The History of the SBS Golf Society has its early days deeply rooted in the early 1990’s when a number of six to ten employees and friends, of the Staffordshire Building Society, enjoyed 9 holes of golf every Thursday afternoon during their half days from work.

What followed has provided many others with days of enjoyment, over the years with four tournaments spread across the year.

Here is how it all began.

The SBS Open championship was first contested in 1994, (won by Steve Saul) as a Sunday 36 hole day affair at Wergs Golf Club in Wolverhampton. The cup was not introduced until 2000 and was first won by Paul Chafer. The 1994-96 tournaments were a stroke play matches, but this was changed for subsequent tournaments, to reduce the game times, as the entrants increased.

This is the oldest of the Majors.

The idea came, when a few managers and staff, from the Staffordshire Building Society, who used to play at Himley GC on Thursday afternoons, wanted to test themselves over a day.

Only a handful of the players had an official handicap and had noticed that the better golfers at the Staffordshire B S were invited to larger, more professional days. The Himley golfer’s, did not get invited to such days out.

Alan Newell then came up with the idea of inviting staff, friends and relatives of the Staffs BS, to an all day affair, at Wergs GC and thus the SBS Golf Society was formed.

From 2010 it was the intention to host the Open at Little Lakes as the greens are better during the summer period. Following  Covid in 2020, it was considered that the greens were  possibily  going to be distressed in 2021 at Lakes, following the lifting of restrictions. The Society organisers thought it best  to play the Classic at Lakes, instead. Chaos with buggies at that tournament ensued which made Lakes lose some of its attraction. Nevertheless, the course was booked for 2022 for the Classic, but this time the club confirmed by email, that all buggies required (12) would be available. With 4 weeks to go the Lakes had not obtained the buggies and confirmed only 6. The decision was made to move that tournament to The Shropshire and Lakes was dropped from the SBS Major circuit

The SBS Classic competition has been held since 1996 and the first was at Little Lakes Golf Club, Bewdley. The Stuart Hayward cup was introduced as the trophy for the winner and played for the first time in 1999. (First winner of cup was Steve Crowe). This followed the sad death of the 34 year old Stuart in the same year.

The common misconception is that the Classic (and the SBS Open) replaced the Black Country Financial services golf day, usually organised by Nick Rorison (Skitts) and Rob Dalziel (Beach Insurance). This tournament organised by Nick and Rob was never one of the SBS days.

In fact the Black Country Financial Services Golf Day was still held in 1996 at Little Lakes (July 1996) and was won by Alan Newell, but was not part of the SBS golf days

The course and catering so impressed Newell that he decided to organise a 2^nd Tournament to the SBS calendar (in October) at this course. This subsequently went ahead but in September not October and became the Classic. This was not its original  planned name.

 
It was originally dubbed “Wolves MBC versus Staffordshire Building Society” as the competition was organised by Alan Newell to play Darren Reads Wolverhampton Council colleagues. It became the Classic and is so named on the day’s golf cards as Darren could not muster enough players for the day and therefore the SBSGolf Society adopted it as its second yearly tournament.

It was played as a 7/8 handicap with 11 holes in the morning and 18 in the afternoon.

Therefore the Classic was first played in September 1996.

The tournament is traditionally played in September at Little Lakes, but in 2007, it was taken to Cleobury Mortimer, as the Open was played at Lakes that year.

In 2010 the Lakes lost the Classic for the second time, due to green maintenance in September at the course.

The Lakes hosted the Open from 2010 onwards  until  2019. An issue with buggies at the  2021 Classic, started a decline in the courses attraction and when in 2022 the Classic was meant to be played, at Lakes, the club could not obtain the buggies promised. Therefore the club was taken off the circuit for Major and The Shropshire was chosen for 2022 to host the Classic.

The Black Country Financial Services Golf Day was played for one more time in 1997, at Ludlow and Alan Newell won this also. However the Classic did not replace the BCFSGD, but was an addition to it.

However the players who normally attended the BCFSGD continued to attend the SBS days and the BCFSGD was disbanded in 1997.

The SBS Masters championship was first contested in 1997 and a Shield was introduced for the winner that year. It was originally to be called the Invitational but the name was changed before the day. In 2006 Craig Downes won the shield for the 3^rd time and kept it.

A Cup was introduced for 2007, but all previous players were inscribed on cup.

This competition is the first in the calendar and has been taken to different golf courses to vary the day out.

It now usually attracts the most players, following the Winter rest, when people start to think the weather may pick up.

In 2022, following the expulsion of Little Lakes from the circuit for Majors, it was decided that the Masters would always be played at Bewdley Pines every year. Not only did this allow for one competion to be played, always at one course, Bewdley Pines is drier than most and this is helpful in April, when the weather can be unpredictable

The Invitational was originally first played in 1998 as an intermediary based tournament, to the SBS Majors.

It is the 4^th and youngest of the Majors and is sponsored by the SBS golf society

Ian Ratcliffe (CIS) and Alan Newell (SBS) picked sides (usually no more than 6 players each). 

