Course of a Century 1896-1996

Opening Out

The decision to go ahead with the new Pavilion and to extend the course was taken at a committee meeting in September 1928. Estimates for its construction were obtained form local tradesmen and after some discussion those accepted were:

The estimate for the slates was the only one which divided the Committee, some were for the traditional slates but the new type of asbestos slates won the day, no doubt also because they would have been cheaper than traditional slates.

The building fund now stood at £386 leaving a substantial shortfall and to reduce the cost somewhat a decision was taken to delete the fireplace from the plans. A limit was set on the amount the Club should borrow, £200, and immediately it was proposed to hold a whist drive on Friday, 27 December 1929 to raise more money to cut the deficit. A sub-committee was appointed to make all the arrangements including providing prizes and engaging a dance band. Some new names appear in this committee who were later to feature prominently in the Club. Robert (Bert) Symon became Club Captain five years later and Eric McCombie was to become Club Secretary. Other new names were L McMurtrie, E Mclntosh, G W Spence, W Mackie, and the new Club Secretary, A Paul. Nothing is recorded of the outcome of the event but it must have been very successful as the Club's deficit was considerably reduced the following year and another whist dance was held on 26 December 1930. More is recorded of this event, the entry money was 2 shillings and 6 pence and the band engaged was the Pensyltucky Band from Elgin at a fee of £4.10 shillings. The "Twenties" and "Thirties" saw an explosion of new music and dance, jazz and swing was all the rage and the Club were to continue their social pleasures on the dance floor for the decades that followed to the present day.

Detailed arrangements were made for the opening ceremony to be on Wednesday, 14 May 1930. The secretary was instructed to ascertain if Miss Cowie would consent to perform the opening ceremony and failing whom, Miss A Cowie would be asked to do so. A suitable memento was to be obtained and presented to Miss Cowie. This was a small silver statuette in the form of a lady golfer and also the architect and contractor would present the traditional silver key. The Club's President, Mr Cosmo M Gordon, Buchromb, was to introduce Miss Cowie and to make the presentation of the key to the Pavilion. Major Gordon, captain, was to move the vote of thanks to Miss Cowie and hand over the statuette as a memento. Chairman of the building committee J B Macdonald was also to move a vote of thanks, Mr Teunion to reply and Provost Stewart was to move a vote of thanks to the President. This formal etiquette was very much observed at that time but the aftermath of the Second World War was to sweep away much of this old world charm.

The Opening Ceremony was a great success and an extract from the Dufftown News is pasted into the club minute book. The next committee meeting in June was profuse in its praise for the splendid work done on the course, in the building of the new Clubhouse, and to the lady members who undertook the service of entertaining guests and members at the opening function. The captain was also very pleased to announce a donation of £20 from Miss Cowie, Glenrinnes. The interest shown by Miss Isabella Cowie to the Club during her long lifetime is something that cannot be measured in mere monetary terms. There was genuine affection shown by her to the small Club and in her younger days she greatly enjoyed her golf. For almost sixty years she was always on hand and the Club enjoyed a relationship with her which it was never to lose. The extract of her speech on that opening day truly reflects the character of a wonderful person and this Press report will always form a treasured part of the Club's records.

The splendid new Clubhouse has remained to the present day, somewhat altered and added to over the years, but sadly now requires replacement. The plans drawn up will ensure that the new building will be as much in harmony with the old one as possible, and in keeping with the quiet character of the course and its beautiful scenic surroundings.

The new layout of the course must have seemed much more spacious and with its longer holes would have presented a difficult challenge. The first hole followed the line of the present first hole but continued on uphill to a green in the corner of the dykes. It measured 352 yds and was rated a par 5. The second hole was played from an elevated tee above the dyke downhill to a green in front of the Clubhouse and at 338 yds was a par 4. Uphill again and over the dyke to the third green, a hole of 317 yds par 4. The fourth hole had changed little, played uphill alongside the Conval Wood for 194 yds par 4. Then a new hole the fifth, the Heathery Hut. This hole remains the fifth today and has not changed, at 132 yds par 3 it had an out of bounds fence tight to the line to the green. Many years later this hole was to be admired by Dai Rees when he visited the course and while to a professional golfer it is not over difficult, to the average player it has always to be played with the utmost caution. The sixth hole a par 5 of 402 yds was all downhill but once again the dyke had to be negotiated. The seventh hole was played back up to the top corner of the Fittie field and at 186 yds was a par 4. The eighth swept downhill with the Burn on the left, a hazard all the way to the green. Although 395 yds par 5 it would have been quite a friendly hole. The ninth tee was the original first tee beside the old Clubhouse and the hole was 252 yds par 4 and played to a new green in front of the splendid new Clubhouse.

