Our History
The first event held by the Golf Society was organised by Sir Billy Butlin and took place at Bill’s Clacton Holiday Camp.
It was a challenge match between the Variety Club and the Grand Order of Water Rats.
This match became an annual event and soon led to a tournament for golf professionals and celebrities being held at Selsdon Park.
This first event was attended by Leslie MacDonnell, then Chief Barker of the Variety Club Children's Charity who saw the great fundraising potential of such events and proposed the formation of the Golfing Society.
The rest, as they say is history!
In the early years the Society had the tremendous financial support of the Butlin family. This has continued right up to the present day with Lady Butlin who has just retired as our President. Jimmy Tarbuck has assumed the role of President and will continue to lead the Society in its cause of raising funds to purchase Sunshine Coaches.
In 1999, and then again in 2005 and 2006, the Society raised £1M with all these monies raised each year enabling us to present a great number of coaches to children so much in need of the help we are able to provide.