The Centenary Onwards 1992-2010
The Centenary was celebrated by the Members and their guests with a black tie dinner at the Club on 24th October 1992 in a marquee over the putting green. Roy Carver, Chairman from 1977- 1981 was appointed Captain of the Club for the Centenary. As part of the celebrations, the Club hosted three golf tournaments during the year; the English Ladies' Intermediate Championship, English Champion Club Tournament and the Midlands Professional Championship.
Besides the three tournaments in 1992, The South Staffordshire Golf Club has hosted amateur golf at the highest level including many County events and also many professional tournaments over the past 18 years. In 1994 the Club hosted the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship, the PGA Assistants' Matchplay Championship and the Golf Foundation Schools Championship. In 2003 the Club hosted the British Senior Ladies' Amateur Championship, in 2008 the U16 Boys’ International between England and Scotland and in 2010 South Staffs co-hosted along with Oxley Park Golf Club, the Midland Open Amateur Championship.
The Club currently hosts several Midland PGA Region professional tournaments each year including the three day, PGA Invitational, which is covered by the Sky TV cameras and for the first two days of the tournament the leading Midland professionals play with amateur partners.
Since the Centenary, few changes have been made to the course. In 1993, the Club bought the freehold of the No.1 practice ground from Wolverhampton Council for £38,000 and in 1994 the 15th tee was re-constructed. In 2001 a major programme of tree plantations was undertaken throughout the course. In 2003 advice was sought from golf course architect Donald Steel, on the bunkering of the course and much of his advice has now been implemented. The 3rd green was also re-built 20yds to the right of the old green, which apart from a few minor modifications, had stood the test of time since 1908?
In 1998, Rhys Thomas took over from Tom Galloway as the Club’s Course Manager. Tom had been at the Club since 1979 when he was brought from Turnberry.
Jim Rhodes, who had been appointed as the Club’s Professional in 1980 left in 1998 to pursue a career on the European Seniors Tour and has since played in over 265 Senior Tour Tournaments securing three victories; the SSL International/Sodexho Match Play Championship in 2001, the Jersey Seniors Classic in 2004 and the Nigel Mansell Sunseeker International Classic in 2005. Jim also finished third behind Gary Player and John Bland in the Senior Open at Royal Portrush in 1997. He finished tied second with Barry Lane, in the Scottish Senior Open in 2010 and currently sits inside the top ten of the Senior Tour Career Money List. Jim is a life Member of the Club.
On leaving the Club’s employment Jim was awarded life Membership. Jim’s position as Club Professional was filled by Mark Sparrow who remained at the Club until Peter Baker was appointed Director of Golf in 2004. Peter was appointed Head professional in 2009. Another notable addition to the teaching staff at the Club is Shaun Ball, who was appointed Teaching professional in 2005.
Several South Staffs Members over the period have had notable success in the Amateur game. Gerald Moore was appointed Captain of the Staffordshire County team and in the same year, Frances Ward (Williams) became Staffordshire Ladies’ Second Team Captain. In 1993 Jenny Rhodes won the Staffordshire Junior Girls’ Championship. In 1994 John Anslow became the Staffordshire Seniors Amateur Champion and in 1999 Hugh Jones also won the same Championship. In 1998, Kevin Hale was made Captain of Staffordshire Boys and also became the youngest ever Staffordshire Amateur Champion in the 75 year history of the event and in 2000 he won the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship. Kevin’s success was quickly followed in 2001 when Richard Hewitt also won the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship. The other Club Members also to win the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship are Andy Ellis in 2006 and Richard’s brother Tom in 2008.
In 2008 Sam Benton was made Captain of Staffordshire Boys’ and qualified for the Daily Telegraph Junior Event in Abu Dhabi where he came fourth in a high class field. In 2009 Sam also won the Midland Boys’ Championship and in 2010 won the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship. In 2009, Marjorie Leece was Captain of Staffordshire Veteran Ladies' team.
