Wiltshire Masonic Golf Society
The cries of 'fore' are common currency when members of the Wiltshire Masonic Golf Society meet to play, and whether you slice, hook or nobble the ball down the fairway to the green. you will always be guaranteed a warm welcome from members of the Wiltshire Masonic Golf Society.
The Society was formed to promote the game of golf within the province for any brother who has an interest in playing. We have two open meetings, one at the beginning of the season in April and the other at the end in October.
During the year we play 7 matches against the Provinces of Berkshire, Monmouthshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Hampshire& Isle of Wight and Bristol. All these matches alternate each year on a home/away basis, although the tri-province event between Dorset, Hants&Isle of Wight and Wiltshire is hosted by us as we are conveniently in the middle of all 3!.
An Annual General Meeting [AGM] is held before the opening day match and a Captain is elected for a term of 2 years. Barry Young will relinquish that this year to Captain elect, David Bayne, who will be ably assisted by Merv Johns as his Vice-Captain. This year’s AGM saw Merv Johns step down as Secretary, after nearly 2 decades in the role, to say my learning curve as the new secretary has been “steep” would be an understatement.
Anyone who can play the game is welcome to join us. You need not be a member of a Golf Club nor have a handicap, just the willingness to have some fun with likeminded Masonic friends. We also encourage golfers to bring along their non-masonic friends to play and over the last few years a number of these have enjoyed the company so much that they are now masons. We have a Charity Golf Match each August and a raffle at each Provincial match that enables us to raise a considerable sum for Masonic and Non-Masonic charities. Our subscriptions for the year are fixed at £5 (a bargain).
Anyone wishing more information is encouraged to contact their masonic lodge golf rep, or the Secretary of the Wiltshire Masonic Golf Society.
Steve Smith by email: stairbears82@gmail.com.
Our Spring meeting/AGM took place this year at Erlestoke on the 13th April. With 27 members playing and the weather being very kind to us. We have played matches against Monmouth, Somerset, Berkshire, Gloucester, Hants & IoW, Dorset and Bristol. We had a convincing win against Berkshire, who suffered their normal fate with the silverware staying in Wiltshire for another year. We also managed to bring home the trophies in the matches against Gloucester, Bristol (our PGM collected the trophy and promptly gave it the Secretary to look after and polish), Monmouthshire, Dorset and Hants&Isle of Wight. We managed to lose against Somerset (this despite home advantage and meant they took home the trophy for the 7Th year in a row). That loss didn’t deter us from going down to Somerset for their Annual Mark Golf Day, to Bristol for their Tercentenary event and to Came Down for the Dorset Charity Day. The jewel in the Wiltshire crown is our Charity Day at Wrag Barn, which was won for the 2nd year in a row, by Tim Steer a Wiltshire mason who also takes the Eagle Cup as the best Wiltshire player. Alex Anderson, the Dorset Masonic Golf Secretary won the shield for the overall winner. The day raised approximately £2500 for the craft festival.
We have yet to play at Surrey Downs to defend the South East Counties Cup that we won last year, but two 4 Ball teams are booked in to hopefully bring it back to Wiltshire on 17th Sep 26. Our end of season event this year will take place at Hamptworth on Monday the 5thOctober where we will be donating £2500 to the 2032 Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund, and numerous £200 cheques to nominated local charities.
I nearly forgot that we also have a new Treasurer (Steve Kirwan) who took over from Mark Manning. Many thanks Mark for all your hard work in managing the Society’s finances.
Anyone who is interested to contact me and join our friendly band of amateur Golfers. You would be made very welcome.
Secretary:-Steve Smith
Reprt for the year 2026
Raising Funds and having fun
The Wiltshire Masonic Golf Society was formed to promote the game of golf within the Province and to foster Masonic goodwill between Brethren from neighbouring Provinces.
Apart from two Open events, one at the beginning of the season and the other in August, there is also an opprtunity to play against golfers from Berkshire, Bristol, Monmouthshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire & Isle of Wight.
There is no requirement for membership of a golf club or a formal handicap, the intention is to have fun and enjoy the company of good friends. To this end members are encouraged to bring a friend, who does not have to be a Freemason, although it has to be acknowledged that a number of golfers have joined our fraternity having first seen how everyone plays and enjoys the game.
The society hosts a Golf Open day in August at the Wrag Barn Golf Club, Nr Highworth in aid of local charities.
Play for Fun
Play for Prizes
