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Glenalmond College Golf Course, Perth & Kinross. (1878 - 1950s)
The Golfing Annual below states that the Glenalmond Trinity College Golf Club was Instituted in 1878.
Extract from The Golfing Annual 1888/89.
The following information has kindly been compiled and provided by the archivist at Glenalmond College.
“The first recorded competition was held in 1883 over three rounds of a 7-hole course within the College grounds. It was won by E B H Blackwell who was a pupil at the school from 1880 until 1885. He went on to win many medals at St Andrews and was Captain of the R and A in 1925 and 1926. He also played golf for Scotland.
We do know that there was a course in the College grounds before this date, probably going back to 1878. Unfortunately, we do not have a plan of this course. Rules from the 1930s state "If a football post comes between a player's ball and the green, the ball may be lifted and dropped not nearer the hole without penalty" (NB by "football, they actually mean rugby". Also, "No strokes may be played off the cricket square".
Also, the following is recorded, also from the 1930s. The 9th hole went from the trees on the slopes near the Warden's house to a green just in front of the College buildings. A wild high slice from the tee landed on the roof exactly at the rone gutter, came down inside the rone pipe and was delivered at the bottom ready for the second shot.
We know that the course in the grounds was changed from time to time but we have no more details. We do have a photograph of golf being played c1903, below.
Putting out on the Glenamond course in 1903.
From the 1920s boys were allowed, on special occasions, to play on the Braid course at the Cairnies. This course was gifted to the school in 1945. Golf continued to be played in the school grounds, although less frequently, until the 1950s because it was an easier course for boys.
The Braid course at the Cairnies still belongs to the College and is used by the school and members of the public by permission.”
Mentioned above is E B H Blackwell. The article below gives some indication of his golfing prowess.
From The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News Saturday 8th October 1892. Image © Illustrated London News Group.
The golf course is not marked but the cricket pitch is in the centre of the 1893 O.S. Map below.
Trinity College and the cricket square. © Crown Copyright {1893}
From the Perthshire Advertiser Wednesday 7 September 1921; “Welome Home To The Laird – A Delightful Surprise – Since purchasing the beautiful estate of “The Cairnies” Glenalmond, Mr Maurice F Anderson has had great alterations carried out on the Mansion House. On return from his travels Mr J Millar, head gardener, presented Mr Anderson with two oak pedestals which bore the inscription “Presented to Mr & Mrs Maurice F Anderson by their estate employees on the occasion of their taking up residence in The Cairnies – August 1921.”
From the Dundee Courier Thursday 23 March 1922; “Perth Clubs’ Prospects – Perthshire is to have a boom season at golf. Planned by Joe Anderson, Perth, new private courses have been constructed at Cairnies and Meikleour.”
Extract from a report from the Dundee Courier Monday 9 June 1924; “Today Havers, the open champion and winner of the Gleneagles tournament last year, Duncan, Mitchell, Ray, Braid, Ockenden, Joe Anderson, Barnes Taylor, Ritchie, Lockhart and another are engaged at a private golf party at Cairnies, Glenalmond.”
Special Tournament played on the Cairnies at Glenalmond in July 1933.
Dundee Courier Monday 10th July 1933. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The College acquire the entire Estate in July 1946.
Dundee Evening Telegraph Tuesday 30th July 1946. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The Google Map below pinpoints the cricket pitch which is still in the same location as it was in 1893. One of the Local Rules stated that "No strokes may be played off the cricket square."