The tournament became a ¾ handicap (maximum 24 handicap) stableford, which gives it its Major tag. It has been dubbed as “the old chums invitational” before now, but has not been known by that name since it appeared on the pm golf cards for the 2001 Wrekin competition                                                     

The Players Championship was originally first played on 5th November 2012 and won by Rich Fellows It was and always has been an 18 hole tournament and was introduced because members wanted to have one last day out before the end of the year. Given the amount of time between the next years start in April it was envisaged that the day would be just a one off.  However the members wanted the day to stay in the programme and now The prestigeous Enville golf club is the home to the Players every November time. Mainly because it is so dry and playable. It is not a Major tournament as there has to be 27 holes for that, although on three occasions due to cancellations due to weather and timing, the Invitational has been played over 18 holes. It did still retain the major tag though.

The Players has become known as the 5th Unofficial major and is a very prestigeous torunament given the difficulty of Enville

Facts. 

Major competitions now consist of an 18 hole 7/8 handicap, stableford tournament.

Maximum 36 handicap. this was changed from July 2021 following a shake up by the World Handicap system. this used to be 28 when it was changed for the new season at the 2013 Classic at The Shropshire.
Golfers who have a true club handicap or where the Society have records to show a 36 handicap will be given up to the 36 maximum. Newcomers to the Society will still have to play off maximum 24 but can increase through the system when they play. The challenge used to be a 24 maximum from around 2003 but with better scoring and handicap records 28 - 3/4 handicap was allowed once more for the new 2013/2014 season.

Although the days usually have 27 holes and team games, it is the 18 holes 7/8 handicap max 28 now (24 previously) that gives a Major its signature.

A rookie is a player who has never played in a an SBS day before

Only the Masters remains as a competition where no rookie has ever won

      Golf day history

1996 Classic (Little Lakes)

It was originally dubbed “Wolves MBC versus SBS” as the competition was organised by Alan Newell to play Darren Reads Wolverhampton Council colleagues. It became the Classic and is so named on the day’s golf cards as Darren could not muster enough players for the day and therefore the SBSGS adopted it as its second yearly tournament.

It was played as a 7/8 handicap with 11 holes in the morning and 18 in the afternoon.

Therefore the Classic was first played in October 1996.

The game we now know as Lotto or any other thing the daft organisers think of, is thought to have originated at this tournament

1997 Open (Wergs)

Mark Jones makes his first appearance at the SBS society days. He came as a guest of Frank Calleia and later on went on to become famous for his assistance to Alan Newell. He is the Society marker and quiz master of ceremonies. He scored 11 points over 9 holes and a creditable 34 points in the pm 18 holes, that day. 27 players took part

1998 Masters (Church Stretton)

This was the day of cold weather. It had snowed during April and with less than 3 days to go before the competition there was still snow in the high parts of this hilly course. This did clear and Steve Saul had to finish early in the afternoon, because he said “I have got hyperthermia”

Very unlikely but funny

 
1999 Classic (Little Lakes).

The first time the Stuart Hayward cup was played for. This was also the first and last time the Society cut players handicaps for the afternoon.

The idea was dreamt up by Frank Calleia. As there was to be 11 holes in the morning, anyone scoring over 22 points (11 net pars per hole) would be cut by 0.5 for every point over 22points.

The angry player who lost out by one point at the end of the day was, as expected Frank Calleia.

He was cut by 4 shots as he overwhelmed the morning field with 30 points.

He lost by just 1 point to Steve Crowe.

2004 Invitational (Wergs)

Alan Newell collapses before play and is rushed to hospital and this is the only day he has not taken part in

He did return for the evening dinner to present the prizes

2004 Classic (Little Lakes)

Team J made up of Julian Lowe, Rory Daly, Jason Maybury and Colin Viner finish in the dark, a good half an hour behind everyone else, even though they did not go out last.

This was known as the miners Classic

2006 Masters (Cleobury Mortimer)

This was the first time the infamous daft Green jacket was awarded. As this tournament is called the Masters the jackets were purchased for a laugh and take the ridicule out of the winner. Two were purchased, deliberately small to look stupid and are essentially green maintenance jackets, not blazers. The previous winner should award the jacket to the new winner, just as in the Augusta Masters.

As the winner of the 2005 Masters could not attend, Mark Jones (acting on behalf of the defending champion) awarded the first ever winner the Green Jacket to Craig Downes

2008 Open (Great Barr)

James Bache wins the Open for first time and is awarded a stupid Claret jug which is just an old plastic purple glass with another glass stuck on top. It has never been awarded since.

Incidentally, James’ father Phil won the 2010 Open to set up the first father and son winners. Both won the Open

This 2008 open was also the day Davy Jones collapsed in the clubhouse and Martin Wright collapsed on the 16^th tee such was the heat that day

2009 Masters (Sapey Golf Club).

This was the first time the Society visited Sapey. The course was in wonderful condition, but the morning was marred by some hefty rain showers. Mike Bache, who particularly hates the rain started his morning session in rain and then had to play 4 holes, in the same stuff in the afternoon, before the sun beat down on the players.

