RABBITS GOLFERS

We are male golfers aged over 18 with a handicap index of 15 or more which, at Bingley St Ives, equates to a playing handicap of 17. Golfers with a handicap index of 14.9 or less and Lady golfers are also welcome to join us as Associate members.

Our Club competitions are divided into 3 Divisions according to handicap – in line with the YRGA rules below – and prizes are awarded respectively.  Division 1 is for golfers with a handicap index between 15 and 19.4, Division 2 for golfers with a handicap index of 19.5 to 54, and Associates as above.

Why Rabbits ?

Our origins to back to 1937 when several clubs got together to promote social and competitive golf for higher handicap golfers. Why they were called Rabbits is unknown but it seems only to apply in Yorkshire. Today nearly 100 clubs are members of the Yorkshire Rabbits Golf Association within 6 regions across the combined county. Locally, clubs are also members of the Bradford & District Rabbits Golf Association who organise league and knockout competitions. Click the buttons below to view the Rabbits Golf Associations Websites.

Competitions – Qualifying Handicaps

To be eligible to play in YRGA competitions, Rabbit golfers must have a handicap index of 15 or more, extending to the maximum handicap of 54.  Team competitions require one player within the range 15 – 19.4 and the other in the range 19.5 – 54.

To play in BDRGA competitions, Rabbit golfers must have a handicap index of 15.5 or more. This aligns with Bradford Union’s 8-15 section which has a maximum eligible handicap index of 15.4. For league matches each player in the team of 3 must have a handicap index in the respective ranges of 15.5 – 17.4, 17.5 – 20.4 and 20.5 plus. For knockout matches, the 2 players must each have a respective handicap index of 15.5 – 20.4 and 20.5 plus. For BDRGA Sunday team competitions – Presidents Cup, 18 hole and team championships – theere is a maximum playing handicap limit of 36

These rule changes have been made by the YRGA and BDRGA following the introduction of the World Handicap System by Golf England on 2nd November 2020. Previously Rabbit golfers were eligible with a playing handicap of 15.5 or more

How to Join ?

You can become an annual Member or Associate member of the Section by paying £5 through the Club V1 system using the knockout option of the Members app or the screens in the Proshop or 19th. This money will be taken from your club card. Alternatively you can put your payment in a named envelope in the box within the pro shop or pay £5 to any Committee member below. A list of current members is displayed on the Rabbits notice board in the gents locker room and the ladies locker room

In addition to taking part in the competitions below, you will be entered in a monthly draw where 2 members will win £20 credited to your pro shop account. We also award a credit of £25 to any member or associate member who has a hole in 1 in any official weekend qualifying club competition

Any Questions ?

If you have a suggestion, want more information or have a query that is not answered by this page, please email us on rabbits@bingleystivesgc.com.

Full information can be found by downloading our Rules and Guidance found at the bottom of this page

RABBITS NEWS

Full details of Rabbits competitions, matches, members and Committee members are listed below and displayed on our notice board in the gents locker room.  

The monthly Rabbits Section draw winners for January were John Pilkington and David Joliffe who both receive £20 credited to their pro shop accounts. Congratulations to both. A list of previous winners is displayed on the Rabbits Section notice board and in the Ladies locker room.

The Annual General Meeting of the Rabbits Section was held in Billy’s Bar at the Clubhouse on Tuesday 6th December 2022 at 6.30pm.

Click here to view Rabbits 2022 AGM Minutes

The meeting started with the presentation of trophies for the 2022 season to the following winners. Congratualtions to all.

Tony O’Melia Challenge Trophy          Andrew Flaherty

John Stead Memorial Trophy              Dai Jones

Rabbits Captains Shield, Division 1    Andrew Flaherty

Rabbits Captains Shield, Division 2    Paul Dowse

Rabbits Presidents Cup                          Ian Woods

Rabbits Officers Trophy                         Michael Fordham

Buck Rabbit Shield – Rabbits               Michael Fordham 

Buck Rabbit Plate – Associates            Tony Viqueira

Thwaites Trophy                                    Neil McKay

Don Marshall Memorial Trophy (Order of Merit) Andrew Flaherty

Rabbit of the Year                                  David Steel     

RABBITS RESULTS

Winter Buck Rabbit, 19th February – the winners were Dave Priestley (Division 1) with 26 points, John Hill (Division 2) with 31 points and Anthony Rape (Associates) with 30 points and Warwick French as runner-up with 28 points. The 2s club of £53 was shared by 8 players. The full results are available on the Rabbits notice board in the gents locker room

Winter Buck Rabbit, 5th February– the winners were Tony Teale (Division 1) with 25 points, Ray White (Division 2) with 28 points and David Short (Associates) with an excellent 32 points and Ben Mosley runner-up on 28 points. The 2s club of £46 was shared by 7 players. The full results are available on the Rabbits notice board in the gents locker room.

Winter Buck Rabbit, 27th November – the winners were Mick Fordham (Division 1) with 28 points, John Hill (Division 2) with 26 points and Luke Wilcock (Associates) with 28 points and David Short runner-up with 26 points. The 2s club of £35 was shared by 4 players. The full results are available on the Rabbits notice board in the gents locker room.

