page_title: Seaton Carew Golf Club
section_title: 8th Gray Trophy
hierarchical_section_title: Seaton Carew Golf Club / The Gray Trophy - One of the Earliest English Amateur Club Golf Trophies / Gray Trophy Winners / 8th Gray Trophy
caption_attribution_description: English: LH 8th Gray Trophy donated 1907 by Mrs Matthew Gray, RH 7th Gray Trophy donated by William Creswell Gray 1905 to Seaton Carew Golf Club
context_page_description: Seaton Carew has held golf games since 1874, making it the tenth oldest golf club in England. The Club is based on the North Sea coast, north of the River Tees in North East England. When it was first established this classic links course became the only golf club in the English counties of Yorkshire and Durham, hence its original name The Durham & Yorkshire Golf Club. In commemoration of this, today the Club's crest and badge retain the emblems of both the Archbishop of Durham and The Archbishop of York.
  As more golf clubs were coming into being, particularly in North Yorkshire and County Durham, the Club's Committee and members decided the old title was no longer apt and the name of Seaton Carew Golf Club was adopted in 1887. By the end of the 19th century the course was already regarded as one of the English game's premier golfing locations. In the 1888-89 Golfing Annual the course was described as being of "sandy nature, covered with soft velvet turf that springs under one's foot and rejuvenates the aged".
context_section_description: The 8th Gray Trophy, is the trophy still played for today and won annually but not retained by the winning Golfer. It was donated by Ms Eliza Gray (also known as Jeanie) and engraved as being donated by Mrs Matthew Gray in 1907. This was Matthew Gray's widow and she took a very active part in choosing the design of the trophy, manufactured Goldsmith & Silversmith Company Limited of London. A note in her hand writing, amongst that of the silversmith's correspondence, is in the Club's archives and states "I like (designs) No. 3 or 4, being a Golf Trophy, I rather think I like the figure, but I am not particular! I do not like the Golf Ball." .
  The golf ball comment by Mrs Gray seems to be a reflection of one of the trophy designs presented to her and not any dislike of the game. Mrs Gray on many occasions during her husband's lifetime was present and contributed to the Club's social functions. This is mentioned in a number of associated press cuttings from that time, she attended alongside many of the wives of the Club members. These  records how she and the other ladies "graced" those social and sporting events. Eventually a more classical design was finally agreed for the elegant 8th Gray Trophy that is still very much prized by the members of Seaton Carew Golf Club.
caption: LH 8th Gray Trophy donated 1907 by Mrs Matthew Gray, RH 7th Gray Trophy donated by William Gray 1905 to Seaton Carew Golf Club
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