In October 2008, the Club celebrated 100 Years of Golf at Danescourt in its 117th year of existence by launching its Men’s Open Tournament, The Vardon Bowl.
Besides the three tournaments in 1992, The South Staffordshire Golf Club has hosted amateur golf at the highest level including many County events and also many professional tournaments over the past 18 years. In 1994 the Club hosted the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship, the PGA Assistants' Matchplay Championship and the Golf Foundation Schools Championship. In 2003 the Club hosted the British Senior Ladies' Amateur Championship, in 2008 the U16 Boys’ International between England and Scotland and in 2010 South Staffs co-hosted along with Oxley Park Golf Club, the Midland Open Amateur Championship.
The Club currently hosts several Midland PGA Region professional tournaments each year including the three day, PGA Invitational, which is covered by the Sky TV cameras and for the first two days of the tournament the leading Midland professionals play with amateur partners.
Since the Centenary, few changes have been made to the course. In 1993, the Club bought the freehold of the No.1 practice ground from Wolverhampton Council for £38,000 and in 1994 the 15th tee was re-constructed. In 2001 a major programme of tree plantations was undertaken throughout the course. In 2003 advice was sought from golf course architect Donald Steel, on the bunkering of the course and much of his advice has now been implemented. The 3rd green was also re-built 20yds to the right of the old green, which apart from a few minor modifications, had stood the test of time since 1908?
In 1998, Rhys Thomas took over from Tom Galloway as the Club’s Course Manager. Tom had been at the Club since 1979 when he was brought from Turnberry.
Jim Rhodes, who had been appointed as the Club’s Professional in 1980 left in 1998 to pursue a career on the European Seniors Tour and has since played in over 265 Senior Tour Tournaments securing three victories; the SSL International/Sodexho Match Play Championship in 2001, the Jersey Seniors Classic in 2004 and the Nigel Mansell Sunseeker International Classic in 2005. Jim also finished third behind Gary Player and John Bland in the Senior Open at Royal Portrush in 1997. He finished tied second with Barry Lane, in the Scottish Senior Open in 2010 and currently sits inside the top ten of the Senior Tour Career Money List. Jim is a life Member of the Club.
On leaving the Club’s employment Jim was awarded life Membership. Jim’s position as Club Professional was filled by Mark Sparrow who remained at the Club until Peter Baker was appointed Director of Golf in 2004. Peter was appointed Head professional in 2009. Another notable addition to the teaching staff at the Club is Shaun Ball, who was appointed Teaching professional in 2005.
Several South Staffs Members over the period have had notable success in the Amateur game. Gerald Moore was appointed Captain of the Staffordshire County team and in the same year, Frances Ward (Williams) became Staffordshire Ladies’ Second Team Captain. In 1993 Jenny Rhodes won the Staffordshire Junior Girls’ Championship. In 1994 John Anslow became the Staffordshire Seniors Amateur Champion and in 1999 Hugh Jones also won the same Championship. In 1998, Kevin Hale was made Captain of Staffordshire Boys and also became the youngest ever Staffordshire Amateur Champion in the 75 year history of the event and in 2000 he won the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship. Kevin’s success was quickly followed in 2001 when Richard Hewitt also won the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship. The other Club Members also to win the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship are Andy Ellis in 2006 and Richard’s brother Tom in 2008.
In 2008 Sam Benton was made Captain of Staffordshire Boys’ and qualified for the Daily Telegraph Junior Event in Abu Dhabi where he came fourth in a high class field. In 2009 Sam also won the Midland Boys’ Championship and in 2010 won the Staffordshire Amateur Matchplay Championship. In 2009, Marjorie Leece was Captain of Staffordshire Veteran Ladies' team.
In October 2008, the Club celebrated 100 Years of Golf at Danescourt in its 117th year of existence by launching its Men’s Open Tournament, The Vardon Bowl.