When the Cardiff Golf Club organised its first Annual Dance some two years after its formation in 1922, the younger bachelor members were given the impression that they would not be welcomed. So within months they had organised their own dance at the Celtic Corridor, opposite the Royal Infirmary. It was a great success with about 200 attending at 5/- each, and other dances followed, mostly at Cox’s cafe, latterly the Connaught Rooms. Golf matches were arranged and in 1926, on the initiative of Ernie Hales, a society was formed. That briefly is how the Divots Golfing Society was born.

Pat Brain was elected the first Captain in 1928 and a year later the first written records were produced, referring to the Third AGM at Pyle & Kenfig in June 1929 when Harry Bowcott was elected President. He donated what became the Bachelor Cup, first played for in that year, and even in those days when few had cars, over 50 members played, usually at P&K or Southerndown.

Shortly afterwards, rules were drawn up with an annual subscription fixed at 5/-, and the essential qualification for membership was bachelorhood. Upon marriage a member was made a Vice-president, and while he could enter competitions he could neither win a trophy, nor pay a subscription, although donations were gratefully received. Some years later it was recorded that “married men living apart from their wives, or widowers, were not eligible for membership”.

The first match with the Erratic G.S. was held at Royal Porthcawl in 1931, and continued until 1935, The Divots lost them all, despite the fact that the playing strength of the Society was greater than at any time before or since. It included four Welsh Champions in Henry Howell, Roger Chapman, David Lewis and Dick de Lloyd, backed up by Lyndon Jones, Graham Emery, Roy Glossop and Malcolm Jones - all of them internationals. The fixture was not revived until the 1990’s and is played on a biannual basis.

During the 30’s Fred Glossop moved to the Bournemouth area and he was instrumental in forming the Hazard G.S. A match was arranged between the two societies in 1938 in Cardiff with a return fixture at Broadstone the following year.

After the War, in March 1946, a General Meeting was held at the Park Hotel when it was decided to limit the membership to 60. From this time it seems that the status of Vice- President changed from that of second class citizen to one of honour, in recognition of especial service to the Society and over the years many members have been so acknowledged.

The fixture with The Hazard G.S. was resumed and at a “Coming-of-Age” dinner in January 1949 attended by about 100 members and guests the Hazard members announced their intention of presenting a trophy to mark the occasion and the Hazard Salver duly materialised. The match continued annually, home or away, until 1970 when, to the regret of many older members, it was suspended. The fixture was revived in 2000 but lasted only a few years with matches played at Porthcawl and Broadstone but again ceased through general lack of support from both sides. In its place, weekend meetings have been held each year at various sea-side courses.