Thwaites Trophy – the winner of this knockout competition is Neil McKay who narrowly defeated Andrew Flaherty on the final hole

Rabbits Presidents Cup, 16th October – the winners and runners-up of this single stableford competition were Division 1 – Andrew Foster (29 points) and Mark Wilcock (29 points), Division 2 – Ian Woods (37 points) and John Hill (34 points), Associates – Eddie Hodgson (39 points) and Ben Nattrass (38 points) who all win pro shop credit prizes. Eddie Hodgson also won nearest the pin and 10 players shared the 2s club of £31. Ian Woods wins the trophy.

Buck Rabbit Final, 2nd October – this single stableford trophy competition was won by Michael Fordham of the Rabbits qualifiers with 38 points and Tony Viqueira for the Associate members who qualified. For the Rabbits, Neil McKay finished 2nd, David Joliffe 3rd, Allan Charnock 4th, Phil Cutting 5th and Brian Gomersall 6th. For the Associates, Julie Steel was 2nd and Jane Flaherty 3rd

Rabbits Officers Trophy, 2nd October – this single stableford competition was won by Michael Fordham with 38 points from John Barrott and Andrew Flaherty.

Headingley Challenge, 28th September – Bingley St Ives won this annual 4BBB matchplay “friendly” at home to Headingley GC by 4 matches to 2, resulting in the trophy being retained. Well done to the winning pairs of Tony Viqueira & Roy Carney, Ray White & Russell Tetley, John Pilkington & David Smith and John Raybould and David Steel.

Shipley Challenge, 18th September – Bingley St Ives won this annual 4BBB matchplay “friendly” at home to Shipley by 4 matches to 2, resulting in the trophy passing to BSIGC. Well done to the winning pairs Andrew Flaherty & David Steel, John Barrott & Ron Kendall, John Pilkington & Mike Rewilak and Alex Carter & Anthony Rape. Ray White & Roy Carney and Michael Fordham & Danny Nommick lost narrowly.

September Buck Rabbit, 6th September 2022 – the winners were Allan Charnock (Division 1) with 26 points, David Jolliffe (Division 2) with 27 points and Tony Viqueira (Associates) with 25 points and Chris Johnson runner-up with 23 points. All 4 qualify for the Buck Rabbit final on 2nd October. No-one won the 2s club so is carried forward to next year.

Rabbits Captains Trophy, 28th August – the winners and runners-up of this single stableford competition were Division 1 – Andrew Flaherty (40) and Dave Priestley (36), Division 2 – Paul Dowse (39) and Chris O’Neill (36), Associates – Chris Shaw (38) and Craig Robinson (37) who all win pro shop credits. Neil Butler was nearest the pin and the 2s club was shared by 6 players. Andrew Flaherty wins the trophy.

Rabbits v Ladies, 24th August – teams of 14 competed in 4BBB stableford format for the Clare Lyness trophy which the Ladies narrowly won by a total of 168 to 165 points. This was the Ladies first win since 2016.

August Buck Rabbit, 2nd August – the winners were Paul Dowd (Division 1) with 24 points, Allan Charnock (Division 2) with 23 points and Brian Brooks (Associates) with 24 points and Chris Johnson runner-up with 23 points. All 4 qualify for the Buck Rabbit final on 2nd October. The 2s club of £47 was shared by Allan Charnock and Allan Burns.

O’Melia Challenge, 31st July – the winners were John Raybould (Division 1) with 36 points, Andrew Flaherty (Division 2) with 43 points and Chris Shaw (Associates) with 38 points with Ben Nattrass runner-up on 36 points. Andrew Flaherty wins the trophy. The 2s club of £40 was shared by 5 players.

 John Stead Memorial Trophy, 17th July – the winners were Matthew Milburn (Division 1) with 37 points, Dai Jones (Division 2) with 38 points and John Dixon (Associates) with 44 points. Dai Jones wins the trophy.

July Buck Rabbit, 12th July – the winners were Ian Arbuckle (Division 1) with 27 points, David Jolliffe (Division 2) with 29 points and Julie Steel (Associates) with 29 points and Sam Brooks runner-up with 28 points. All 4 qualify for the Buck Rabbit final on 2nd October. The 2s club of £49 was won by Julie Steel.

June Buck Rabbit, 7th June – the winners were Brian Gomersall (Division 1) with 26 points, Philip Cutting (Division 2) with 30 points and Stuart Lobley (Associates) with 29 points and Jane Flaherty runner-up with 27 points. All 4 qualify for the Buck Rabbit final on 2nd October.

May Buck Rabbit, 3rd May – the winners were Michael Fordham (Division 1) with 26 points, Philip Cutting (Division 2) with 30 points and Brian Brooks (Associates) with 28 points and Paul Dowd runner-up with 27 points. All 4 qualify for the Buck Rabbit final on 2nd October.

April Buck Rabbit, 5th April – the winners were Neil McKay (Division 1) with 25 points, Martin Ball (Division 2) with 28 points and Andrew Stead (Associates) with 28 points and Chris Johnson runner-up with 26 points. All 4 qualify for the Buck Rabbit final on 2nd October.

