Rabbit’s Section

Rabbit’s Section

The Rabbits Section at Bedale Golf Club is a friendly and well-established section within the Club dedicated to gentlemen members with World Handicap Index handicaps above 15.0,

Bedale Rabbits are associated with HARGA (Harrogate Area Rabbits Golf Association) NERGA (North East Rabbits Golf Association) and YRGA (Yorkshire Rabbits Golf Association)

Joining our Rabbits Section is the ideal way for new members to quickly find their feet within the golf club, making new friends and learning the merits of the friendly weekend or weekday Golf. The section has a number of internal Competitions and knock outs as well as a full fixture list of matches against other Golf clubs within the Area, we compete in NERGA (North East Rabbit Golf Association) League matches and HARGA (Harrogate) matches plus Friendly Tri- matches, These matches take the Rabbits team to clubs such as, Harrogate, Scarborough North Cliff, Catterick, Masham, Wetherby, Easingwold and Knaresborough amongst others.

For those who may find playing matches during the week difficult, Bedale Rabbits also play in the North East Rabbits Golf Association (NERGA) league, which is played at weekends. The format of the competition is 8 man teams from different clubs from North Yorkshire and the North East who are drawn together in a NERGA Zone (Typically 7 or 8 Clubs).  All teams in a zone play at each event on all of the courses drawn in the same zone across the summer period.  The winning clubs and individuals in each zone will  progress to the NERGA finals day; at Bedale the Rabbits Vice Captain runs the NERGA Team so speak to him to find out more.  The Rabbits are also members of the Harrogate Area Rabbits Golf Association (HARGA) and through them the Yorkshire Rabbits Golf Association (YRGA) with various matches and competitions to play in across the region, which are co-ordinated by the Rabbits Secretary.

With regard to internal fixtures, we usually have annual matches against the Club Captain’s team and the Ladies, which are another way for the new member to quickly become integrated within our friendly Club.

The season begins early in February with the 2 x Club Challenge followed by AGM, then through the summer by around 16 matches and concluding at the end of September with the Autumn Stableford.  The Rabbits Competitions Secretary will also arrange a singles knockout for the Peter Durrans Perpetual Trophy and, on a single Saturday, a pairs competition for the Robert Riggs Trophy where partners are drawn randomly from the Rabbits who enter.  Furthermore, we also have a Charity match our version of the Ryder Cup Yorkshire v The Rest of the World, plus the Rabbits Captain will usually organise an away day to a club within 60-90 minutes travel, but the highlight of the year for many Rabbits, is a 2-day trip to compete for the prestigious Armstrong Millennium Rose Bowl trophy and have a convivial dinner at a major golf/hotel complex.

Whilst the competition within Rabbits golf is sometimes competitive, there is a lot of Banter and laughter, Because of this, members fondly regard the time spent within the Rabbits section as possibly the most enjoyable times of their golfing life including those who progress through to single figure handicaps.

So, there you have it. Rabbits golf is the ideal way for the medium handicapper or beginner to make new friends in the golf club. Any gentlemen joining the golf club, with a WHS index of 15.0 and above is most welcome to come along and join the Rabbits, improve their golf, and have a great time in so doing.

The Rabbits have a noticeboard to the left of the door exiting the Gentlemen’s changing room where additional information on the Section, including contact details for the Committee, can be found.

“As seniors from PHGC we have played many courses in Yorkshire and Bedale GC is rated as one of the best. With its friendly welcome, challenging parkland course and a great meal to finish the day. The forty four lads who attended all agreed that we should return.”

Les Dickinson - Pike Hills GC, York

“Another great day at Bedale Golf Club on our annual trip to Yorkshire, always a friendly welcome and excellent course.”

Lee Hammers - Rochford Hundred GC, Essex

“This is a gem. The course was immaculate, staff were friendly and the after-match food was excellent. Course is quite challenging in parts but beautifully presented and if your golf is not going well, just take in the splendid scenery of the Yorkshire Dales.””

Bob M - Via Golfshake

“This is a gem. The course was immaculate, staff were friendly and the after-match food was excellent. Course is quite challenging in parts but beautifully presented and if your golf is not going well, just take in the splendid scenery of the Yorkshire Dales.””

Bob M - Via Golfshake

“As seniors from PHGC we have played many courses in Yorkshire and Bedale GC is rated as one of the best. With its friendly welcome, challenging parkland course and a great meal to finish the day. The forty four lads who attended all agreed that we should return.”

Les Dickinson - Pike Hills GC, York

“Another great day at Bedale Golf Club on our annual trip to Yorkshire, always a friendly welcome and excellent course.”

Lee Hammers - Rochford Hundred GC, Essex