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Innerleven Golfing Society, Dubbieside Links, Fife. (1820 - 1867)

Later known as Innerleven Golf Club.

Report from "Golf" in 1893 on the early history of Innerleven Golf.

 

Innerleven Golfing Society, Dubbieside Links. Early history of the club.

 

Innerleven Golfing Society, Dubbieside Links. Early history of the club.

 

Innerleven Golfing Society, Dubbieside Links. Early history of the club.

From "Golf" Friday 30 June 1893.

 

At a meeting on Tuesday 29 February 1820 fifteen gentlemen drew up a constitution for a club, it was to be called the Innerleven Golfing Society. Also at this meeting the members formulated the rules of the game for the club, this was before R&A rules were drawn up. The course of 15-holes would be laid out at Dubbieside (on land later occupied by the Methil Power Station)

The gold and silver medals were played for on Tuesday 3rd October 1826 and won by Mr Wallace, Parkhill, and Mr Pattullo, St Andrews.

 

Innerleven Golf Club, Fife. Club button.

Innerleven Golf Society button.

 

The club continued to prosper and by 1829 there were over 50 members.

On Tuesday 14 April 1835 the silver medal was won by David Wallace with a score of 108.

The Gold Medal of the Innerleven Golfing Club was played on Tuesday 25 August 1840. It was reported that the winner, David Wallace of Balgrummo returned a score of “114 strokes in three rounds” Nine couples in succession started from the “middle hole”. It was remarkable that, with the exception of one year, the gold medal had been held for sixteen or seventeen years by an uncle and nephew. Following the competition the members dined at Marshall’s Inn. The captain, Mr Cutler, was in the chair.   

The spring meeting for the silver medal and the election of officers for the year took place on Tuesday 4 April 1843. D M Adamson  Esq., S.S.C was elected captain. The winner of the silver medal was Mr William Marshall, Writer, he completed the two rounds of 16-holes in 101 strokes. Mr Alexander Donaldson was second with a score of 102.Although it rained the whole time the members continued to play to the end, and “displayed an enthusiasm in their favourite pastime worthy of a Red Coat”    

Report on the spring meeting in April 1844.

 

Innerleven Golfing Society, Fife. Report on the spring meeting in April 1844.

Fife Herald Thursday 25 April 1844. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The following interesting report on the autumn meeting for the Innerleven Golfing Club is from the Fife Herald Thursday 5 September 1844 “The autumn meeting took place on Friday and was attended by an unusually great number of members. For several years the enrolment of new members has been considerable, but on this occasion an unprecedentedly large addition has been made to the club. The golfing-green on Friday was crowded with players, and the concourse of spectators was correspondingly great. Never was a more animating spectacle exhibited on the links, and the interest which the spectators showed with respect to the contest evinces the increasing popularity of our peculiarly national game. Mr David Wallace of Belgrummo came in at the very low number of 89 strokes, and was declared the successful competitor. Many matches were played after the contest for the medal, but the one which excited most interest was that between the St Andrews caddies, Allan Robertson (Champion of Scotland) and Morris. Their ease, dexterity, and power were admirable, and afforded to golfers a most gratifying and instructive lesson. After the sport of the day, a large party dined at Marshall’s Inn – Henry Peter Esq., of Kirkland, the Captain of the Club, in the chair. This was followed by the annual ball, at which a large and fashionable party attended. It would be well that the club should turn its attention to the preservation of the most beautiful part of the links, which are fast crumbling down before the invasion of every high tide. Within the last ten years, thirty yards, it is said, have fallen in; and if the present process of destruction should go on (as it must do if not prevented), the sea will in a few years completely wash over the eastern part of the golfing-ground. This should be looked after by some party. The golfers, as a thriving body, should make some effort to arrest the progress of demolition, and this could be done at no great expense, by the driving in of piles and stones, and by sloping the banks. The proprietors of the village should also take up this matter, as the value and very existence of their property are threatened by it”

Match played on the Dubbieside Links in April 1946.

 

Innerleven Golf Club, Dubbieside Links, Fife. A great match on the Dubbieside Links in April 1946.

Caledonian Mercury Thursday 23 April 1846. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The silver medal for the Innerleven Golfing Society was played on Friday 9 April 1847. The sixteen members along with some “Edinburgh friends” braved the stormy weather, leading scores; John Henderson, merchant, Leven, went round in 98 strokes; John Martin, Edinburgh, and Peter Bonthron, Leven both went round in 104. 

In 1848 the Dubbieside links was reportedly the place where Allan Robertson and Old Tom Morris first played with the gutta-percha ball, the replacement of the feathery.

In August 1856 the club played on the Dubbieside Links for the silver cup presented by Mr Hay Erskine Wemyss of Wemyss Castle and was won by D Marshall, draper. In the evening the members sat down to an excellent dinner at the Crawford's Hotel, and spent a very merry night. 

The annual spring meeting was played on Friday 10 April 1863. William Henry Haig, who completed the 18-holes in 92 strokes, won the silver medal. John Dunn, Edinburgh, scored 93 and Robert Smith, Leven, 96. Mr Henry Peter, Kirkland, was elected captain in place of Mr Haig, Cameron Bridge, who retired from the position.

In 1866 the course was under pressure from Industrial development. As well as building it was also planned to lay down railway lines which would encroach on the course. At the autumn meeting in 1867, “because of the diminishing breadth of the green”, the club decided to make a move and play on the “popular green at Leven”. At this time three other clubs were playing over the Leven course; Leven Thistle, Leven Golf Club and Lundin Mill.

Map showing Innerleven (Dubbieside) Links.

 

Innerleven Golfing Club, Dubbieside Links, Fife. Map showing Innerleven (Dubbieside) Links.

© Crown Copyright {1855.}

 

The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the Dubbieside course.