Forgotten Greens of Scotland
Forgotten Greens of Scotland

Lairg.

Lairg Golf Club.  Founded 1893.  A 9-hole course, laid out by Mr Alex McHardy, and kept in very good order. 

 

Golfers Guide for 1894. 

THIS capital nine-hole green has not been very long opened, but has

already established its popularity.

Little is known of the club until 1912 when the course was refurbished and reopened in July 1912 by Charlotte Wallace, wife of the proprietor of the Sutherland Arms Hotel.   The intention was that it be used by hotel guests, however a number of the villagers, headed by the Rev J McKechnie, asked Mr Wallace if they could form a club.  In October the club was formed with 31 members and a Committee elected.   (Facsimile of Minutes)

Scotsman July 29th, 1912

 

Through the enterprise of Mr Wallace, Lairg is now provided with a nine-hole golf course, the formal opening if which took place on Friday afternoon. With the consent of his landlord, the Duke of Sutherland, he has with commendable enterprise turned his farm into a golf course, and it says much for the spirit with which Mr Wallace has tackled the problem when mention is made of the fact that part of the ground which is now being golfed over was under turnip and potato crop last season.

   The course was designed by Chief Constable McHardy, and the work of construction was carried out under the direction of Mr J Sutherland, the Secretary of the Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

   The ceremony of declaring the course open was performed by Mrs Wallace in the customary manner. Thereafter a number of golfers, consisting mainly of a party of Dornoch players, who motored over to take part in the opening of the course, played a round.

   The course is pleasantly situated on the high ground, with the waters of the Shin right below, and some of the finest bens in Sutherland and Ross in the background.

Northern Times August 1st 1912

 

New Golf Course At Lairg

                                                            Opening Ceremony

 

Through the enterprise of Mr Wallace, hotel keeper, Lairg is now provided with a nine-hole golf course, the formal opening of which took place on Friday afternoon. Like many other hotelkeepers in the highlands, Mr Wallace has perceived the necessity to meet the growing demands for golf amongst his clientele mainly disciples of Iassak Walton, and with the consent of his landlord, the Duke of Sutherland, he has with commendable enterprise turned his farm into a golf course. Farm land does not often lend itself to conversion into golfing ground even when money is no hindrance to the project ; it never does so without it. It says much for the spirit with which Mr Wallace has tackled the problem when mention is made of the fact that part of the ground which is now being golfed over was under turnip and potato crop last season.

Fine and expensive seeds were liberally sowed down in order to give a quick and satisfactory mat of grass at two of the holes ; these are already the best on the course. The work of construction was carried out under the direction of Mr J. Sutherland, the secretary of the Royal Dornoch golf club.

The ceremony of declaring the course open was performed by Mrs Wallace in the customary manner, by driving the first ball. Thereafter a number of golfers, consisting mainly of a party of Dornoch players who motored over to take part in the opening of the course, played round. The best return was made by Mr Sutherland whose two rounds were 35, and 36 = 71, which for the present will figure as “ the record.”

 

The course is pleasantly situated on the high ground beside the hotel, access to the first tee being obtained through the garden. With the waters of the Shin right below, and some of the finest bens in Sutherland and Ross, in the background, this latest addition to North country golf is certain to be appreciated particularly upon these occasions when Loch Shin lies like a sheet of glass, and the plying of the rod and reel is a futile occupation.

Ross-Shire Journal Friday August 2nd 1912

Golf Course For Lairg.

 

Through the enterprise of Mr Wallace, Hotel keeper, Lairg is now provided with a nine hole golf course, the formal opening of which took place on Friday afternoon.

With the consent of his landlord, the Duke of Sutherland, Mr Wallace has turned his farm into a golf course. Part of the ground which is now being golfed over, was under turnip and potato crop last season, but fine and expensive seeds were liberally sown down in order to give a quick and satisfactory mat of grass at two of the holes, and these are already the best on the course.

The work of construction was carried out under the direction of Mr J. Sutherland, secretary of the Royal Dornoch Club. The ceremony of declaring the course open was performed by Mrs Wallace, driving off the first ball. Thereafter a number of golfers, consisting namely of a party of Dornoch players who motored over to take part in the opening, played round.

The best return was made by Mr Sutherland, whose two rounds were 35 and 36 –71, which for the present will figure as the “ Record”. The course is pleasantly situated on the ground beside the Hotel, access to the first tee being obtained through the garden. With the waters of the shin right below, and some of the finest Bens in Sutherland and Ross in the background, this latest addition to North Country golf is certain to be appreciated, particularly upon these occasions when Loch Shin lies like a sheet of glass, and the plying of rod and reel is a futile occupation.

  Ladies were formally admitted in January 1913.  The fixture list included a match with Bonar Bridge GC. 

   In March 1915 the minutes noted that many members were away on military service, and while a committee was elected, no fixture were drawn up.  The minutes cease after June 1919. 

   There is evidence that the course was played upon after that date but no trace of a club as such.  Mr Wallace died in the early 1920s and the Hotel and course passed to his daughter.  However, she moved a few years later and it is likely that the course ceased to be used after this time. 

   At the outset of WW2 the hotel was taken over by the Ministry of Defence as the Headquarters Northern Battle School and the course was used to billet troops under training.

   A trophy, the Wallace Shield, and the Minute Book from 1912-1919, reappeared in 1997 in another part of Sutherland and are now held in the village.  (NT Aug 1997)

Major trophies:  Wallace Shield, Hector Mackay Cup, Joseph Mackay Gold Medals, "The Inkstand".

 

Last recorded 1923.

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