players joined. The qualification for membership being that they drunk a pint of Holts in the Bluebell! It is no coincidence that several Ex Captains of Blackley GC are members because an invitation was always extended to the club captain and professional to join us on our days out.

The strong connection that the Society has with Blackley GC was firmly established in the formative years that Blackley GC was strapped for cash and the Bluebell members wanted to help.

In a bid to raise revenue at Blackley an evening invitation game was arranged followed by a dinner at the club. This was probably the forerunner of the Blackley evening members competition the society still holds today. Of course the Charity Day is also held at the club and in 1983 the captain, Stan Dawson, organised his charity for the benefit of the Golf Club.The Annual match between Bluebell & Aerospace became another fund raising opportunity for the club as was the Bluebell AGM and presentation dinner which are also held at Blackley GC.

The first September weekend away was held in Scotland and was to celebrate the first 21 years, time flies perhaps we should be thinking of celebrating the the 40th anniversary only two years away!

Thanks to John Burns for dusting down the memory banks and providing the info.