Durham County Golf Union
Est. 1908
Durham County Golf Union was founded in 1908 and has served the amateur golfing community across County Durham ever since. From its eleven founding clubs to today's 42 affiliated clubs, DCGU has been at the heart of county golf through two World Wars, the formation of the English Golf Union, and the rise of some of the game's great amateur and professional talents.
Timeline
In accordance with a circular issued by the General Purposes Committee of the Wearside Golf Club, a meeting was held on June 15th 1908. A committee was appointed to draw up regulations for a county union.
At the first Council meeting, held on July 29th 1908 at 33 West Sunniside, Sunderland, the regulations were adopted. Eleven founding clubs were elected: Seaton Carew, Dinsdale Spa, Darlington, Tyneside, Bishop Auckland, Durham City, Hartlepool, Birtley Black Fell, South Shields, Ravensworth and Wearside. Lord Durham became the first President. A.C. Patterson was appointed the first Secretary / Treasurer.
The first County Championship was held at Seaton Carew on October 10th 1908. A Gold Medal was offered to the winner; Mr A.C. Patterson of Wearside took the honours, with Mr C.K. Lindley of Seaton Carew as runner-up.
The first Annual Meeting of the Council was held on 3rd March 1909. Two more clubs were elected in 1910–11, followed by Chester-le-Street in 1912 and three more in 1913. A first County match was played in June 1909 against Northumberland at High Gosforth Park.
Two important decisions were made: each course was allocated a Standard Scratch Score, and players desiring a handicap were required to submit a minimum of 2 scores. A reduction scale was also introduced, laying the foundations of the modern handicap system.
By 1922, Seaham Harbour, Boldon, Eaglescliffe, Beamish, Castle Eden and Crook had joined. 1924 saw the birth of the English Golf Union and Durham CGU applied for membership in the same year, with Messrs Patterson and Nelson as our first representatives.
In 1930, the County Championship took on its present format of 72 holes — the same format used to this day. Immediately prior to the 1939–45 War, the Championship was dominated by Alan Harrison (3 wins) and J.V. Todd (4 wins).
Harry Ashby of Consett won the Boys Championship twice (1962 & 63), the County Championship in 1963, 73 & 86, and went on to win the English Amateur Championship in 1972 & 73, representing his country 18 times. Dr J.V. Todd became President 1963–66, later President of the English Golf Union in 1969.
Tony McLure of Whickham won the Championship 6 times, representing the County over 100 times spanning 4 decades. Alex Robertson (1985) and Richard Walker (1990 & 93) both went on to represent England. A Senior Championship was introduced in 1980, with Under-14 & Under-16 competitions following in later years.
Graeme Storm of Hartlepool became the first DCGU county player to win the British Amateur Championship and was selected for the successful Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team in 1999. His professional career included multiple European Tour victories. Callum Tarren, another product of the county programme, has since reached the very highest levels of the professional game.