The Badgers Golf Society was born back in 2003 when four colleagues from Canary Wharf involved in the construction of the HSBC tower decided to have a game of golf one weekend. Subsequently on a wet, windy day at Farleigh Court Golf Club the four played their match and once word got out amongst their colleagues and contractors, such was the interest that the idea was born of arranging a golf day for the members of the construction team.

The HSBC tower at Canary Wharf, built by Badgers!!

 

This quickly developed (or degenerated) into the start of a golf society, with the original four golfers (Harry Cutts, Steve Sharp, Richard Gent and Alec Vallintine) forming the committee. As for the name 'Badgers', shortly after the decision was made to form the society, we played a Canary Wharf/HSBC game of golf at Channels Golf Club, near Chelmsford (Team CW won as usual!). Another dark wet day, Genty was part of the lead four ball and was walking down the fairway in front of Sharpie when the Sharpster noticed that Genty had a big silver streak on the back of his waterproofs. Sharpie, in typically understated fashion hollered 'sod me, it's a badger!' and the name was born.

In honour of his inspiring the name, Genty was forthwith appointed Lifelong President of The Badgers Golf Society and has since been referred to as 'The Badger'. So, on Saturday, 10th May 2003, we returned to Farleigh Court as the Badgers Golf Society and the rest, as they say, is history. Below is an archive video clip of that historic occasion. The eagle eyed amongst you may notice that, amongst all of the shoulder warm-ups going on (we kicked them out - showoffs), the only thing Sharpie warmed up was his belly. Yes, even back then he was a fat bastard.....

Common consencus is that it's Mike Healy on the tee box here striking the very first blow in anger on behalf of the Badgers. The eagle eyed amongst you may notice that it's also the last time he hit a straight drive.....why we chose the Northern Soul King of Marble Hill to launch our society God only knows. We don't. Many golf days later we're still going strong and going from strength to strength. Whilst the core of the society remains members of the Canary Wharf construction team, the trade contractors and the client team involved with the HSBC tower, we have welcomed members from elsewhere in Canary Wharf, the construction industry and some people completely unconnected with the industry but who are attracted by the Badger mantra - good golf, good friends and good beer (but not neccesarily in that order!).

We now number close to 40 members and hold four society golf days a year, regularily attracting 30 members per day. Feel free to contact us at thebadgersgolfsociety@hotmail.com and leave us a message. For more information on the HSBC tower visit www.canarywharf.com/mainFrm1.asp?strSelectedSubmenu=Buildings&strSelectedArea=Estate. Or you can visit www.cwcontractors.com/ to have a look at the company that built the HSBC tower and the development.