Harborne Golf Club
The Peter Butler Bowl 2014
The Peter Butler Bowl knockout was played at the beginning of October, having been postponed from earlier in the year, and the top three places went to James Wright, Peter Lane and Philip Terry who are now set to play the final this Sunday.
But who is Peter Butler? As with all HGC’s trophies, the person behind them has usually played a major role within the club and some sport a fascinating personal history as well. Peter Butler is no exception. He turned professional at the age of 15 when he became Bill Button’s Assistant before obtaining the status of ‘HGC Professional’ in 1960.
Whilst working at Harborne, he competed and won in many external competitions but his real claim to fame is for winning the Warwickshire Open Championship six times, winning seven British and European tournaments, and also playing his first Ryder Cup. However, in June 1967 Peter decided he was moving to the St Cloud Golf Club in Paris but didn’t actually leave until January 1968 whereby he was presented with a silver cigarette box by the club and Peter, in return, presented the silver rose bowl as a permanent remembrance of his twenty years service. As a result of his happy times at the club, Peter requested and was given permission to enter future competitions still representing HGC.
Peter’s competitive golf, thereafter, continued to flourish with a further seven major British and European tournament titles as well as playing in several Masters, British Opens and PGA Championships including a Captaincy in 1972. He represented England in the World Cup three times and a further three times in the Ryder Cup.
The ‘piece de resistance’ for Peter came in 1973 at the Ryder Cup at Muirfield in the form of a ‘hole-in-one’ and it made the headlines. It was the first ever recorded since the event started in 1927 and there has only been a further five recorded since (only one being American). Despite the Ace, team GB and Ireland lost 1 down.
Latterly, Peter Butler went on to become one of the founders of the European Seniors Tour and finished fourth in its 1992 debut season at the age of 60. His only senior win came the following year at the Lawrence Batley Seniors and thereafter Peter took part in an exhibition match for HGC to celebrate the Centenary Year. To date, he is still fit and healthy and living in Surrey.
So guys when you go out to play on Sunday for this esteemed trophy may the spirit of Peter Butler be with you and you all have a great match.
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