Fife Herald November 9th,1837
Hercules Club. Formed in 1837. A multi-activity club which had a golfing section. Its meetings were held, mostly, on Dunbarnie Links, on the coast south-west of Colinsburgh.
“A gymnastic club - The Hercules Club - having been formed here sometime ago, a general half yearly meeting took place on Saturday last the 4th inst, when the members repaired to Dunbarnie Links to compete for one of the silver golf medals belonging to the club, which after a keen competition of two rounds of the links, comprising nine holes each, Sir Ralph A. Anstruther Bart, of Balcaskie, and Mr John Wood, Banker, Colinsburgh, came in equal at 109 strokes. This being the fewest number, they played another round, when the medal was gained by Mr Wood by two strokes.
Fife Herald November 9th, 1837
A similar club was lately formed in Elie, and a wish having been generally expressed by members of both that the two should be con-joined, they accordingly were united under the title of “ The East Of Fife Gymnastic Club” it being the purpose of the club to embrace a great variety of games and athletic exercises. The club, as so united, meets three times a year, twice on Dunbarnie Links, and once on Earlsferry Links, competing for a golf medal at each meeting.
From the liberality of Charles Halkett Craigie, of Lahill, who has given a grant of a stance for a house ( To be called " Siberia" ) and garden on Dunbarnie Links, besides the privilege of playing over the links, the members have every facility afforded for practising the different games. The house is now in progress of erection, the expense of which to be defrayed by subscriptions amongst the members, and the club has now enrolled members to the number of 47, comprising almost all the landed proprietors in the neighbourhood.
After competing for the medal on Saturday, the members dined together in Mrs Ronald’s Inn, Colinsburgh, Mr Halkett Craigie, Captain of the club, in the chair, when the evening was spent with the utmost harmony and good humour. Sir Ralph Anstruther was elected Captain for the ensuing year.”
The Second Meeting Of The Clubtakes place on Dunbarnie Links on Saturday
the 28th current,at 12 o’clock
when the “ Hume Medal” will be competed for
Dinner in Mrs Ronald’s Inn, Colinsburgh at 5 O’Clock
Geo. Wood, Secretary
Colinsburgh, 16th July, 1838
Perth Advertiser October 14th, 1841
“The autumn meeting of the Hercules club was held at Dunbarnie Links on Saturday 2nd, instant, when the medal presented by John Wood Esq, Banker, Colinsburgh, was played for and gained by Mr John C. Fernie of Edinburgh at 104 strokes. Before starting for the medal the competitors were handicapped, and played for sweepstakes, which were also gained by Mr Fernie. The members thereafter dined in the club-house, Charles Craigie Halket Esq, of Lahill, in the chair.
Caledonian Mercury May 13th, 1843
“The club met on Dunbarnie Links, on the 5th current, to compete for one of the Medals. Fourteen competitors started, and after two rounds of the links, Mr John Wood, banker, Colinsburgh, was declared the winner. The members thereafter dined in Mrs Ronald’s Inn, Colinsburgh, Sir Ralph Anstruther, the Captain, presiding. George Simpson, younger of Pitcorthie, was elected captain for the next year.”
Gymnastic Games are fixed to come off on Dumbarnie Links
on Friday the 26th current
To begin with rifle shooting at 12 noon
Colinsburgh, 16th July 1844
(Fife Herald, 25.7.1844)
Fife Herald July 17th, 1845
Tues 5th August 1845
Colinsburgh Gymnastic Games
And
Golf Meeting
These games have now been fixed to come off on Dumbarnie Links,
on Tues 5th August, when, besides the usual prizes to be competed for,
by the Agricultural Peasantry of the district, and the amateur competition,
the following prizes will be given, and open for general competition to those from any part of the country, viz :-
Running High Leap, ……. ….. …… £2 0 0
Running Hop, Step and Leap ….. …. 0 15 0
Throwing The Hammer, 14 lbs … … 1 0 0
Throwing The Stone 22 lbs … … … 0 10 0
Foot Race …. …. ………… 0 10 0
The competition by members of the golf club, for the Hume Medal, will commence precisely at 10 o’clock.
The rifle shooting at half past 12,and those who are to compete must each be provided with a rifle, as no borrowing of rifles willbe allowed.
The other athletic exercises will follow immediately thereafter, and those intending to compete for thePrizes mustenter their names with the secretary at Colinsburgh, at latest by Saturday the 2nd of August.
The committee have decided that only four tents for refreshments shall be admitted to the grounds, one from each of the four villages,
Colinsburgh, Largo, Elie, and Kilconquhar:
and they must be provided with the secretary’s card of admission..
Further particulars will appear in the handbills.
Colinsburgh, 15th July 1845
Fife Herald August 8th, 1845
“These games came off on Dumbarnie Links on Tuesday the 5th current. The day being fine, a vast assemblage of people were on the ground to the number of six to eight thousand, and the tents pitched for refreshments, with the numerous equipages, gave the scene altogether a very imposing and gay appearance.
