Trophies

Thetford Golf Club Trophies

Many of the Club’s trophies are named after founding fathers or long-serving members of the Club.

The oldest is the Nunthorpe Cup, presented by the first Captain, Herbert Burrell, grandson of Charles Burrell who founded the family Traction Engineering Company in 1837. Herbert named his house in the town Nunthorpe following a big win at York races in the historic Nunthorpe Stakes. He presented a trophy with the same name in 1913. That trophy has continued to be presented for more than 100 years.

The ladies had equal standing from the formation of the club and they also have a trophy dating back to the founding year of the club. The Phillips Cup was presented by Miss C I Phillips, Ladies’ Captain in 1921.

At the 1912 meeting when the formation of a golf club was first suggested two Scotsmen who had recently moved to the town were mentioned as being prominent supporters.

It is likely that they were Archibald Oliver and Geoffrey Cowan, both doctors, who presented the Cowan & Oliver Trophy in 1921. Dr Cowan, one of the best players in the early days of the club, was the first winner of the trophy named after him.

John Fison of the Fison Fertiliser Factory which was then based at Two Mile Bottom on the outskirts of the town was a founder member, Captain in 1914 and secretary from 1915.

The Sweeting Cup was presented by the widow of the Rev R C S Sweeting, who was vicar of St Augustine’s in Thetford for 26 years until he died in 1924. It was for an annual matchplay competition open to all members, but in 1967 because of a lack of support from the ladies it was made a men’s only event. Following protestations from the ladies the rules were changed again the following year – to be contested by ladies only. It has remained the same since then.

John Benson Sidgwick, a retired tea planter in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), was Captain and later secretary of the Club, presented his trophy in 1926.

Ernest Everard Gates presented his trophy in 1929, the year he was captain. He lived at Old Buckenham Hall where the touring

Australian cricket team played a warm-up match in 1921. He had interests in show business and invited many stars of the stage to play at Thetford, including Maurice Chevalier of “Thank Heavens for Little Girls” fame.

The Club Championship trophy is named after Neville Bishop, a former dance band leader and licencee of the Anchor Hotel in Thetford. His wife presented the trophy after he died in 1968.

The Club’s singles matchplay trophy is the Cock Pheasant Trophy, a handsome silver trophy presented by George Williams in 1968. The previous year George had become the first Thetford player to win the Norfolk Amateur Championship.

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Thetford Golf Club Trophies Continued

During the Second World War and ever since the Club has had many links with Air Force personnel based at Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Shepherd’s Grove (USAF) and Honington, Feltwell, Barnham and Watton (RAF). The RAFA Trophy has been contested since the early 1960s with proceeds being donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund. When the new Clubhouse was officially opened on April 27 1980 the builders, RG Carter, presented the Carter Rose Bowl. Keith Eldred, Captain in 1971 and again in 1978, presented Keith’s Coasters for a Mixed Foursomes knock-out event.

Harry Hawker, a partner in a local firm of estate agents, won three of the spoons presented to the monthly competition winners in 1927. After his death his son Peter presented them to the Club and they are the prize for an annual competition for Country and Breckland members. The Thetford Old Boys (TOBYS) are part of the Club’s senior section and play matches v Ladies, Captain’s and President’s teams as well as many Clubs around the Eastern Region.

The Ron Barrell Trophy was first presented in 2004 to the Junior Golfer of the Year, based on a points system. Ron was Captain, President and Life Member of the Club.

In 2017 Anne McHarg, the Club’s first lady President, donated the Treetops Trophy for the winner of a Scratch Matchplay Knock-Out competition.