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Shetland Golf Club, Bressay & Annsbrae Courses. (1891 - 1970)
The club played on courses at Bressay and Ansbrae.
Report on the first annual meeting in November 1891.
Shetland Times Saturday 21 November 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
From the Dundee Advertiser Thursday 3 December 1891; "A Golf Club has been formed at Lerwick under the name of Shetland Golf Club. There are over 30 members - Mr John Bruce of Sumburgh being elected Captain, and Lieutenant Furlonger Secretary and Treasurer. A course has been obtained at Bressay."
At the spring meeting on Saturday 9 April 1892 the "Fort Medal" presented by Lieut. Furlonger R.N., was played for, result; C D Laurenson, 114-18-96; J B Anderson, 129-30-99; A A Porteous, 135-36-99; A Mitchell, 118-16-102; A McD. Reid, 122-18-104; A C Hay, 108 scratch; A Sutherland, 145-36-109; H Shennan, 110 scr; J C Grierson, 132-16-116; A Furlonger, 130-12-118; A Sandison, 123 scr; J J R Meiklejohn, 124 scr; J S Tulloch, 163 scr; A Mitchell junr, 191 scr.
Competition played in August 1893.
From the Shetland Times Saturday 12 August 1893. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a match against Orkney Golf Club in May 1895.
From the Shetland Times Saturday 11 May 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a match played at Bressay against Orkney (Kirkwall) Golf Club in April 1896.
| Shetland (Lerwick) Golf Club | Orkney (Kirkwall) Golf Club | ||
| J Clark | 10 | J McEwan | 0 |
| L Laurenson | 3 | A Buchan | 0 |
| A Bethune | 0 | G Gibson | 2 |
| A Russell | 0 | G Sutherland | 0 |
| A W Laing | 0 | J Slater | 6 |
| J W Laurenson | 8 | J M Scott | 0 |
| J R Halcrow | 2 | B H Hosack | 0 |
| C J Gilbertson | 9 | J Fraser | 0 |
| 32 | 8 |
Below, the virtues of Shetland Golf.
Article from The Sketch Wednesday 5 July 1899. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The following is from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1891; Memberhip of 80; Hon. Sec. D R Morrison, 74 Commercial St, Lerwick; Captain - J Bruce; Entrance Fee Nil and Subs 12s/6d; Nine-holes; Amateur Record - J Clark, 68 (18-holes); Terms for visitors - 2s/6d a month. The principal course for the Shetland Club is on the Island of Bressay, opposite Lerwick, and distant by sea about a mile. This is a nine-hole course; the turf is fairly good and the ground of an undulating nature. The chief hazards are the natural formation of the ground, patches of gorse, ditches, and stone walls. The Shetland Club also has a six-hole course at Annsbrae, Lerwick. This is a very sporting course, the ground being very hilly. It is intersected by stone walls, and bounded on one side by cliffs descending to the sea. The turf is excellent.
In April 1907 the Lerwick club travelled to play on the new course of the Scalloway club. John Junor playing against C J Gilbertson, did the 14-holes in 73, the first round being done in 33.
| Scalloway Golf Club | Lerwick Golf Club | ||
| Mr Georgeson | 0 | Mr Dunbar | 5 |
| Mr Macdiarmid | 0 | Mr Clark | 6 |
| Mr Junor | 5 | Mr Gilbertson | 0 |
| Mr Robertson | 6 | Mr Murray | 0 |
| Mr Pretsell | 0 | Mr Allan | 1 |
| Mr Jamieson | 7 | Mr Anderson | 0 |
| Mr Copland | 4 | Mr Kirton | 0 |
| Mr Grant | 0 | Mr Mitchell | 4 |
| Mr Barrie | 0 | Mr Russell | 1 |
| Mr Smith | 0 | Mr Kay | 2 |
| 22 | 19 |
Result of a competition held in October 1908; A Cecil Laing, 93-10-83; R F Inkster, 83+2=85.
Problems with the lease on the Annsbrae course in May 1909.
