Harrogate Area
Rabbit Golf Association
Mission
To stimulate, promote and encourage competitive golf for players with a WHS Handicap Index of 15 and higher who are:
Subscribing / Playing members of the constituent member clubs of the Harrogate Area (YRGA)
Members of their own Rabbit Sections
To have its own Officers and Council responsible for arranging Rabbit golf competitions, inter-club and inter-area matches, and social functions.
To operate within the constitution and rules of the Yorkshire Rabbit Golf Association.
2023 HARGA President's Message
Welcome to HARGA 2024
It is a great honour and a privilege to be President of HARGA in 2024. I would like to thank my home club Knaresborough for the support they are giving for my year in office, and the Rabbits Committee for nominating me as President.
Having been Vice President in 2023 I now appreciate how much effort goes into the role of President. So I thank Phil Grant, my predecessor, for doing such a fine job. He has set the bar very high for me this year.
I have been involved in Rabbits Golf since 2006 when I played my first friendly and I was Rabbit Captain in 2014. Since being Rabbit’s Captain I have been involved in HARGA since then.
My career has not been especially stellar in terms of trophies won along the way. What I have won however is a lot of good friends in HARGA and YRGA, and for me this is more important than trophies.
My hopes for this year are that we all continue to play golf in the true Rabbits tradition. That our members continue to support HARGA and YRGA competitions with the enthusiasm they have done in the past, and lastly I get to play with as many HARGA rabbits as possible this season.
Geoff Fitchett
Knaresborough GC
2024 HARGA President
2024 HARGA Officers
Vice President
Bill Barnett
Ripon City GC
Secretary
Keith Lewis
Thirsk and Northallerton GC
Competition Secretary
Andy Robinson
Rudding Park GC
Treasurer
Ian Jeal
Ripon City GC
Communications & Press Officer
Jeff Loveday
Masham GC
HARGA News
HARGA Invitational Tee-Times
Sunday September 22nd, Oakdale GC
2024 HARGA Autumn Invitational Tee-Times (without CDH).pdfHARGA Annual Dinner Registration
Friday October 25th, Knaresborough GC
See the Invite BelowUse the Following Link to Register for this Event
HARGA League Results
August 31st
The League Tables Below Show The Final Standings!Firstly, huge recognition and thanks to all those who worked so hard to get 100% of the matches played before the August 31st deadline - this was the largest number of matches we have played in the HARGA League (112). Also special recognition to Andy Robinson, HARGA Competition Secretary, for so quickly compiling and checking the results. His efforts to keep everyone informed on matches to be played in the final weeks have been very successful.
Congratulations to Otley on their convincing win in Section A and also congratulations to Catterick on a much closer win in Section B. These two clubs will receive their Division Trophies at the 2024 Annual HARGA Dinner at Knaresborough on October 25th and before the dinner, conditions permitting, they will play for the Kershaw Trophy.
The runner-up clubs in Division A, Knaresborough, and Division B, Rudding Park will play for the new Loveday-Reveley Plate also before the Annual Dinner, weather permitting.
Section A Table - Final.pdfSection B Table - Final.pdfHARGA V Wakefield Area Match,
Tuesday 27th August 2024
It was a gloomy day that met all 16 players from HARGA as they stepped from their cars at Wath Golf Club to play their last Area match against Wakefield.
However, after a bacon buttie and a cup of coffee in the club house before the game, spirits were raised.
Then, following the pairing up of the couples from each Area by the respective Presidents, in the case of HARGA, vice president, Bill Barnett, standing in for President Geoff Fitchett, the 4 balls began dispersing to the 1st Tee to begin their games.
The course was in excellent condition, the fairways and greens worthy of special note, although, the par 3, 15th, across the pond, is a bit deceptive! Whoever dredges that stretch of water will be made for life!!!
The course definitely favoured the big hitters (provided they hit straight, of course!)
Certainly, it helped the two Wakefield lads who were playing in the last 4ball (said with painful memories.)
That said, everybody agreed, the spirit of Rabbits golf was much in evidence on the course and continued in the club house over a very fine pork and/or turkey carvery followed by a splendid apple crumble or chocolate fudge cake pudding.