This layout was to last only ten years as the Fittie and Auchgorum fields were ploughed up for crops in 1940 and when the course was eventually reinstated in 1956 the Fittie field was lost to the Club. The topmost part of the course, Viewfield, was not ploughed and has remained with the original greens intact. The "Thirties" saw the most settled period of golf for the Club with many new names appearing. Jimmy Gray, honorary member, came to Dufftown to manage a drapers shop, he became Club Treasurer and although he was away on active War service he returned to take up the reins until he retired from the post in 1967, Bert Symon was to dominate the Club championship winning it for six successive years and became captain in 1934, George Nicoll won the Mitchell Cup in 1933, a feat which his son Sandy was to emulate exactly forty years later and also to win the Club Championship on four occasions in the "Seventies." Major Gordon became captain in 1937 once again, and remained until 1953 ensuring that even though the course was not available for play the Club was to continue in being through those difficult years. The Club records for this period have not survived and the Club is indebted particularly to Jimmy Gray for helping to trace events as they unfold following that disastrous Second World War.

The Course 1930-1939

Report of Opening of New Pavilion, 14th May, 1930

On Wednesday afternoon the new pavilion at Dufftown Golf Course was opened by Miss Cowie of Glenrinnes in presence of a large company. The building, which cost £500, is one of the best equipped in the north. It is a wooden erection with concrete foundation. Inside the building there is a spacious lounge, at each side of which there are locker rooms, ladies' and gentlemen's rooms, kitchenette, wash-hand basins etc. The contractors for the building were: - carpenter, Mr H. McCombie; mason, Mr A. Naughtie; slater, Mr A. Leslie; painter, Mr J. Teunon; and plumber, Mr Hugh Macpherson. The architect was Mr Leslie Dawson.

The extension of the course of nine holes is also a great improvement, and was re-laid out by the well-known golfing professional, Mr Geo. E. Smith, Moray Golf Club.

Mr Cosmo M. Gordon, president of the club, presided. He said that the Golf Club was formed in November, 1896, and the past patrons were the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, Duke of Fife, Lord Mount Stephen, Field-Marshal Sir Donald Stewart, Sir Wm. Wedderburn, M.P., and Mr J. A. Grant. The first president was Mr Skirving of Mether-cluny, Dr Cowie vice-president, and Rev. J. B. Cumming captain of the club. The course at the time was laid out by an Aberdeen professional, and was opened on 6th May, 1896, by the Rev. J. B. Cumming. A contribution of two medals by Mr Cumming was played for, and the winners were Mr John Shand, Old Schoolhouse, and Mr John Innes, North of Scotland Bank. Their respective scores were 120 and 129 - (laughter). The bogey for the course today is 64.

Since these early days there had been many changes. The course had vastly improved and new land had been taken on lease. On the most recent improvements he warmly congratulated Major Gordon and the council of the club.

I am very glad, said Mr Gordon, that Miss Cowie has been asked to honour us today in performing the opening ceremony, not only for the sake of her own company, but also because we have in mind all the energetic work put in by the late Mrs Cowie when the bazaar specially organised to raise funds for this project was held two years ago.

Mr Gordon then presented Miss Cowie with a silver key - the gift of the architect and contractors - and asked her to formally unlock the door of the pavilion.

