In Honor of our Recent Anniversary…A 50+ Year Snapshot of BWGA Golf
60’s & 70’s: BWGA was organized in January 1966 with 65 charter members then growing to 123 members with a waiting list. The home golf course was known as the Bruce Memorial in those days, hence BWGA / Bruce Women’s Golf Association, and players used pull carts only. Greens fees were $2.25 and club dues were $9.90! There was no clubhouse, handicaps were figured by hand and meetings were held in churches. We had a community day to pick up rocks in the rough! BWGA was accepted into SNEWGA and SCWGA and played tri-team matches with Hubbard Heights and Sterling. The first Guys and Dolls Tournament was held as well as fund raisers for a clubhouse.
80’s & 90’s: BWGA sought to improve course conditions and we bought the course a weed trimmer. Tournament books first distributed at opening meeting and dues rocketed to $26, with $100 allocated to starting the Hole-in-One kitty. Members decorated and furnished the ladies locker room where board meetings were held. GHIN system was adopted and slope system was put in place to establish handicap indexes and automated handicaps. BWGA and GWGC sponsored the sign at Hole #2. The men’s group circulated a letter to deny the women’s groups from having preferred tee times. When the ladies protested, the men offered to paint the ladies locker room!
2000+: Bruce Memorial Golf Course changed its name to Griffith E Harris. Bruce Memorial’s namesake BWGA voted to keep its club name. Membership dues were now $50 and the membership application included email addresses. CT State Golf computer placed in locker room and handicap system installed. Nine holers were invited to join Member-Member Tournament. Charter Members became Honorary Members. Then dues were raised to $75 to pay for the Tessie computer system. Gold tee play became a new option for 18 Hole players. Non-Greenwich residents invited to join BWGA. With current membership about 120 members and with the Hole-in-One kitty of $514: Go For It, Ladies!
Thank you to our Founding Members!