After the food came the words from first, the Wakefield President, John Bryan, who gave credit to the friendliness and good company of our HARGA lads and secondly, from Bill, who likewise spoke well of the spirit in which the Wakefield Rabbits played, as well as thanking Mike Burton (Kna) for stepping in literally at the last moment for Derrick Howell, who, everybody wished for a speedy recovery, before announcing the result of the day’s match and handing the trophy over to the Wakefield President.
Wakefield won 41/2 to 31/2
Thanks to all who played and put up a good show.
Jeff Loveday
Publicity & Communications Officer
HARGA Vice President Bill Barnett presenting the trophy to Wakefield President John Bryan
YRGA Committee Cup
August 19th
Congratulations to Kevin Dwyer of HARGA, the winner of the YRGA Committee Cup at Ryburn Golf Club with a score of 37 points.
Immediate Past President's Trophy
Results
Oakdale GC, August 15th
Results: Congratulations to Otley
1st. Otley: 72pts
2nd. Heworth: 67pts
3rd. Bedale: 64pts
4th. Skipton: 63pts
5th. Masham: 62pts
6th. Pike Hills: 61pts
7th = Ripon: 60pts
7th = Romanby: 60pts
9th = Thirsk & Northallerton: 59pts
9th = Harrogate: 59pts
11th Rudding Park: 58pts
12th = Knaresborough: 52pts
12th = Wetherby: 52pts
14th. Oakdale: 40pts (Only one counting score)
Kind regards,
Phil Grant, Immediate Past HARGA President
HARGA vs Leeds & District Rabbits Golf Association
Thursday August 1st, Woodhall Hills Golf Club
It was a wet start to the day which, by the time coffee and bacon butties had been consumed at Woodhall Hills GC, the venue for HARGA’s match against Leeds District, the sun had made itself known and had raised the temperature to 24+0C.
With the earlier rain it made for slightly humid conditions but with a little breeze, it was just bearable for some of the elder rabbits, (no names mentioned!)
A full complement of 12 HARGA rabbits were present for the game but only after President Geoff Fitchett, with Keith Lewis’s help, had sent out emails asking for all those on the reserve list to play, but as always, the support was there eventually.
Woodhall Hills is aptly named, as was soon realised by those who hadn’t played the course previously, it is very hilly. Even those that had played it before found it tiring in the searing temperatures, especially the long slog up to the 15th tee from the 14th green.
One of our team (no names) tried a bit of mountaineering on his new 4 wheel buggy to his cost but fortunately managed a marvellous escape without injury to himself or his machine!
That aside, the course was in splendid condition with spectacular 3600 views of the surrounding area and of course, coupled with the good humour of our hosts, it made for a great afternoon’s game of golf.
A very tasty meal greeted us in the club house with a well stocked bar to quench all our thirsts.
Andy Shepherd, the Leed’s President, in his after-dinnerspeech, thanked the HARGA lads for their excellent company throughout the day’s proceedings and made mention of the spirit of rabbits golf being ever present, to which all agreed.
In his response, President Geoff reiterated all that Andy had said, agreeing that the “spirit” of rabbits golf was a very special thing, to which, again, all agreed.
Thanks go to:
Geoff Fitchett, Jeff Loveday, Simon Hunt, Brian Stockdale, Nigel Jones, Bill Smith, Bill Barnett, Dave Birch, Granville Miller. Andy Robinson, Martin Denbigh and Peter Wildash
for representing HARGA and putting on such a good show only losing by one game, with five of the gamesbeing either won, lost or drawn on the last hole
In conclusion, Geoff conceded a result to Leeds of 3.5 to 2.5
Jeff Loveday
Publicity & Communications Officer
President Geoff Congratulating the Leeds President on Their Close Win
HARGA Plowright Trophy Result
Howley Hall GC, July 11th
The HARGA Team had a very good result in the prestigious YRGA Plowright Trophy event held at Howley Hall on July 11th. We finished overall 2nd with 198 points, only 5 points behind Bradford who were the winners with 203 points. The team representing HARGA was:
Anthony Bretherick (Knaresborough GC)
Frank Foy (Thirsk & Northallerton GC)
Fraser Marshall (Romanby GC)
Gary Smith (Pike Hills GC)
Jeff Loveday (Masham GC)
John Danby (Wetherby GC)
Mike Burton (Knaresborough GC)
Nigel Jones (Pike Hills GC)
Keith Lewis
HARGA Secretary
HARGA vs Flamborough Area
Heworth GC, July 10th
After a very wet Tuesday the Heworth team did a great job making the course fit for play on Wednesday. The arrangmeents for this fixture were very hastily re-arranged to enable everyone to get home in-time for compelling Engalnd versus Netherlands Euro semi-final. This resulted in an earlier than planned start off of mutiple tees. It was a fine very match with honours evenly shared in a honorable draw, A big thanks to all those non-regulars we filled-in for us on the day (you know who you are!).
