A (short) history of the Society

I wrote this history to the best of my ability from the collective memories of past and present members of the Society.  As we all know, memory can be fragile and sometimes unreliable!  If there are any discrepancies in events, dates, etc., please let me know.

In 2002, four friends who were resident on the island started to play golf at Costa Teguise Golf Club every Tuesday and Friday.  They were: Colin Whitehead, Mick Jenkins, Dave Jones (deceased) and John Blackmore (deceased).  

Tim Weston (in 2014), first
ever Captain in 2007

After a time, more golfers joined that initial group: Sonia and Dave Bennett, Tom Henson, Arthur Adolph (his own trophy is played for each January), Tim Weston and others.  Soon afterwards, the Irish Harbour Bar in Puerto del Carmen started to sponsor the group and the number of players grew.  

Original Lanzarote-Accommodation Trophy

When Pat, the owner of the Irish Harbour Bar ceased the sponsorship around 2005, Bryan McEwan decided to sponsor the group through his company: Lanzarote-accommodation.com.  That sponsorship covered the monthly and annual prizes and continued until 2009.

Getting together after a game in 2011

In 2007, it was decided to structure the group as an official Golf Society.  A very apt name was chosen: Las Palmeras Golf Society.  The first Committee Members were: Tim Weston as Captain, Bryan McEwan as Treasurer and Dave Bennett as Secretary.  

Captain David Ambrose in 2012

Between 2007 and 2010 membership grew from 15 to over 40 players.  It was also around that time that Tom Henson began to sponsor the Monthly Competition (known as The Henson Cup).  

David Ambrose sponsored the Singles Match Play competition and Ian & Janet Rose sponsored the Doubles Match Play competition.  

The draw at Christmas 2011

 In 2010, Steve Hill took over from Bryan McEwan as Treasurer whilst Dave Bennett carried on as Secretary until 2015.  Tom was the Chairman of the Society until 2015 when he stood down.  

David Ambrose became Treasurer in 2015 when Steve Hill went back to the UK and Ray Howell took over from Dave Bennett as Secretary in 2016. 

Herbert and Thilo in 2013

 That same year, Ray created an email address for the Society: lpgs2016@gmail.com which is still in use today. In 2019, Committee Members David Ambrose and Ray Howell stood down and were replaced by Roger Noack (Treasurer) and Jean-Francois Crinquand (Secretary). The current Committee: Sonia Bennett (Captain), Paul Kelly (Secretary) & Melo Montelongo (Treasurer).

Please note: click on the photos to enlarge them

My heartfelt thanks to the following persons who were very helpful in sharing their knowledge of the Society, even when I was continually pestering them with my requests for information: Sonia & Dave Bennett, Ray Howell, Tim Weston, Keith Whitelock, Colin Whitehead, & Bryan McEwan.

Thank you all.

Jean-Francois