About Us

SDGA SUMMARY

Representing SDGA as U-18 Summer League winners at Caldy GC on Sunday 11th September,  Southport Old Links GC U-18 Team won the 2022 North West England Champions League. The Champions League pits the leading Junior teams from Cheshire, Merseyside and SDGA clubs in a one day event to find the champion club.

Left to right: Sam Duckworth; Will Ashcroft; Ella Currie (Team Captain); Fin Currie; Owen Marlowe

Introduction:

Tracing its roots to 1968, SDGA has managed inter-club and inter-regional golf across five sections at Scratch, Handicap, Mixed, Under 18 and Senior levels to the benefit of thousands of golfers throughout the West Lancashire plain and North West England.

The following summarises SDGA’s evolution from a single Scratch Winter League to today’s multi-layered Golf Association.

SDGA Aims & Mission:

  • To provide organisation and management of inter-club golf matches and events for the enjoyment of amateur status golfers, irrespective of age or gender
  • To introduce young people to the game of golf, assist their development and provide encouragement through inter-club and representational golf
  • To assist in the personal and sporting development of young people by providing the necessary support to maximise their potential

SDGA Guiding Principles:

  • Provide leadership and organisational ability in the management of inter-club golf
  • Uphold the best traditions of golf as laid down by the R&A and USGA, acting as ambassadors for the good of the game
  • Maintain a close working relationship with LUGC and other administrative bodies, as appropriate
  • Promote inter-club and inter-regional golf at Association level to sustain and help grow the game
  • Support member clubs generate income and utilisation of facilities
  • Maintain a non-profit making and  re-investment policy

Values:

  • Enjoyment
  • Camaraderie and friendship
  • Goodwill
  • Physical and mental stimulation through competitive golf
  • Health and well being

Early years:

SDGA was initially formed in 1968 as the Southport & District Scratch Winter League by Sports Editor, Joe Moore, under the auspices of the Southport Visiter Series Newspapers. The Visiter aimed to encourage local golf clubs to remain competitive during the close season via a single league.

Following Joe Moore’s passing in 1969 the league continued until 1971 when an informal ‘Get-together’ was organised by Michael Edwards (S&A GC) and John McAllister MBE (Past Captain, Hillside GC), run at Hillside GC as the culmination of the winter league.

Following the success of this inaugural ‘Get-together’, S&A GC hosted the first Scratch Team Tournament in 1972 managed by Keith Hick (Hesketh GC).

A managing committee of Scratch Team Captains was established the same year under the Chairmanship of Michael Edwards, with Keith Hick appointed Secretary to manage the league and team tournament.

Scratch Section:

Seven local clubs comprising Hesketh, Hillside, Ormskirk, S&A, Southport Old Links, Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire played 5-a-side singles over the winter period. Two additional clubs, Formby (1971) and Penwortham (1974), were to join. A Summer  foursomes KO was added in 1980 and the Harold Swash Trophy in 1985. It is fair to say S&A GC dominated SDGA for many years with such outstanding players as Dr David Marsh, Geoff Roberts, Dixon Rawlinson, Tom Hiley, Jackie Wroe, Donald Forsyth, Vivien Thomas and Michael Edwards to draw upon. The Liverpool Daily Post & Echo sponsored a Merseyside Championship for several years, inviting the leading teams from SDGA, the Wirral and Liverpool area to a one day event. SDGA also competed successfully in the LUGC Scratch League.

U 18 Section:

Following a suggestion by Michael Edwards, a U-18 Section summer league was established in 1989 with Harry Tunnicliffe appointed Section Secretary. SDGA partook in the LUGC Junior League, winning a hat-trick of titles in 2015/16/17. The Michael Edwards Trophy is competed for annually to find the SDGA U-18 champion golfer. Meritorious achievement, either on the golf course, or overcoming a personal life/health-related challenge, is also recognised with the annual award of the G P Roberts Trophy. The winners of these titles are invited to play in the Handicap Team Tournament as recognition of their achievements.

Winners of the SDGA U-18 Summer League represent SDGA in the North West Champions League Final against golf clubs from the Wirral and Cheshire (see lead photo). SDGA also competes annually in the Lancashire Golf Associations Junior Team Championship.

Handicap Section:

Responding to several requests from member clubs, the Handicap Section was introduced in 1992. Two leagues compete over the Summer with a season-ending Team Tournament and prize presentation.

Seniors Section:

An annual match, initially between Lancashire County Seniors, now Lancashire Super Seniors, and SDGA Seniors was introduced in 2009 following a request from the County Seniors Secretary. This 12-a-side match is hosted in alternate years by SDGA and a club throughout Lancashire.

Mixed Section:

Initial interest was shown over twenty years ago culminating in the Mixed Section being introduced in 2014..A Summer league and team tournament form the basis for this section.

