The British United Golf Society (BUGS) was initially a Golf Society available to the employees of the British United Shoe Machinery Company Ltd (BUSM), whose headquarters where centred in the Belgrave area of Leicester. British United Shoe Machinery Ltd was founded in 1899 and became the world’s largest manufacturer of footwear machinery and materials, exporting shoe machinery to more than fifty countries.

One of the original founders of the Company was Charles Bennion who purchased Bradgate Park, home of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days Queen, for the people of Leicester on 29 December 1928.

Originally the Golf Society was overseen by the Sports and Social Club that also administered a multitude of other Sports. The Golf Society would have various days out during the summer months visiting various Golf Clubs in the rejoin for competition golf. The Sports and Social Club had a building (The Institute) for indoor Sports and activities in Hildyard Road, Belgrave and a Sports Athletic ground on Thurcaston Road, Mowmacre Hill.

Due to falling employee numbers, in 1986 BU’s parent Company in America, Emhart closed the Athletics ground and Institute. Henceforth all Company Sporting activities ceased. This included the Golf Society.

Some years later, 1995 to be precise, six employees of BUSM, Graham Allen, David Bond, Ken Marshall, Keith O’Neill, Kevin Toach and Ron Tunks came together to organise three golfing competitions to see if there was sufficient interest amongst the employees of BUSM to reform the golfing society. The three events were played at Western Park Golf Club, Beedles Lake Golf Club and Rushcliffe Golf Club. All three events were well attended and gave the impetus to reform the Golfing Society.

An AGM was held the following year, 1996, to formalise the Society and to elect the appropriate officers. Notable attendees at the inaugural AGM were BUSM Director, Roger D Christian, L&RGU Amateur Champion in 1961 and 1966 and Paul Tadman, Welsh Boys’ Championship winner 1970.

The original elected officers were :-

·       Chairperson – Trevor Tams

·       Secretary – Ken Marshall

·       Treasurer – Kevin Toach

·       Captain – Ron Tunks

·       Committee – Graham Allen & Keith O’Neill

Initially membership of the Society was open only to current employees of BUSM.

At the 1997 AGM full membership of the Society was approved for retired and ex-employees of BUSM and USM Texon. An associated membership was made available to anyone who did not fall into the previously mentioned category, subject to the Management Committees approval.