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Mount Ellen Golf Club, Glasgow. (1904 – 2019)

The club was formed in 1904.

The original nine-hole course was leased from the local farm at Auldyards.

Announced on Friday 16th August 2019 that the club was to close the following Sunday. Membership numbers had fallen over recent years and because of this the club had decided that it couldn’t continue due to the challenging financial situation.

Early club professionals; Edward Wilson, 1907 – 1909; Dan Marshall, 1909 – 1917; G G Grant, 1924 – 1925.

The first meeting was held in Muirhead Public Hall on 20 November 1904.

Advert from September 1906; MOUNT ELLEN GOLF CLUB – Course beautifully situated near the station. Members now being enrolled for 1907. Entrance Fee (for a limited number only) 10 shillings; Annual Subscription £1. For further particulars apply to Charles D Rigg, Hon. Secretary, King’s Hill, Gartcosh.

The annual meeting was held in the Lesser Hall, Muirhead, in November 1906 Capt. David Jackson, in the chair. Office-bearers elected; Captain, R M F Millar; vice-captain, Parish Councillor Graham; secretary, C D Rigg; treasurer; Alex. A Johnston. The affairs of the club were in a “pretty sound condition.”

In January 1908 the entrance fee was £1 and the subs £1, the secretary was Robert McEwen, Rosebank, Garnkirk.

Result of a match played at Stepps Golf Club (now defunct) in June 1908.

Fund raising in June 1908.

Kirkintilloch Herald Wednesday 10 June 1908. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The early clubhouse at Auldyards.

Exhibition match in July 1909.

Milngavie and Bearsden Herald Friday 9 July 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In June 1910 the final of the club championship was played between Duncan Marshall and F Henderson.

The Alexander Trophy was played over the Mount Ellen course in June 1911. The greens were very tricky owing to the long period of dry weather. The Kirkintilloch club won the competition; Mount Ellen runners-up were represented by; J Barnett, D D Marshall and E B Rattray.

Result of a match played on the Mount Ellen course against Coatbridge Teachers in June 1913.

Milngavie and Bearsden Herald Friday 13 June 1913. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

At the annual meeting in May 1915 very satisfactory reports were submitted by the secretary and treasurer. The club had 17 members on military service, their membership was to be retained until they return. Under the prevailing circumstances a very quiet season was in prospect.

In 1919 there was no entry fee; subs were £1, 7 shillings and sixpence for ladies and juniors. The secretary was A B Lawson, Lilybank, Muirhead.

Johnston House with the golf course and earlier clubhouse top right.

In 1920 local steel-work company Smith and McLean purchased the land at Auldyards and leased it to the golf club. The course was extended to 18-holes with the opening ceremony taking place on Saturday 20th May 1920. Membership at this time was over 380.

Competition and match results from May 1922.

Kirkintilloch Herald Wednesday 31 May 1922. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In the Hurll Cup final in September 1923 J Butler beat J S Lennox by 3 and 2. In the final of the Ladies’ Hurll cup Miss R W Lenox beat Miss A Pitcairns.

The annual meeting was held in the Masonic Hall in January 1924, John Baird, captain, in the chair. The following officers were elected; Captain, J H L Blincow; vice-captain, William Brownlie, jun.; secretary, T F Hamilton; treasuer, W Houston. The gentlemen’s annual subscription was incresed to 35 shillings, the ladies to £1, juvenile 12s/6d.

At the annual meeting in February 1925 it was decided to remain “dry.” Office bearers; Captain, W Brownlie, jun.; vice-captain, W J Sloan; secretary, T M Hamilton, treasurer, A B Lawson.

In February 1926 William Frew, who for ten years was employed on Lenzie golf course, was appointed green-keeper at Mount Ellen.    

J D Robertson (13) 71; James Burnie (16) 71; Archibald Marchall (14) 71; George Lamb (16) 71; Third Class – George Moore (20) 63.