An excellent band, provided by the committee, was also in attendance, playing some beautiful airs as a prelude to the various competitions which took place.
The place chosen for the purpose is particularly well adapted for such a thing, the games being conducted on low ground between two low conical hills, the spectators covering the rising ground on both sides of the circle formed for the exhibition. Everything was conducted with much regularity, and in such a way to keep up the excitement for five or six hours. We observed with much pleasure the interest taken in the whole proceedings by some of the leading proprietors in the district – Colonel Lindsay, Sir Ralph Anstruther, &c, being within the ring all the time, suggesting and directing the proceedings as well as ordering additional prizes to some of the young competitors.
The district, however, is indebted in particular to one gentleman for having instituted these games, viz, Mr Lumsdain of Lathallan, who some years ago made the suggestion and offered £5 for prizes to the agricultural peasantry – a meritorious class, and well entitled to a holiday of this kind ; and being followed up by all the landed proprietors as well as the tenantry the meeting has grown up to the importance it now possesses.
Golf
The Hercules Golf Club met at 10 o’clock to play for the Hume medal, when 18 competitors started, and after two rounds of the links, scores were counted, when Mr William Clark, Hallhead, and Mr Martin, Edinburgh, were found to be equal, Mr Wood, Banker, Colinsburgh, being third on the list. Mr Martin and Mr Clark having played another round, the former was declared the holder of the medal.
At one o’clock the other games commenced with rifle shooting, 15 competitors, the first prize being awarded to Captain Loyd Anstruther, the second to Colonel Moncreiff.
Those taking an interest in these games are much indebted to Mr Brown, the tenant of the links, who has from time to time liberally granted permission to hold the games there.”
A regular who's, who, of the Fifeshire Nobility.
One thing which makes the Dumbarnie Links stand out from other courses at the time, is not so much the location or the quailty of the links, but more a case of the availability ( to the general public and estate workers ) of playing the golf course whilst mixing with the finest in nobility that fifeshire can offer, which was similar to the early day's at Leith Links. Most, if not all, the members of this club were members of the Royal & Ancient golf club, and many became Captains of the same. The gentlmen in the picture ( Sir Thomas Moncrieff, Bart. ) was just one of the many giants of golf, not only in Fife, but in all Scotland, who regularly frequented the links at dumbarnie. The annual games held at the links were a local holiday for all the workers of these vast estates and they were liberally entertained with free food and drink from their rich employers, which probably contributed much to the huge crowds who attended the games. Most of the competitors were in fact estate workers, but a certain group of Scottish touring sportsmen also attended. It was also a chance for the ladies ( of all classes ) to get dolled up, in their finest, and enjoy the spectacle being enacted out before them. It must have been some car park ( oh sorry ) horse and carriage park to accommodate all the visitors, many, however, who actually walked the several miles to the venue.
Fife Herald July 28th, 1848
Large Crowds Watch The Games and The Golf
“The meeting for the gymnastic games and Hercules golf club competition for the Schiehallion medal, presented to the club by Captain Campbell, St Andrews, came off on Dumbarnie Links on Wednesday the 12th curt. The golf competition commenced the proceedings, and after a spirited contest of two rounds of the links, the medal was gained by Mr John Clark, Warmiston, at 105 strokes. The members, after partaking of a cold collation in the golf-house, proceeded to the gymnastic arena, where arrangements, under the active superintendence of the secretary, had been made for the athletic exercises. This romantic spot, situated on a level piece of ground between two grassy hillocks, forming a complete amphitheatre, was crowded by a numerous and gay assemblage, amounting to about four thousand. The effect was most imposing – tier above tier occupying the rising ground in varied holiday attire. The weather was most propitious, and the inspiring strains of the band from Kirkland Works combined to cheer and gratify all parties. On no former occasion were the various exercises better competed.”
Captain Campbell ( far left with the flamboyant outfit ) playing a match at St Andrews with Allan Robertson, Tom Morris, Bob Andrews, Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair, Watty Alexander.
Caledonian Mercury July 19th, 1849
The second meeting for the season was held on Dumbarnie Links on the 13th current, when the “Schiehallion” medal was played for, and won by the champion of Leven Links, David Wallace, Esq., at ninety seven strokes of two rounds.”
Fife Herald July 29th, 1858
Colinsburgh
4,000 Spectators watching the golf.
