Course of a Century 1896-1996
Finding a Course
THE first reference to finding a site for a golf course was recorded in the Banffshire Herald of 21st September 1895. It reported a meeting which took place in the Town Hall chaired by Provost Symon.
All those in the Town who were keen to have a golf course were enthusiastic that they had found a most suitable location at Parkbeg Hill.
Rev. J B Cumming gave his view that for fresh air and splendid views there would be no inland course like it. All it needed was to have the whins removed.
The meeting agreed to approach the owner, Mr Kemp, to obtain permission to have the ground examined.
Nothing more of this venture is known or reported and the reason why is hard to tell. The land would have been of little use for agriculture and it must have been some other reason why it fell through.
One possible explanation may have been because of the nearby Lime Works, and the fact that the ground was over the underlying lime seam. The owner may simply have been ensuring that nothing should hinder any future quarrying. It may just be coincidence but one of the first Council members of the new Club was Mr J F Forsyth, Lime Works.
A month later the Banffshire Herald reported an attempt to find another site. This was on land partly on the Pittyvaich Estate and partly on the Glenrinnes Estate. The Club minutes record this attempt, and its failure as terms could not be agreed with Mr Symon, Pittyvaich Estate.
In November 1895 outline agreement was however reached for 32 acres on the Farm of Methercluny, entirely on the Glenrinnes Estate owned by Mr Robert Skirving.
Terms were successfully negotiated and in January 1896 an agreement in writing meant that the search was over.
Before the formal granting of the lease the new Club was required to provide Mr Skirving with a list of responsible committee members together with a set of rules for the running of the course.
The rules agreed were:
- Admittance to the Golf Club shall only be to members and visitors who pay for their rounds.
- All caddies to be duly licensed by the Committee.
- Members and visitors are prohibited from having dogs on the course.
- A responsible man will be in charge of the course.
The tranquillity of estate life was not going to be disturbed by excursions of rowdy townsfolk.
Trustees named in the lease were:
- Rev J B Cumming (E C Manse)
- Dr Cowie (Dullanbrae)
- Mr John Thomson (Fife Arms)
- Mr William Spence (Clothier)
With formalities completed the Club now set out to build the course in a remarkably short space of time.
