ROYAL AIR FORCE GOLFING SOCIETY

The RAF Golf Association (RAFGA) provides 2 main functions: firstly, it governs the conduct of organised golf within the RAF and secondly it provides, through its Membership Scheme, personal insurance and other benefits. A completely independent organisation is the RAF Golfing Society (RAFGS) which operates as a traditional golf society, providing a very healthy fixture list of events for members to participate in. The history of the RAFGS makes interesting reading....

Formed in 1921, the RAFGS has 435 Full Members and 25 Affiliated Members. Full Membership, at an annual subscription of £20, is open to serving and former Members of the RAF, WRAF and WAAF who have a bona fide handicap. There is no distinction between serving and retired Members and rank makes no difference. Full Members' near relatives, such as wives, husbands, children and parents, are eligible to become Affiliated Members at an annual subscription of £5. There is no joining fee and new members are always welcome. The Society is run by a committee of 9, elected at the AGM. The RAFGS has a fixture list which is the envy of many societies. The annual programme consists of 6 Meetings, 1 Tour, 3 Competitions and 19 Matches. Many, but not all events are located within 70 miles of London. All the courses have excellent reputations and the Society has enjoyed a long association with many of the golf clubs. Consequently, each day’s golf represents outstanding value for money.

The Meetings all include 2 rounds of golf competing for splendid trophies engraved with names such as Douglas Bader and Henry Cotton; the costs range from approximately £55-£85 per day. The morning round is either 18 Holes Medal or Stableford with Foursomes or Greensomes after lunch. Current locations include: Rutland, Notts/Lincs, Berks, Yorks and Hants. A Guest Meeting is held in the Thames Valley. The Scottish Tour consists of 72 holes of Stableford played over 4 consecutive days on different courses alongside the Moray Firth. Optional Greensomes/Foursomes are played in the afternoon.

The Society is usually invited to enter 2 competitions or Category 1 golfers – the Brent Knoll Bowl at Burnham & Berrow, and the Graham Butler Scratch Foursomes at Ferndown. These attract some of the best golfers in Southern England and our teams are normally selected from serving members. The Society also enters a team in The Lord Deramore Battle of Britain Trophy, played in alternate years at Fulford and Easingwold.

The matches are against a range of golf clubs and societies. Events are coordinated by Match Organisers who select the team and liaise with the opposition. In the club matches, our members do not pay green fees but instead pay £15 to the RAFGS to help offset the cost of the matches against societies. The usual format is 2 rounds of Betterball or Foursomes with either lunch or dinner, though some matches are played over just one round. Team sizes vary from 8-14. We play at the following clubs: West Hill, Henley, Sonning, Hunstanton, Royal Cinque Ports, Worplesdon, North Hants, Rye, Huntercombe and Moor Park. We also play matches against: the RAF team at Woodhall Spa; the AERO GS at West Byfleet; the Army Officers GS at Walton Heath; the RAF Halton Apprentices GS at Frilford Heath; the RNGS at West Sussex; the Senior GS at Woking; the RAF Medical GS at Gerrards Cross, and the Honourable Artillery Company GS at Temple.

• Click here to see the 2012 Fixture List.
• The first Military Golfing Aviators Centenary celebrations - 17 May 12 at Upavon GC. Teams of 4 are invited. Ex RAF members are very welcome for this great day.
• RAFBF Charity Golf Day - 25 May 12 at Littlehampton GC. Teams of 4 invited.....
• RAFGS Scratch Champions since 1922.

Contacting the RAFGS

The Hon Sec of the RAFGS is Gp Capt (retd) Roger Carr, to whom general enquiries and applications for membership should be made: roger.carr1@btinternet.com

Ordering RAFGS Ties and Knitwear

A selection of ties and knitwear, emblazoned with the RAFGS logo, are available at very reasonable prices. See details and the UPDATED 2012 order form