History

In 1963 George Stuart of Balmoral Golf Club had an idea to form a competition to cater for players in the 5 to 9 category.  He put this idea to George Riddell of Belvoir Park Golf Club and together they organised a meeting of interested clubs at Belvoir Park on the 4th February 1963.  Representatives of the following clubs attended: Balmoral, Belvoir Park, Bangor, Carnalea, Clandeboye, Knock Scrabo and Shandon Park.

It was decided that a competition to take the form of a league catering for players in the 5 to 9 handicap range.  The competition would take place in the summer of 1963.  The aims of the competition to be: “To give more match play competition to players in the 5 to 9 range having regard to the fact that many players in this handicap bracket can only play in the Junior Cup, and for most players is a one day stroke event”.

The following were elected to office:

Chairman – Mr George Riddell, Belvoir Park Golf Club
Secretary Treasurer – Mr George Stuart, Balmoral Golf Club

A further meeting was held on the 18th February 1963 when the format of the league was decided.  This format is still in place today.

The Secretary informed the meeting that a Major A W Holt, (thought to be from the Belvoir club) would present a shield to be played for each season.  It was agreed that the competition be called “The Holt Shield”.  Major Holt was a Consultant Engineer from South Belfast

Clandeboye were the first winners of the Shield, with Carnalea being runners-up.

At subsequent meetings it was agreed to allow other clubs to enter and the number of clubs rose to 32 in 1976.

Chairmen came and went in two year cycles but George Stuart, the Secretary, remained in office until he stood down in 1987 after 25 years.  George gave his heart and soul to make sure that the competition was successful.  Many golfers, young and old, have played “Holt Shield“ and have gone on to become better players, some joining the professional ranks.  I am sure that all who played in the event will appreciate what George did for them when he founded the competition.

A reception was held at Shandon Park in 1987 to honour his retirement.  Representatives from all the clubs attended and George was presented with a watch, suitably engraved.

Mr Bobby Conroy, Carnalea Golf Club took over from George as Secretary in 1988 and successfully organised the competition over 26 years, until his untimely death in 2014.

George sadly died in 1991 and a shield was presented by Mr Trevor Rankin of Greenisland Golf Club to honour the memory and work George did for golf and the Holt Shield in particular.  “The George Stuart Memorial Shield” is played for annually by the current team captains.  A specially minted silver medal is presented to the winning player. The venue is chosen in alphabetical order with exceptions for special events, such as centenaries.  The first winner of the Shield was Mr Roy Gabbey from Carnalea Golf Club.  The first competition was played at Balmoral Golf Club, George’s home club.  George’s Widow Evelyn attended the dinners and presented the prizes for some years after George’s death.  Evelyn was presented with a special replica gold medal at one of her last appearances at a dinner.

To mark Bobby Conroy’s milestone 25th anniversary as Secretary in 2013, it was decided that a Bobby Conroy Medal would henceforth be presented to the person making the most outstanding contribution in the final.  With his natural humility, Bobby was somewhat reluctant to have this award named after him.  After his untimely death in 2014, on the eve of his President’s Day at Carnalea, the decision was even more justified.  Bobby’s Widow Margaret & son Martin attended the Presentation Dinner at Carrickfergus in 2014 and proudly presented the first two medals, both fittingly to Carrickfergus players.

The Holt Shield remains a most sought after trophy and one of the most popular in the golfing calendar.

Over the years the Holt Shield has provided golfers the opportunity to represent their clubs in an extremely competitive but enjoyable team competition.  The founder members had not only the foresight to identify the need for such a competition, but had the enthusiasm and conviction to proceed and introduce a unique format that has become so successful and popular over the years.  Golf owes a great debt of gratitude to the founders George Stuart, George Riddell and Major Holt, who would all no doubt be proud of the evolution of the Holt Shield.

CLUBS THAT HAVE COMPETED IN THE HOLT SHIELD

1963   BALMORAL, BANGOR, BELVOIR PK, CARNALEA, CLANDEBOYE, KNOCK,

           SCRABO, SHANDON PK.

1964   LISBURN, DONAGHADEE, HOLYWOOD, KIRKISTOWN CASTLE.

1966   MAHEE ISLAND, MALONE.

1968   DONAGHADEE – RESIGNED.

1969   CARRICKFERGUS, CLIFTONVILLE, FORTWILLIAM.

1972   MOURNE.

1973   DUNMURRY, HELENS BAY, ORMEAU

1974   DOWNPATRICK, ARDGLASS, LARNE

1974   DONAGHADEE (REINSTATED)

1975   CAIRNDHU, BALLYCLARE, LURGAN.

1976   GREENISLAND, MASSEREENE, ROYAL BELFAST, WHITEHEAD

      PORTADOWN.

1979   BALLYMENA

1979   MOURNE (RESIGNED)

1981   PORTADOWN (RESIGNED).

1996   ROCKMOUNT, SPA, MOYOLA PK, BANBRIDGE.

1998   BLACKWOOD, GREENACRES

1998   PORTADOWN (REINSTATED).

1999   ANTRIM, SILVERWOOD.

1999   PORTADOWN (RESIGNED).

1999   RINGDUFFERIN, MOUNT OBER.

2001   BLACKWOOD (RESIGNED)

2002   ANTRIM (RESIGNED).

2002   SILVERWOOD (RESIGNED).

2006   MOUNT OBER (RESIGNED)

2008   HELENS BAY (RESIGNED).

2008   MOUNT OBER (REINSTATED)

2009   CITY OF BELFAST, LOUGHGALL, LAMBEG

2009   HELENS BAY (REINSTATED)

2009   MOYOLA PARK, DOWNPATRICK, LURGAN, BALLYMENA

          BANBRIDGE (RESIGNED)

2010   LAMBEG (RESIGNED), LISBURN (RESIGNED)

2011   MOUNT OBER (RESIGNED)

2011   LISBURN (REINSTATED)

2011   BALLYMENA (REINSTATED)

2014   HILTON (RESIGNED)

2015   HILTON (REINSTATED)

2016   ARDGLASS,LOUGHGALL (RESIGNED)

2016   TEMPLE, GALGORM

2017   HELENS BAY (RESIGNED)

2017   BLACKWOOD (REINSTATED)

2018   CASTLEREAGH HILLS, MAHEE, ORMEAU, MASSEREENE (RESIGNED)

2019   TEMPLE (RESIGNED)

2019   ORMEAU (REINSTATED)

2019   FORTWILLIAM (RESIGNED)

2021   MASSEREENE (REINSTATED)

2024   GALGORM & GREENACRES (RESIGNED)

2024   FORTWILLIAM (REINSTATED)

2024   COLIN VALLEY

PAST WINNERS

MULTIPLE WINNERS

CLUBS THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED THE HOLT SHIELD