March Hare, 3rd April – the winners of this 4BBB stableford competition were Andrew Flaherty and David Steel with an impressive 51 points. John Barrott and Ron Kendall were runners-up with 44 points.

RABBITS COMPETITIONS – 2023

Trophy competitions – the Rabbits Section runs stableford competitions on Sundays throughout the season, including a Finals Day and Officers Trophy held at the end of the season. Details and dates of all competitions are listed below. You can enter via the normal Club V1 tee booking system. The entry fee will be automatically deducted from your club card account.

• O’Melia Challenge, 18th June – single stableford competition with pro shop credit prizes to the winners of all 3 Divisions, plus 2s club
• John Stead Memorial Trophy, 16th July – single stableford competition with pro shop credit prizes to the winners of all 3 Divisions, plus 2s club
• Rabbits Presidents Cup, 13th August – single stableford competition with pro shop credit prizes to the winners and runners-up of all 3 Divisions, plus 2s club and nearest the pin
• Rabbits Captains Trophy, 27th August – single stableford competition with pro shop credit prizes to the winners and runners-up of all 3 Divisions, plus 2s club and nearest the pin
• Rabbits Officers Trophy, Friday 1st September – single stableford competition for present and previous members of the Rabbits Committee
• Rabbits Finals Day, Sunday 1st October – single stableford competitions for the winners and runners-up of the respective Rabbits and Associates divisions in the monthly Buck Rabbit competitions

Buck Rabbit competitions – played on the first Tuesday of every month as a single stableford over the first 12 holes, plus a 2s club. The winners of each Division receive prizes as pro shop credits and go forward to the Buck Rabbit Final (above). In addition, Buck Rabbit competitions are played on Sundays throughout the winter between the Winter Grand Prix competition dates, assuming the course is playable. The club’s Competition Secretary will issue planned dates when announcing the Winter Grand Prix schedule

Thwaites Trophy knockout competition – the Section also runs a matchplay knockout competition for the Thwaites Trophy. You can enter via the Knockouts menu option on the Club V1 app. The club’s Competition Secretary will confirm when this and other club knockout competitions are available to enter. The entry fee will be automatically deducted from your club card account.

Rabbits Captain’s Trip – is to Low Laithes Golf Club near Wakefield on Friday 21st July. Further details to be given nearer the time.

Friendly matches – the Section organises friendly matches at home and away with other clubs in the district, where you only pay for the after-match meal. If you wish to play, please confirm your availability for each match in the Club Teams menu option of the Club V1 app. The Rabbits Vice Captain will contact you regarding selection. This year the matches arranged are –

• Skipton GC (away) on Sunday 14th May at 2.00pm
• Cleckheaton GC (away) on Tuesday 13th June at 4.30pm
• Cleckheaton GC (home) on Tuesday 25th July at 4.00pm
• South Bradford GC (home) on Thursday 3rd August at 5.00pm
• Bradford (Hawksworth) GC (home) on Tuesday 22nd August at 2.30pm
• Rabbits v Ladies (home) for the Clare Lyness trophy on Wednesday 30th August at 3.30pm
• Skipton GC (home) on Sunday 3rd September at 1.00pm
• Headingley Challenge v Headingley GC (away) on Wednesday 13th September at 1.00pm
• Shipley Challenge v Shipley GC (away) – Sunday 24th September for breakfast

BRDGA / YRGA League and knockout matches – as a member of both Rabbits Associations, the Section participates in League matches against other teams of the Bradford & District league, which has 4 Divisions with promotion and relegation at the end of every season. Matches are played home and away every Thursday from 5.00pm and the result notified to the League Secretary that evening. If you wish to play, please confirm your availability for each match in the Club Teams menu option of the Club V1 app. The Rabbits Captain will contact you regarding selection.

The Section also enters 2 teams (A & B) in the respective foursomes knockout competitions run by the BRDGA and YRGA for the Chippendale Trophy and Fowler Trophy. If you wish to be considered for selection, please contact the Rabbits Captain.

 RABBITS COMMITTEE AND RULES

If you wish to speak with or join the Committee, please get in touch with any of the members for 2023 listed below

Andrew Flaherty – President and Competition Secretary

Gary Knapton – Captain

David Steel – Vice Captain

John Barrott – Secretary

Eddie McBrien – Treasurer 

David Kind

Graham Buttrick

Alan Thornber

The Committee Meeting dates for 2023 are – 

Thursday 16th February @ 5.30pm

Tuesday 4th April @ 6.30pm

Tuesday 16th May @ 6.30pm

Tuesday 20th June @ 6.30pm

Tuesday 11th July @ 6.30pm

Tuesday 15th August @ 6.30pm

Tuesday 12th September @ 6.30pm

Tuesday 17th October @ 6.30pm

AGM – Tuesday 5th December at 6.30pm

Membership and meeting dates are also displayed on the Rabbits Section notice board in the gents locker room

We look forward to seeing you this year on the course or in the clubhouse