Joan Haigh - Ladies Captain, 1979 and 1991
This is a transcription of a conversation Joan had with Graham
Lawrence on 7 November 2007.
Allan, my husband, started to play golf around 1969ish. He worked with members
of Corhampton and they used to play on the way home from work. My hobby was
horse riding at that time and I used to go riding early on a Sunday morning
and then drive up to meet Allan at Corhampton. They all seemed so full of
their golf that I thought I would like to try it. Allan wasn't very encouraging
so I took evening classes at Highbury College and eventually joined Hayling
Island where I had some very good friends and took lessons with Frank Kilbride.
I must have joined Corhampton about 1972. When I gained my 36 handicap we
played together a lot and had some lovely days out at various open meetings.
We had some very happy times when the course was just nine holes and we only
had a little wooden club house. Everybody knew everybody else at that time.
We used to have an honesty box outside on the wall for visitors green fees.
On Sundays we would play in our competitions, come in for tea, and a whole
crowd of us would go out again for a few more holes. It wasn't long before
I found myself on the ladies committee.
Allan was Captain in 1973 and helped in taking the club forward into 18 holes
and the designing of the new club house. Many members were against this of
course and wanted to keep our little friendly club as it was. Allan also
researched and helped to design the club coat of arms.
The men always had their AGM in April but decided to change to November the
same as the ladies giving the incoming Captain time to get used to his new
office before the start of the busy time of his year. John Wright was captain
from April 1978 to the November and Allan became Captain for the second time
in the November and we drove in together. Allan was quite ill at the time
but managed to get his handicap down to 9 before he stopped playing. We thoroughly
enjoyed our year together and he died in 1981.
In 1991 I had the honour of being ladies captain for the second time for
our centenary year. We had a wonderful year. I was introduced to Greta Blythe by Bob Harvey. She had
been a Lady Captain at the club before the Second World War. I invited her
to our past captains' lunch and presented her with a bouquet. She had us
all enthralled with her stories of golf before the war. She lived in Bishops
Waltham and used to ride to the club on her horse where she tethered it while
she played her golf. She was very spritely when she came to lunch. Tim Woods
was a keen photographer and took the set of photos of the past ladies captains who attended that
lunch.
We used to have Scottish country dancing every Tuesday evening. It was Betty
Johnson's idea. She started it in her year and we all enjoyed it so much
I kept it going. Mike Freeman was our teacher. His wife, Margaret, sometimes
came to help. He had quite a job on his hands but it was such good fun.
That year I presented the Lady Captain's
Bowl to be played for on lady captains day. We also started the Haigh
Masters to be played for by winners throughout the year and the Centenary
Shield, an eclectic competition for other ladies clubs.
Click here for a selection of Joan's
photos.