• The A.G.C.S. transitions to the Golf Club Managers Association (G.C.M.A.).
• Regional Secretary becomes Regional Manager due to GCMA incorporation and Board creation.
• The North West Region had significant influence encouraging the move from A.G.C.S. to G.C.M.A.
• Region introduces:
  Shirts, ties, sweaters, blazer badge, lapel badge (later adopted nationally).
• Region contributes to national discussions on:
  • handicapping
  • VAT on members’ subscriptions
  • corporation tax on green fees
  • membership rules
  • rent reviews
  • rate demands
  • CASC relief
  • millennium bug
  • licensing hours
  • disability discrimination
  • Ladies’ voting rights
  • Child protection
• Regular presentations from experts continue.

• National Committee launches a national survey based on North West Region’s format (around 2001).
• Attendance begins to drop as new secretaries face increased work pressures.
• Retired members continue to contribute valuable knowledge.
• Region remains geographically the largest: Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Isle of Man.
• Maintains highest per-capita membership and meeting attendance.
• 2010 – North Wales assigned to the Wales Region, though North West still holds events in North Wales and many Welsh colleagues remain members.

• Membership continues rising; meetings every 6 weeks.
• Three annual matches: Midlands, Yorkshire, Liverpool Captains.
• Strong attendance: 50+ per event.
• Randomised draw for golf competitions is introduced.
• Journals feature “breezy chatty style” reports that still fully detail meeting business.
• Mid-meeting “news sheets” issued for topical updates.
• Past Captains badge introduced in 1999.
• Regional Captain now wears a badge of office.

Annual subscription increased to £3.

60 Clubs represented (up from 28 in 1976).

• Membership steadily increases.
• North Wales clubs join, expanding the group.
• Quarterly meetings expand to even more frequent events.
• Supplier presentations and factory/site visits introduced.
• Format: business meeting → lunch → afternoon golf.
• Annual Invitation Day established (Captains as guests).
• Regional Annual Survey grows significantly:
  • Originally limited to:
    • Professionals’ retainers (1972: £500–£750)
    • Head Greenkeepers’ wages (1966: avg £16 p/w; 1974: avg £35 p/w)
    • Secretaries’ salaries (1965: £800–£1230; 1971: £1800 or £1400 + accommodation)
    • Price of spirits (1975: Whisky 20p, Gin 19p)
  • Later becomes a major national model, adopted by the National Committee (approx. 2001).

• First match vs North East Region (later Yorkshire), held at Moortown.

• 19 February 1976 – First formal A.G.M. at Caldy Golf Club.
• Subscription set at £1 per annum for administration.
• Matches begin: Midlands Region – first match at Trentham.

• George Mitchell (Hesketh Golf Club Secretary) chairs the Region.
• Niblick Trophy introduced—owned by Hesketh but loaned annually.

5 June 1973 – Heswall Golf Club

• Title changed to A.G.C.S. North West Region.
• Jim Fawcett becomes the first Secretary under the new title.
• Call for a volunteer Hon. Editor for Journal submissions.

Winter 1966–67

• Discussion of the size of the Merseyside & District area; boundaries not extended to avoid unwieldy meetings.
• Discussion topics:
  • A.G.C.S. tie quality
  • Staff orders bypassing the Secretary (undermining his role)
  • In most clubs, all staff orders given by the Secretary → effectively the Manager.
• Journal reports:
  • Some southern secretaries begin annual conferences led by “Pop” Rees of Burhill—serious discussions held 10 a.m. to lunchtime.
  • Merseyside follows the model but meets quarterly.

• A.G.C.S. Journal publishes the Object of the Association regularly.
• Widely agreed that HQ and most sections were not fulfilling these objects and had become mere golfing societies.
• Only meetings fulfilling the formal objects:
  Burhill (infrequently) and Merseyside (quarterly).

3 May 1966

• Second meeting held at Formby Golf Club, purpose:
  “to exchange ideas and information on the running of Golf Clubs in the area.”
• Clubs represented include:
  Royal Liverpool, West Lancashire, Wallasey, Prenton, Caldy, Childwall, Eaton, Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, Bromborough, Woolton, Formby, Royal Birkdale, Leasowe.
• Meeting format:
  Business 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., followed by lunch.
• Early topics:
  • Secretary duties/hours
  • Salaries
  • Office staff
  • Clubhouse catering (often subsidised)
  • Low support for luncheons, proposal to close dining room one day/week
  • Lunch prices: 8/6d–11/6d for 3 courses; table charge for visitors
  • Bar stocktaking
  • Locker room thefts
  • Greenstaff issues
  • Green fees and guest variances
  • Subscriptions and entry fees
  • Professionals’ retainers

14 December 1965 – Inaugural meeting of the Merseyside and District Conference of Secretaries at Wallasey Golf Club.

Late 1950s–Early 1960s

The Society of Liverpool Golf Captains exists and encourages communication between club secretaries.Regional meetings take place on a semi business/social basis.

Continued lack of interest in forming a North West regional body.

June 1956 A.G.C.S. journal Golf Course and Club House notes:

Members are asked to volunteer.

No organiser can be found for a North Western Section (covering Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumberland, Westmorland).

A.G.C.S. Regions formally created in:

• North East
• Midlands
• South West
• London and Home Counties
• Scotland

• Golf remains a leisure activity largely for the “upper echelon” of society.
• A.G.C.S. begins devolving into “Regions” where members can meet socially.
• Many clubs are run by volunteers; the Honorary Secretary is often elected yearly.
• Professional club managers are not yet common.

The Association of Golf Club Secretaries (A.G.C.S.) is founded.

1939–1945 – World War II: Little is known about national A.G.C.S. activity during the war.