Course of a Century 1896-1996
Golf To The Fore
Whatever financial difficulties the club was experiencing, success was beginning to reap its reward on the golf course.
The early Proprietor, Robert Skirving, generously presented the Skirving Shield to the club in 1898. This was a beautiful oak shield, overlaid with embossed silver golfing figures, and today it remains as the Club's major trophy for the Club Championship.
Rules were drawn up to compete for it, the lowest scratch scores for 8 rounds (72 holes) from the monthly medals would decide the winner. In the first year in which it was played, the winning score was 341 recorded by J Brady, Inland Revenue Officer, and he was again the winner over the next two years.
A regular handicap competition was also arranged for the second Wednesday and Saturday of each month, and a silver medal was to be played for, provided by the Captain. Other generous prizes had been donated for the opening of the 1897 season for the leading scratch scores,
- 1 doz Silvertown golf balls - Mr A Cruickshank
- 3 doz Silvertown golf balls - the Captain
- 1 Blazer - Mr J Robertson, banker
The ladies also received prizes,
- 3 doz Silvertown golf balls - Geo Robertson, druggist
- A golf club - Wm Watt, Club Secretary
A foursomes competition must also have been played as prizes were presented at the Annual General Meeting to:
- J Watt and A S Begg - Barometers
- J Brady and G Robertson - Clocks
- W Petrie and J Gray - McPherson Pipers
In the following year more competitions were introduced, 2 rounds of the course were played under handicap, with entry money 1 shilling. The Captain donated £1 to the prize fund and J Brady 10 shillings. On the same day a Ladies Competition was played of 2 short rounds of 5 holes for a prize donated by Mr G Geddes.
Success was soon to come to the Club on a wider front when the County Championship was won by J Brady on 26 July 1899. The Banffshire Golfing Association's records for that date have long since disappeared but the success is well documented in Club records.
This Championship win must have been celebrated in some style as a Special Meeting was called for 9 August when the Captain drew attention to 'the bill for drinkables incurred at the County Championship'. Each member who played was required to subscribe 1 shilling towards the amount of the bill.
The large silver medal won by J Brady was then presented to him by the Captain, and despite the intemperance of his players it must have been a very proud moment for the Captain to see the young Club's first victory recorded at County level.
In 1901 G E McLennan's Guide to Dufftown gives the course record by J Brady as 72 for 18 holes. Considering the limitations of golfing equipment then and the rough nature of the course, this was exceptionally good golf and the Club members must have enjoyed the company of such a fine golfer in their midst.
He was to be appointed Vice-Captain in 1900, but by late 1901 his name does not appear again, nor is any reason given as to why he no longer was to grace the fairways of Dufftown.
Little is recorded of competitive golf for a few years, but in 1908 the names of the first Ladies to win a competition are recorded, Helen J Watt, Mrs Low and Mrs Jas Watt each won a monthly medal.
Two years later Mr G R Mair, M.A. presented a gold brooch to the Ladies for competition, and early winners were Miss Norah Begg, Mrs Watt and Helen J Watt.
In October 1910 a letter was read out at the Annual General Meeting from Mr John Mitchell, late of Bloemfontein. He had donated a trophy to the Club which was called 'The Mitchell Cup.' Along with the cup he also donated a dressing case for the winner; James Wilson, who recorded a score for 36 holes of 173 less handicap 32, won with a net score of 141. The following year the Club received a silver plated cigarette case from John Mitchell for the winner.
The cup continues to be competed for, but is now played for as the scratch knockout trophy.
It is interesting to look at the names of the golfers recorded at a point 10 years after the course had been opened. Of the original members only two names remain, Rev J B Cumming, President and J Watt, Captain.
Taking the place of the old guard were R Gray, vice-captain; J Junor, secretary, J Innes, treasurer, and serving on the Council were; J Craig, P Currid, G Duncan, W Troup, J B Macdonald, A Mitchell and F W Osgood.
Those 10 years had taken the Club from its beginning through difficult times, a rapidly changing world embroiled in the 1914-1918 war. This was now to have a very severe impact on the Club.
Competition Notice 1912