Our golfing links presented a very gay and animating scene on Thursday and Friday last week, in consequence of the Hercules Golf Meeting and East Of Fife Games being held there. The muster of golfers was much larger than for some years, and more interest excited by three medals being competed for, viz., the “ Halkett,” “ Wood,” and “ Schiehallion,”
There was a goodly sprinkling of the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood onlookers, as well as players, and the start was also graced by the presence of a number of the fair sex. The competition for the medals commenced about twelve o’clock, when the following pairs played off – 1, Sir R.A. Anstruther, Bart ; John Whyte Melville Esq ; 2, J. Moncrieff Skene, Esq,; Lord Charles Kerr ; 3, Sir Thomas Moncrieff, Bart ; Hay Erskine Wemyss, Esq,; 4, Andrew Nicoll, Esq ; Thomas Morgan, Esq ; 5, David Wallace,Esq ; Captain Kinloch ; 6, Thomas Peter, Esq ; O’Brian Peter, Esq. The day was favourable, although rather too much wind, and the course in consequence of the links not having been much played upon for some time a little rough, which made the play not quite so good as it otherwise would have been.
After two rounds of the course, it was found that Sir Thomas Moncrieff had gained the “ Schiehallion,” Mr Thomas Peter, the “ Halkett,” and Mr Thomas Morgan the “ Wood,” medal. The rifle shooting then commenced, and after three round s each, W.L. Lumsdaine, Esq of Lathallan, was awarded the sweepstakes, which he very liberally gave up for a hurdle race to come off next day.
The meeting on Friday was much more numerously attended by a very great number of all classes of the community, and by a large turn out of carriages of all kinds, from the humble ass-cart to the well appointed carriage of the nobleman, and the scene presented by looking up on the rising ground on either side of the lists was one of great animation and beauty, from the gay and varied hues of the ladies dresses relieved by the more subdued garments of “ lords of the creation,” The games began at twelve o’clock, and although the numbers of competitors was not so great as we have seen, still the interest was well sustained, as those who came forward seemed in general to have been in good training. Everything passed off well, and the large assemblage, computed at about 4,000 dispersed quietly at about six o’clock, expressing the hope that another such meeting may annually take place here.
Fife Herald September 18th, 1870
“A meeting of the Hercules golf club will be held at the golf-house, Dumbarnie, on Saturday the 17th inst. at 12 o’clock, noon, for the purpose of electing new members and any other business that may be brought before the meeting. Immediately thereafter, the medal belonging to the club will be played for.” It has also been intimated the Mr Hay Erskine Wemyss has pesented the club with a challenge cup to be competed for at the discretion of the committee.
Fife Herald September 18th, 1870
“A meeting of the Hercules golf club will be held at the golf-house, Dumbarnie, on Saturday the 17th inst. at 12 o’clock, noon, for the purpose of electing new members and any other business that may be brought before the meeting. Immediately thereafter, the medal belonging to the club will be played for.” It has also been intimated the Mr Hay Erskine Wemyss has pesented the club with a challenge cup to be competed for at the discretion of the committee.
Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette, May 15th, 1901
“Details of the once famous Dunbarnie, or Colinsburgh, golf club have been recently unearthed. It is believed to have been founded about 1837, but when it died is uncertain – anyway, before 1867, the date of the “ Golfers Year Book.” It is believed that the last members were Rintoul of Lahill, Morgan of Coats, and John Flockhart, Banker, Colinsburgh.
It was of the nature of an athletic society, and the golfing section is now represented by the flourishing Elie Golf House Club, and the curling by the Hercules who play on Kilconquhar Loch.
It may interest some familiar with the history of the game if we give a list of the early club winners. It ran:- John Berwick, Elie 1837; Major Hugh ( Afterwards Sir Hugh ) Playfair, the ever famous provost of St Andrews, 1838; John Clark, Wormiston 1839; Halkett Craigie of Lahil and Dunbarnie,1840 and1841; Fernie of Lilmux1842; John Wood, Banker, Colinsburgh,1843; Captain Campbell of Schiehallion,1844,1846,1847; George Todd, Balcomie,1845, 1848” (LAWG 15.5.1902) Several of these were also members of the R & A, Major Playfair, John Wood, Sir Ralph Anstruther, Rintoull of Lahill, Craigie of Lahill, George Todd.”
Authors’ note.
The above statement that the club folded before 1867 is incorrect as our last extract dated 1870 shows. This was a multi-activity club, with a golfing section with a very distinguished and privileged membership, so it is quite understandable why it would not have appeared in “Golfers Year Book” in 1867. Further, if, as stated, “the golfing section is now represented by the flourishing Elie Golf House Club,” the 1870 activity is nearer to the founding of the Golf House Club in 1875. However, as yet, i have been unable to determine precisely when the club did close. One possibility is when the Volunters took over the links in 1872 for their camps and excercises etc.
Some of the articles call it Dunbarnie and some Dumbarnie. Modern usage is the latter.
I have hundreds of old layout sketches in my data base, but nothing like this !!
The New Golf Links at Dumbarnie
What would the old members say if they could see this.
Spectacular !
In 2019 and long before Covid came to haunt us, myself, David Hamilton ( Noted Historian ) were invited by the construction manager ( Graham Taylor ) to visit the new golf links at Dumbarnie. Myself and David also used this visit to survey the old links which were adjacent to the new layout.