Result of the April 1929 monthly medal; First Class – P W Allison, 77-11-66; D B Munro, 77-6-71; A Marshall, 80-8-72; George Baird, 80-7-73; Second Class – William Russell, 79-16-63; George Moore, 83-17-66; R T Jamieson, 85-18-67; J Binnie, 84-16-68; Archibald Marshall, 82-14-68; Third Class – J C Dabbs, 87-20-67; R Shannon, 93-24-69; P J Milne, 93-20-73; J Welsh, 94-22-72.

From the Golfer’s Handbook 1932/3; Membership 400; secretary – M Johnstone, 1789 Cumbernauld Road, Millerston; 18-holes; green-keeper, W Frew; course records; amateur – J Marshall, 65; visitors’ 2s per day, 5s a week, 12s/6d a month. No Sunday play.

At a meeting in February 1935 it was proposed and carried by 45 votes to 41 that Sunday golf should be allowed on the course.

In September 1938 Alex Thomson holed in one at the seventh hole.

There was a good turnout of members in the clubhouse at the annual meeting in January 1941. The statement of accounts and balance sheet revealed that the club was in a sound financial position. The captain for the year was James Birnie, Gartcosh, vice-captain was Robert Kay of Riddrie. It was noted that that 35 members were serving with H.M. forces.

At the annual meeting in the clubhouse in January 1942 the usual reports were sumitted and accepted as satisfactory.  It was announced that under the “Grow More Food” plan a section a section of the course, comprising three holes, first, seventeenth and eighteenth, had been sub-let to a local farmer. Therefore, only 15-holes would be avaiable for play during the season.

Result of the May 1946 monthly medal; First Class – J H Jackson (8) 69; R W Muir, (9) 69; Second Class – W M Kelly (14) 68; D G Shannon (12) 69; Third Class – William Brander (16) 67; H Wright (21) 67.   

Result of the June 1946 medal; First Class – T Moore (9) 68; D C Gorrie (8) 69; Second Class – W Darlington (10) 67; J Steven (10) and J Weir (10) 68; Third Class – R Grant (18) 66; D Forrester (21) 66.

Result of the captain’s prize played in June 1946; D C Gorrie (8) 68; D W Marshall (9) 68; Second Class – A Fyfe (14) 59; A McNeil (10) 61; Third Class – H Wright (19) 62; W Brander (16) 63.

From the Golfer’s Handbook 1947 - 1951; Membership 350; secretary – M Johnstone; 18-holes, par 68, SSS 66; green-keeper, W Frew; visitors’ 2s/6d a day, 5s a week.

Golfer’s Handbook 1956; Membership 400; secretary, M Johnstone; green-keeper, W Frew; 18-holes, SSS 65; amateur course record – W Darlington, 60; visitors’ 3s a day, 7s/6d a week.

 Golfer’s Handbook 1957-1964; Membership 330; secretary – G F Linn, 34 Cardowan Drive, Stepps; green-keepers, T O’Brien (E Ainsworth, 1964.)

Golfer’s Handbook 1966; Membership 350; secretary – W S Breckenridge, 1 Bothin Drive, Stepps; green-keeper, J Young; amateur course record – W Darlington, 60.

Golfer’s Handbook 1972; Membership 495; secretary, J McDonagh; 18-holes, 4,974 yards, SSS 64.

In 1976 the club acquired Johnston House which was extended and used as the clubhouse. At the same time additional land was purchased which resulted in the course being revised.

Johnston House – Clubhouse in 1976.

Golfers’ Handbook 1982 - 1988; Membership 590; secretary – W L Harvey; 18-holes, 5,525 yards, SSS 68; course records – amateur; J Brown, 63; professional, J Chillas, 68.

Golfer’s Handbook 1991; Membership 480; secretary, W J Dickson; professional, G Reilly; visitors’ £8.

In 1998 the professional was Iain Bilsborough.

The new clubhouse was opened by Paul Lawrie in July 2008.

Professional at closure was Iain Bilsborough.

Clubhouse plaque.

Scorecard and course plan.

Thanks to Dr. Douglas Lockhart for the pictures below. Douglas visited the course on closure day and mentions what a sad occasion it was for members.

Scorecard used by Dr. Douglas Lockhart on the final day.