Miss Cowie said - It is most kind of the Golf Club council to have invited me to open this fine new pavilion, and thus to have given me an opportunity to congratulate my fellow members upon the successful achievement of a long worked-for aim. A flourishing golf club is not only an asset to the community of a summer resort, but it is of inestimable value to the community itself in giving out-of-door exercise and recreation to its members at any season of the year; the greatest asset of all is the extreme sociability of the game and the opportunity it gives for young and old to meet and enjoy a game together. The Sunday newspapers make our hair curl with their astonishing attacks on the long-suffering modern young people, and almost make us believe that they are some new and dreadful calamity which has overtaken us. On the golf course at any rate ancient and modern appear to get a good deal of pleasure out of each other's company in spite of the would-be unbridgeable-gulfs between them.

It is an astonishing thought that one may start playing at the age of six or less, and still play at the age of eighty-six or more! At the age of six one may be taken to a golfing place for holidays because of keen golfing parents, so one can't help starting. At sixteen one's ambition is to beat father or mother at their own game. At thirty-six one still hopes to be at least a scratch player. At fifty-six there is nothing like golf for the figure. At seventy-six one is determined to beat young Jones aged seventy, who was once local champion for years! At eighty-six or more there is the pleasure of an occasional hole or two on a day like this with the knowledge that one is setting up records as the oldest player!

Though the motives may change, there is always the same pleasure of being out of doors in pleasant company and surroundings and free of all care for the time being. It is on a day like this that a round of golf can be enjoyed to the utmost, and I would congratulate the club upon the good fortune of having such a perfect day for the opening of the season and the commencement of a new era in its history, and have much pleasure in opening this fine new pavilion, and though I try to hit the first ball of the season with very mixed feelings and my effort may not meet with much success, I wish the club all the prosperity and success in the future, which through the enterprise of its members it so richly deserves. (Applause.)

Major Gordon, in thanking Miss Cowie for the graceful and charming manner in which she had discharged the duty, said - As the official head of the Dufftown Golf Club for the time being, I desire on behalf of all its members to express our indebtedness to Miss Cowie for the services she has rendered to the club this afternoon. I have to commend her very highly for the splendid and charming way she has performed her duty. The opening of a building such as this is usually reserved to Members of Parliament or men of great eminence, but the Dufftown Golf Club was confident that in selecting Miss Cowie, one of their own members - an active and extremely helpful member - the function would gain very much by her presence and personality. The members are very proud of this fine new building, and I can assure you they are very proud to have a member like Miss Cowie. I thank you very much for what you have done for us today and for the work you and other members of your family undertook in helping to raise funds for the erection of this building. There are many ties which link you up with this course and its members. Your father was one of the original members, we are your tenants, your home is next door, and this is your native parish

In remembrance of this happy occasion the club ask you to accept this little souvenir, which I think you will admit is quite appropriate of the occasion. We hope your well-known figure will be frequently seen on the course in the attitude depicted by this little lady. In golfing phrase; Miss Cowie, on the course of life may you encounter few of the hazards and bunkers, may your swing be always free and your putting straight and true. (Applause.)

In moving a vote of thanks to Mr Cosmo M. Gordon, ex-Provost Stewart said - It was a fortunate day for Mortlach and Banffshire when Mr and Mrs Gordon decided to settle down at Buchromb. Since they came amongst us they have both been full of good works, not only in Mortlach but wherever a helping hand was required. Mr Gordon is a busy man. He takes his full share in county work, but always finds time to share in the enjoyments of his fellow mortals. Some day we hope to see him in the seats of the mighty at Westminster. Both Mr and Mrs Gordon have a warm corner in the hearts of everyone who knows them, for not only do they radiate sympathy, but may I say give help of a more substantial kind. It is a great delight to have them here today to assist in the opening of this handsome clubhouse. The Golf Club has been a source of great pleasure since it was opened 34 years ago. How well I remember its opening, and with fear and trembling wondered if we would get over the stone wall under twenty strokes. Time has brought many changes, and it is pleasant changes we are enjoying today, and not the least is the enjoyment at the presence of our President and his good lady. I ask you to give him a right hearty vote of thanks. (Applause.)

Mr Gordon returned thanks and apologised at the absence of Mrs Gordon, who was that day opening a W.R.I, sale of work at Grange.

Mr Boyd, Convalmore, paid a high tribute to the work or the contractors, and Mr Leslie Dawson returned thanks on their behalf.

During the afternoon a splendid service of tea was given, and later a mixed foursome was engaged in.

Dufftown Golf Clubhouse 1930

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