A special year at Welwyn Garden City Golf Club started with a special ceremony at the place where it all began - and even the weather gods behaved themselves.

Members of the now Mannicotts-based club gathered with guests at Russell House, home of Ron and Barbara Millar, which was the venue for the first committee meeting back on January 13, 1923.

Photographs were taken to mark the occasion and to record the start of the next 100 years of the club.

The party then moved to the golf club itself and to the first tee where members gathered to watch the unveiling of the commemorative centenary stone by the captains.

The day concluded with more than 200 members present at a cocktail party in the clubhouse for the official launch of the centenary year and the book - 100 Years of Welwyn Garden City Golf Club.

Guests included the mayor, Barbara Fitzsimon, James Reiss - the great grandson of the first captain, Richard Leopold Reiss, Chris Allen, who still holds the record of winning the club championship on 10 occasions between 1962 and 1978 and Bobby Mitchell, one of only four members to win both the Herts boys' and men’s championships.

The club's most famous former member, Sir Nick Faldo, was represented by his Matt.

The winner of six majors, three Open titles and three green jackets at the US Masters, had produced a video message though which was broadcast after the speeches.

He wished the club and its members a happy year and made a promise to visit in the summer.

The speeches of welcome were made by both captains and centenary chairman Doug Barson, who outlined what members could expect throughout the year.

The authors of the book, Keith Perry and Colin Callander, also distributed their work to all members present.

A spokesman said: "It was wonderful to see the club house bursting at its seams with an eclectic representation of its members who look forward to a fun-filled year marking the centenary of this great club."