History

The origins of 'The Willows' can be traced back to 1989, and was conceived in The Two Brewers pub in Ongar. 

The idea was put together by Terry Barnard (the pub landlord), Greg Sims, Paul Kelly & Peter Morrison. Greg put himself forward to act as secretary and has pretty much run the Society, it has to be said, very successfully ever since. Not many societies have achieved such longevity and to this day, the society is still very well supported.

The Society was originally known as “The Two Brewers Golf Society” and the first tour trophy was The Two Brewers Rose Bowl, still contested to this day. The original members were a mix of Terry’s contacts from the Walthamstow, Chingford & Epping areas along with local guys from Ongar & Kelvedon Hatch.

The Society’s name was changed when Terry moved to another pub in Havering Village named “The Willows”. This name also helped with booking society venues as in those days the better clubs did not encourage pub societies with all their “riff, raff”!

Just to complicate things, this pub was originally known for a couple of hundred years as The Royal Oak and not long after Terry moved on, it did revert back to its original name. So therefore, The Willows pub is no more!

But the Willows Society very much lives on!

Two major factors have helped massively in its continued success. Firstly, is the involvement of the “younger generation”. This is mainly made up of sons of original members along with their close friends & acquaintances. Secondly is the emergence of the Kent boys. Again, initially with the attendance of two fathers and their sons , to now, a big presence both on tour and at regular society days of committed lads from “the other side of the river”.

All of the above has contributed immensely to what “The Willows” is today, and long may it continue!