Shetland Times Saturday 22 May 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
On the 1 November 1909 Shetland Golf Club journeyed over to Scalloway to play a match.
| Scalloway Golf Club | Shetland Golf Club | ||
| Dr. Pretsell | 0 | J Clark | 1 |
| G Macdiarmid (halved) | 0 | W Merrylees (halved) | 0 |
| J Junor | 1 | J W Laurenson | 0 |
| J W Crook | 1 | J D Kirton | 0 |
| W G Sloan | 0 | C Dunbar | 1 |
| Peter Grant | 0 | R F Inkster | 1 |
| B S Copland (halved) | 0 | L Laurenson (halved) | 0 |
| J A Smith | 0 | D Smith | 1 |
| P Twatt | 1 | R Tulloch | 0 |
| R Nicolson | 0 | C E Mitchell | 1 |
| 3 | 5 |
It was reported in December 1909 by the secretary, C Dunbar, that the club had regained the tenancy of Annsbrae Parks and members were now permitted to play on the course.
Result of a ladies' competition played in May 1910; Miss Gulland, 117-9-108. Mr J Clark won the monthly medal with a score of 75+7-82.
A handicap competition was played on the Bressay course in July 1910, the winner was T Tulloch, 88-13-75.
The annual meeting was held in March 1911, J B Anderson in the chair. Office bearers for the year; Hon. captain, R H Bruce of Lunna; secretary and treasurer, J J Brown; committee - G G Kay, J Clark, A B Douglas, L Laurenson, A W Laurenson, J Smith, C E Mitchell. A presentation was made to the retiring secretary, Mr C Dunbar.
The Samburgh competition was played on the Bressay course in May 1911; J D Kirton, 81-3-78; A Linklater, 88-6-82; J P Mackay, 95-12-83.
In July 1911 the competition for the Lunna prize was played. James Innes was the winner with a score of 88-3-85. J Clark and G Scollay tied as runners-up.
In September 1911 a new record was established for the Bressay course when John Clark, playing with James Innes went round the course in 64; First Round - 5,2,6,4,3,3,3,3,3 = 32; Second Round - 4,4,4,3,3,3,3,4,4 = 32.
Location of the courses at both Annsbrae and Brassay in 1928.
Ordnance Survey Map © Crown Copyright {1928}
At the annual meeting in March 1935 the following officers were elected; Captain - R H Bruce, London; secretary - Harry S Drever; treasurer - Andrew P Anderson; executive committee - Alex. J Cluness, Fred W Strachan, Alex. Linklater, George Scollay; Wilfred Ollason.
George Scollay presided at the annual meeting held in March 1936. Many improvements had been made to the Bressay course. The winner of the captain's challenge cup was Harry Drever, who also won the McVitie and Price Cup. The following officers were elected; Captain, Robert H Bruce of Lunna; secretary, H S Drever; treasurer, Andrew P Anderson; committee - A J Cluness, George Scollay, Fred W Strachan, Wilfred A Ollason, Alex. Linklater.
In April 1938 the club members made a presentation of a gold watch to Harry S Drever, who had been secretary for four years. Mr Drever was moving to a new job in Edinburgh.
Following WW2 the secretary was S R Michael, Commercial Bank of Scotland. The club had a membership of 50. Amateur course record; Harry S Drever, 70. The nine-holes had a Par and SSS of 70. The course at Bressay was one mile by boat from Lerwick. Visitors' fees; 1s aday, 5s a week, 7s/6d a fortnight. Sunday play was not allowed.
In the early 1960s the secretary was S G Robertson, 3 Carlton Place, Lerwick. Membership of 20. Visitors' fees were 2s a day, 7s/6d a week, 12s/6d a fortnight.
Later in the 1960s the secretary was Ian S Rennie, 15 Knab Road, Lerwick. Membership had risen to 30. Visitors' fees were 3s/6d a day, 15s a month. Sunday play was now permitted.
The club was on the brink of closure in March 1964, the club had not had a secretary for many months.
In June 1975 Clive Scanlon was appointed professional and green-keeper. The secretary was W A Moncrieff.
Winner of the Shetland Golf Club open championship in August 1977 was Robert Leask, 169; runner-up Erling Groat, 176; winner of the handicap section was Ian McDonald, 160.
Just prior to the move in the 1970s the secretary was S W A Moncrieffe. Membership had risen to 60.
The current Shetland Golf Club is located at Dale, Gott, this course opened in the 1970s.
The Google Map below shows the location of the course on Bressay.