Keith Lewis
HARGA Secretary
Summary of the Summer Quarterly Meeting
Skipton Golf Club, July 4th, 2024
& Cyril Jones Pairs Results
We had an excellent quarterly meeting at Skipton Golf Club who were hosting a HARGA Event for the first time. The golf was extremely challenging due to a tough course with heavy rough (the USGA would have been proud!) combined with very strong westerly winds and and for a while "summer showers" that felt more like horizontal rain. Consequently most scores were on the lower end of the spectrum and the course "earned" quite a few errent balls. Nevertheless, some played outstanding golf with Brian Stockdale having the highest individual score with an excellent 37 Stableford points. However, due to the "blind pairs" format, the winners on the day with 66 points was Past President Phil Grant and Nigel Jones. Keith Lewis got nearest to the pin on the 12th.
Following the golf we were served an excellent dinner of cottage pie (one of the best I have ever had!) and peas followed by a delicious dessert which was a fitting treat for our "birthday boys" Dave Birch and Mel Goody who joined us for a day out despite it being their special day (full marks for getting their priorities right!)
Following the dinner we had the Quarterly Meeting. The meeting was opened with a few moving words from Phil Grant recognising the contributions and golfing career of Ken Richardson who sadly passed away shortly after the Spring Meeting. For a full report of the meeting and the Proposals that were passed see the draft minutes which will be posted in the Council Workspace in the next week.
Here is a photo collage showing a few highlights of the day including the presentation of the Cyril Jones salvers, the first tee conditions and usual banter between the meeting participants.
Keith Lewis
HARGA Secretary
HARGA vs Halifax and Huddersfield Area
Masham GC, June 11th
The well-known golf journalist and commentator, Peter Allis, once described Masham Golf Club as being “The Jewel in the Crown”, a name that Masham has lived up to on many an occasion.
Last Tuesday was no exception when it hosted the HARGA v Halifax and Huddersfield District Rabbits Golf Association (HHDRGA).
The day promised rain from midday-ish but, in reality, it held off until most folks were nearly finishing their last hole.The course was in prime condition with a good run of the ball on the fairways, the rough not too rough for us Rabbits, and the greens, fast-ish, but with pin placements in some difficult positions.Some found the tightness of the course a little challenging but those from HARGA who know the course well did not find it too much of a problem.
The day began with the traditional, coffee and bacon butties, when everybody got to pick up with old friendships made over the years.
There were seven fourballs altogether, and with the advantage of a multi-tee start, most fours were coming in around about the same time, so there wasn’t too long to wait for Pam’s sumptuous buffet with her cheese cake and cream pudding, being the “icing on the cake”!
Along with Helen’s well stocked bar of the locally brewed beers, the “apres golf” went down extremely well.
HARGA President, Geoff Fitchett, thanked Maham for hosting the day, his playing partners for a great game and hoped everybody else had enjoyed their day. Glasses were then raised to toast the Halifax and Huddersfield lads.The deputising President for the visitors, Gareth, thanked his playing partners for a very enjoyable and even game which ended all square.
He thanked Pam and Helen for the food and drinks, before jointly announcing the results with Geoff. Glasses were then raised to toast the Harrogate Area lads.