Clubhouse and coach with a visiting party on the final day.

Shuttered and closed clubhouse at 19.00 hours on the final day.

First fairway.

Second green with John McColl a past captain and a member for 51 years.

Par three eleventh green from the tee.

View down 12th to tee; 14th green in distance.

Approach to the fourteenth green.

First (yellow flag) Seventeenth (red) double green.

Evening shadows across the 18th green.

Message from Douglas Lockhart who visited the course to take more pictures on 21 September 2019  – “Took the opportunity to check out Mount Ellen yet again - walked the course and have photographs of almost all the derelict holes taken in good sunny light - golf is virtually impossible now - the fairways are becoming rough and the semi is ball losing territory. The greens have lost all subtle borrows and are quite rough.”

Third hole from the medal tee.

Eleventh hole.

Fourteenth fairway and green.

Approach to the 17th green.

Thanks to Dr. Douglas Lockhart for the pictures below taken on a bright, frosty, St. Andrews Day 2019.

“My “favourites” are the first hole from the tee; the approach to the green at the 2nd hole;downhill to the 14th green and the approach to the 17th. The hole that I liked best to play and have gone back several times after closure to play this classic short hole - the 11th is a bit dark - its in a frost hollow beside the burn.”

From the first tee.

Approach to the second.

Ninth hole; boardwalk across wet ground and burn looking to the tees.

The short eleventh.

The downhill fourteenth.

Approach to the seventeenth.

Clubhouse, practice putting green and ornamental pond.

Thanks again to Douglas Lockhart for the pictures below. Douglas visited the site on Sunday 19 July 2020, forty eight weeks after last day of play – “I don't think much will change from now on - the course has been stripped of all tee markers/ditch posts and the like - its totally overgrown with growth on the fairways almost up to my knees in some places and all the worthwhile fence timbers around the back of the clubhouse have disappeared”.

Putting green and clubhouse - fourth fairway to left.

First green from left hand bunker.

Third green.

Par 3 downhill 10th hole.

Par 3 eleventh from tee - Bothlin/Bothlyn burn hole.

Looking downhill on 14th towards green.

Approach to 17th green - note drainage ditch across fairway virtually obscured.

Eighteenth green.

Douglas Lockhart visited the site on 15 October 2020 and took the pictures below – “Now a totally overgrown course that has been stripped of anything that can be recycled such as fencing; signs and even a small amount of turf from the 18th green.”

First hole from yellow tee.

Eleventh hole from yellow tee.

Eighteenth green looking back down fairway.

View of the practice net; pond; putting green and clubhouse.

Pictures below and the following observations supplied by Dr Douglas Lockhart who visited the site on Saturday 19 February 2022.  “The main change has been the establishment of a small garden centre at the former greenkeeping staff shed on the right-hand side of the access road. This now also occupies half the former car park. There has been further theft of the fencing, vandalism and some fly tipping.   The course was very wet so I did not venture any further and the light also faded as cloud was coming in from the west. Today was almost exactly two and a half years since golf was last played here – most of the subtle details of the course have been lost.”

From the first tee.

Thirteenth from the tee.

Eighteenth looking back from the green.

From practice net looking over pond and former putting green to the clubhouse.

New plant centre (not open to the public) on the former car park with the clubhouse in the background.

Douglas Lockhart visited the site on 2 May 2023 and kindly provided the pictures below. It’s sad to see the state of the former much loved course. The clubhouse is now a restaurant with shop and garden centre. Housing development is taking place adjacent to the course just beyond the burn that ran along the left hand side of the second hole.

The clubhouse with pond and practice putting green in the foreground.

Approaching the first green.

Second green.

Third tee in the distance. Picture taken from from just in front of the car park.

Thirteenth tee area.

Ditch across the seventeenth fairway looking towards the green.

Eighteenth tee looking towards the green.

Alan McPherson is playing all of Scotland’s golf course to raise funds for Cancer Research. Alan played the Mount Ellen course in April 2013 (link below.) 

https://scottishgolfcourses-allofthem.blogspot.com/search?q=mount+ellen