County level representational matches:

Following cessation of the annual LUGC match against Ulster, Michael Edwards and John B Dickinson (Hindley Hall) trialled a 12-a-side match hosted by S&A in 1984 between SDGA, captained by John Nichol (S&A) and the Rest of Lancashire/LUGC. Today this match forms the first County match in the LUGC annual calendar. SDGA is viewed by LUGC as the strongest of the Lancashire golf associations,

Selected notable players:

  • David Eccleston (Ormskirk): Amateur Championship Runner-up; 100 appearances for LUGC
  • Tommy Fleetwood (S&A/Formby Hall): World Number 1 Amateur; Multiple European Tour winner; Open Championship Runner-up; US Open Runner-up; PGA Tour member; DP Tour member; Ryder Cup player
  • Nick Doherty (Formby): Twice World Junior Champion; Multiple European Tour winner; SKY TV Golf presenter
  • Lee Slattery (Hesketh): Multiple European Tour winner: European/DP Tour member
  • Matthew Baldwin (Hesketh/Royal Birkdale): European Tour member; European/DP Challenge Tour member
  • Hollie Muse (West Lancashire): Full Ladies’ International at age 14

Governance:

Michael Edwards established the first Committee in 1972, “modelled upon the R&A”, comprising Scratch Team Captains, chaired by himself, inviting Keith Hick as Secretary. As SDGA evolved, a Treasurer was appointed and representatives, able and willing to devote time to SDGA matters, were secured from each member club. A Steering Committee was introduced, meeting as required. The SDGA Executive Committee meet pre-season annually and as required.

The SDGA Profile and Calendar of Events refers.

Management:

Management of SDGA affairs is entrusted to the Executive Committee:-

Chairman                                          Harry Tunnicliffe                            West Lancashire

Vice-Chairman                                 Allan Harrison                                 Southport & Ainsdale

President & Executive Secretary   Keith Hick                                         Hesketh

Treasurer                                           Jeff Cummins                                  Hesketh

Executive Members                         Matthew Cox                                  Royal Birkdale

Ditto                                        Alan Whittle (Handicap)                Ormskirk       

Ditto                                        Neil Dalton (U-18)                           West Lancashire

Ditto                                        Mark Segar                                       Southport Old Links

Ditto                                        Roger Exley (Mixed)                      Southport Old Links

Ditto                                        Paul Cook (Scratch)                      Hillside

Ditto                                        John Sciarrini (Scratch)               Hillside

Ditto                                        Paul Stanley (Web Master)           Southport & Ainsdale

Ditto                                        Mal Morton                                       Formby

Ditto                                        Alan Bolton                                      Penwortham

Ditto                                        Antony Eden                                       Southport & Ainsdale

Steering, Match and Sub-Committees, drawn from Team Captains/Junior Organisers, acts at Scratch, Handicap, Mixed, Senior and Junior levels, together with members of the Executive Committee, to co-ordinate activities in their respective sections. The SDGA Organisation Chart refers. A Team Captain is appointed annually to oversee representational matches.

Executive Members are tasked with forming an efficient and effective liaison with their respective clubs.

Section AGMs:

Section Secretaries are responsible for managing their respective AGMs.

Catchment area:

Golf clubs located in Southport and the West Lancashire Plain, reaching the boundaries of Liverpool, Preston and as far inland as Bickerstaffe form SDGA’s geographical area. Applications from golf clubs in the Wirral and the Lancashire hinterland have been received and politely declined. However, SDGA member clubs continue to attract elite golfers from inland golf clubs wishing to maintain their competitive edge during the close season.

SDGA Chairmen:

Michael Edwards                 (1972-1983; Past Captain S&A GC; Past President LUGC; North Ireland Champion 1956/57; Irish Close Champion 1960/62)

George Sutton                      (1983-1993; Past Captain, Southport Old Links GC)

Danny Garforth JP              (1993-2003; Past Captain Ormskirk GC; Past Captain of Captains Liverpool Society of Golf Captains; Past President LUGC)

Harry Tunnicliffe                  (2003-to date; West Lancashire GC; Past Captain West Lancashire GC; Immediate Past President LUGC)

Communication:

The monthly NEWSLETTER, introduced in 1972, is complemented by the following:

  • MAJOR EVENTS & TOURNAMENTS POSTER
  • SDGA PROFILE & CALENDAR OF EVENTS
  • SDGA ORGANOGRAM
  • SDGA 10 YEAR ROLLING MATRIX
  • ANNUAL MAJOR EVENTS WINNERS & RESULTS SCHEDULE
  • SDGA ROLL OF HONOUR 1968 – TO DATE
  • SDGA TIMELINE
  • SDGA WEBSITE

The future:

The following SDGA Papers refer:

  • SDGA STRATEGY & FORWARD PLAN – SCOPING PAPER
  • ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL CLUBS

Conclusion:

Hundreds, if not thousands of club members have benefitted from the enjoyment provided by SDGA leagues, representational matches and events over the years. Golfing culture and finances surrounding the game are rapidly changing and SDGA must embrace and lead change in equal measure. As an Association, we have the inherent skills and awareness to build upon the pioneering success of the past fifty plus years.

In an era when golf  haemorrhaged numbers pre-pandemic, to the pandemic-induced growth in club membership, SDGA must continue to display astutely managed ambition to help sustain and grow the game, led by an emphasis upon the next generation.

Harry Tunnicliffe                                                                Keith Hick

Chairman                                                                              President & Executive Secretary               

5th October 2022