HARGA won the day with a score of 41/2 to 21/2
Jeff Loveday
Publicity & Communications Officer
12/06/2024
President Geoff Fitchcett Accepting the Cup
HARGA vs Bradford Area
Bracken Gyhll GC, May 15th
The team representing HARGA against Bradford Area had a very good day-out at Bracken Gyhll yesterday. It was an interesting Yorkshire Dales location with plenty of former pastures, plenty of elevation changes, tight greens and dry stone walls! We were blessed with only one sharp shower and most of the afternoon was sunny, warm and humid. It was a very close match but HARGA prevailed 4.5 to 3.5 to win the "Rennison Shield" for the 29th time since 1980 when it was first played.
HARGA President Geoff Fitchett receiving the Shield
HARGA Spring Invitational Results
Ripon City GC, April 14th
Teams from all HARGA Clubs enjoyed a great day of golf on a well prepared Ripon Course. The weather was bright and blustery with on and off showers.
A huge thanks to Ripon Rabbits Secretary and HARGA Vice President Bill Barnett for putting in a very full day of organising, starting and tallying of the results, aided by by Competition Secretary Andy Robinson.
Congratulations to Masham on an excellent team result that puts them 2 points into the lead going into the Autum event which will be played at Oakdale GC on Sunday September 22nd. The top pair of the day was Andy Robinson and Ian Chesnick with a great score of 44 points. Shaun Reilly hit a magnificent shot to within 8.5 inches of the pin on the 14th to win a box of balls. All other prizes will be sent by the HARGA Treasurer to the winners club accounts. See a few more pictures below:
Bill getting things underway at the Starters Table
Otley and Ripon pairs started the day
First tee shot from the Ripon team
2024 HARGA Spring Invitational - Results.pdfREMINDER: Minimum Number of Qualifying Cards for HARGA 2025 Events
As you plan the 2024 playing season for yourselves and also your Rabbit friends a gentle reminder of an important proposal that was approved with discussion at the recent AGM:
Minimum number of qualifying cards for HARGA events
PROPOSAL: For players to be eligible for a HARGA event they must have a minimum of five handicap qualifying cards registered in England Golf in the 12 month period preceding the event.
Notes:
This proposal to be implemented from 2025 onwards to enable HARGA membership to submit sufficient cards in 2024.
England Golf guidelines and policies on medical exceptions etc. will be applied.
This is primarily a self-policed, good faith directive. The responsibility for compliance rests with the player together with the club rabbit secretary in the case of selections for HARGA League matches. The HARGA Competition Secretary may randomly ask registrants or a club rabbit secretary to verify compliance. Non-compliance, identified before or after an event or match will result in player disqualification and loss of any trophy or league points awarded.
Reasoning: Proposal on this issue was requested via a quarterly meeting
Discussion: After some discussions on the time-line for implementing the proposal and the number of qualifying scores there was general consensus that 5 cards is a reasonable request.
Practically this means that you should plan on playing in a good number of events in 2024 in which you can submit qualifying cards (some of the HARGA events this year will enable this). Furthermore, think ahead who might you want to field in your teams for HARGA events next year e.g. HARGA League, HARGA Invitationals etc. and encourage those players to submit a good number of qualifying cards in 2024.
Keith Lewis, HARGA Secretary
HARGA Member Clubs
Click on Club Name to link to the Golf Club's Website (Rabbit's Section, if available)
The HARGA Council consists of: Elected Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Competitions Secretary, Press Officer); YRGA Representative; HARGA Club Rabbit Captains & HARGA Club Rabbit Secretaries (or nominee) and the active past HARGA Presidents. HARGA Club Rabbit Vice Captains are invited to join meetings in a non-voting capacity.
The restricted workspace includes the online version of the 2023 Directory, an online calendar of events, meetings and fixtures, recent meeting agendas and minutes, index of past meeting minutes and the latest version of the HARGA Constitution .
YRGA Links
Other Useful Links
HARGA League Update
July 4th
The League Tables Below Show the Standings on July 4th (HARGA Quarterly Meeting)Use the following Link to Enter Match Resultshttps://forms.gle/doBeHCqKtzYemZXA9
Note: Wining Team shall enter the Match Result; in the case of tie the Home Team must enter the result