Course of a Century 1896-1996
Revival Once Again
The golf course lease had lapsed during the 1939-1945 War, but the post war years were very difficult times and there was little enthusiasm to restore the course again. Jimmy Gray, club treasurer, on returning from active war service immediately looked over where the course had been and found the only part left untouched was the topmost part, Viewfield. Both of the greens were deep in moss and would have to be re-cultivated and re-sown; for a number of years a few casual holes of golf could be played there, but it was 1954 before the initiative was taken to put the course in order again.
Col J E Cumming, the Estate owner, had then been appointed captain and he offered to lease the two fields Auchgorum and Viewfield only as he wished to retain the Fittie field in crops. The cultivation of the ground had brought a large quantity of stones to the surface and the first priority was to have these cleared away. Work parties of members and their families helped by the Boy Scouts, gradually managed to clear some of the old fairways. Among the Scouts who helped, and later became active golfers were Chris and Robin Maclennan, Iain Smith, Edwin Dodson, Ian Yeats and Peter Duncan.
Eventually 6 holes were restored and in 1960 competitive golf was resumed while work went on to construct the remainder of the course. Loads of topsoil, sand and rubble were carried on to the course and a band of willing members shaped the greens, dug bunkers and raised tees. Dr Maclennan was captain during the construction period and over several years the volunteers who included Hector Symon, Donald Munro and Jimmy Brand once again brought the course to its full 9 holes. Because of the reduced acreage available, the course was designed with more holes played straight up and down the hill, a tiring way to play but excellent for keeping fit.
The Club records for the period 1932-1966 sadly have been lost and an accurate record of these years cannot be made. Several of the older generation including Jimmy Gray, Mrs Jean Stewart and Mrs Meg Anderson have been very helpful in providing a lot of details and a few old photographs to revive forgotten memories and help to link the earlier days to our own. In one of the photographs Eddie Yeats, who continues to live in Dufftown, is captured as a youthful figure outside the original Clubhouse in 1929. In addition to enjoying golf, Eddie was renowned for his prize winning sweet peas and his wonderful displays graced the local Flower Shows until not so long ago.
With the 9 hole course now in play golf was once again being enjoyed to the full, but with only a modest subscription rate and no more income from sheep grazing little was available to pay for greenkeeping staff. The course was maintained on a volunteer basis for a number of years. The most diligent volunteer was Dr Maclennan, it became a familiar sight after surgery was over for his Land Rover to make its way up to the course. His enthusiasm and great love for the course was later acknowledged when he was made an honorary member in 1971. After his death he continued to be remembered in the Club by the Maclennan Trophy, kindly presented by his family, and his contribution as the driving force behind the recovery of golf after the War closure will never be forgotten.
Jimmy Gray retired as treasurer in 1966 having held the post for 33 years and he was also appointed an honorary member in recognition of his service to the Club. It may only be coincidence but his retirement occurred when a licence was first granted to the Club and a bar opened, but it is not believed that any temperance views may have prompted his retirement. Shortly afterwards money from the Ferrier Bequest was made available to the Club and the opportunity was taken to alter and improve the Clubhouse facilities and in 1969 Miss Cowie was again called upon to open the enlarged Clubhouse. A feature of the improvements was the addition of the Captain's Board presented by Winston and Margaret McKenzie. Winston was the Men's Captain and Margaret the Lady Captain and both were soon to pass the reins over to the new generation of golfers now attracted to the thriving Club.
The competitiveness of the emerging young golfers was to make its mark on a wider field for in successive years, 1969-1970, they won the Banffshire Journal Cup played at Duff House Royal. All of the players competing, Edwin Dodson, Iain Smith, Bill Duncan, Tom Glen and Sandy Nicoll were to become Club Champions. Their success in 1970 was complemented by a junior, Ian Strachan, winning the Banffshire Boys' Championship. Another fine golfer about to arrive on the scene had the benefit of dedicated tuition and encouragement from his father Jimmy Brand. Gary Brand, a tall willowy teenager broke the course record with an astonishing score of 61 in 1981 and his record remained unchallenged until the course was redesigned and extended to 18 holes in 1988. Another very successful junior was Fiona McKay who was selected for the Scottish Schoolgirls' Team in 1984, and later after moving to Elgin won the Northern Counties Ladies' Championship in 1986. Fiona also had the benefit of the quiet encouragement of her father Sam McKay. Practising on the small greens and sloping lies of Dufftown ensured that young players were equipped to play the game well on other courses.
The revived interest in golf at Dufftown was greatly stimulated by a competition begun in 1964, the Dufftown Challenge Cup, which occupies a unique chapter in the Club's history.