Richard Fellows at long last broke his duck and won with 38 points off ¾ of 18.

Apart from some argy bargy with a couple of teams complaining about slow play, with each other, the day passed with out problems.

44 people entered and 43 people played, with Bill Snaith getting lost. A very low percentage of the people actually stayed for dinner at night. 10 people left without eating dinner.

2009 Open - at Druids Heath

Another boiler for conditions and with no buggies available, the players were fagged out at the end. It was a first for the SBS golf day at Druids and the competitive price available was only made possible by the kind intervention of Andy (the shirt) Smith who negotiated the deal. He being a member there.

2009 Invitational - Penn

What a surprise we had for this one. Alan Newell won his 4^th Invitational at the age of 52, which took his tally of majors to 10.

2009 Classic – at Little Lakes

This day proved yet again how popular this course is. The problem however came with the greens again, which despite assurances from the course, that they would not be under going treatment, were in subject to maintenance. It was decided that, rather than take this course off the list, the Open or the Invitational should be used for the venue.

2010 Masters – at Cleobury Mortimer

40 players took the field for this day. Considering the country was still in the grips of a recession this was a great turnout. No fewer than 16 regulars could not make the day though.

Most of these were financial advisors who were suffering from new approval due to a change in regulator and some from the Ashby London chaps, who had other commitments.

The day passed without incident with Lee Crooke winning his first Masters and 3^rd Major.

2010 Open – Little Lakes

40 Players took the field again for this day. After a boiling hot June, July looked to be a wash out as it rained for two weeks solid prior to the day. However, the day was basked in sunshine and everyone had a tremendous day.

No fewer than 5 Rookies took the field, expanding the Golf Society.

After years of trying, Phil Bache won the Championship which his son had previously won in 2008, becoming the first family related pair to achieve the feat, for a Major.

Alan Newell, birdied the last two holes playing off ¾ of 8 (6) to score a 36 and finish second. 

2010 Classic – The Shropshire

32 players took the field which was the smallest field recorded for some years.

A collection of poor date (1^st Sept) and the recession meant that the field suffered.

 
Usually the Classic is the last of the year’s competitions, but the first which qualifies for the next year Order of Merit. However Ian Ratcliffe who usually jointly organises the Invitational competition with Alan Newell, was unavailable due to a new business venture and the Invitational was postponed until October at Little Lakes

The weather was perfect for Golf, following a terrible August and at one time, it was felt that buggies would not be allowed on the course, because of the intense rain in the weeks before.

Shane Morrison successfully defended his trophy, becoming the first to defend the Classic.

2010 Invitational – Little Lakes

This was held in October (12^th) this time round instead of the usual summer date.

The usual small amount of entrants were admitted (around 16)

The event was won by Mark Swales, making this his first ever Major win.

As events transpired everyone had a great day and yet again. The event should have been the 3^rd out of the four qualifiers for the Merit, but because it turned out to be the last, the final figures for the years Order of merit, were calculated over dinner and the cup awarded there and then.

2011 Masters Worfield

This was another dry but windy day at Worfield with a field of 47.

Once again a first time winner prevailed, with Roger Swinderman taking the honours with 38 points.

However as Roger has attended many of our days, the Masters has still not seen a rookie (first time player winning this trophy)

2011 Invitational Penn

Mark Jones won his 3^rd major when he beat the standard scratch score by 14 points (gross)

He scored 36 points net of ¾ of 15.

The day saw 24 players start, but this was whittled down, when Bill Snaith retired at lunch time, because of a family accident. Mark swales retired after 8 of the afternoon holes with a sickness bug.

The day was warm with a few heavy sunny showers.

2011 Open Little Lakes

Little Lakes never disappoints us and so it was again. Some new buggies were on show this time but were airport things, which made holding the clubs on a nightmare.

41 players took part, but only 40 finished. Steve Knott injured his leg on the 10^th.
James Newell walked into a tree, on the 2^nd hole and finished with a black eye and cut face.

 
Three players ended the day on 34 points with Phil Billingham winning the trophy on count back.
This was the first Major won by Phil. Paul Tristram finished 2^nd and Mike Smith 3^rd

5 other players were a point back on 33

Jason Maybury picked up the Order of merit trophy with 66.5 points. This is the first time this has been awarded at the Open ceremony. 

The day was warm and sunny, with players eating and drinking outside

2011 Classic Cleobury Mortimer

30 players took part

This day will always be remembered for the dreadful wind which affected the course. As the country was gripped in 70 to 80 mile per hour winds, the gusts of over 40mph at Cleobury made life very difficult indeed. A very low score of 32 points only won the day as a result.

This was the tournament which saw Ian Willcox, entertain his team mates by completely smashing over a small tree (6 foot high) with a buggy.