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Blairbeth Golf Club, Glasgow. (1910 - 2015)
The club was founded 1910.
The club has occupied three sites. The first was to the south of Burnside station, where it stayed for over twenty years. In the mid 1930s with the urban sprawl spreading it moved further south to a location near Burnside Farm. Finally to its location at Mill Farm, Rutherglen, in 1956.
From Greenspace Scotland May 2019 - "The closure of Blairbeth Golf Club in 2015 was bad news for golfers and ultimately locals, as the site became a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Following community consultations, South Lanarkshire Council applied to the Infrastructure Fund to obtain a grant to develop the land and got the green light. The site has been renamed Fenbrae Meadows at the suggestion of the local community. Local people are grasping the opportunity to use the park for a range of activities including health walks and school visits."
In June 1913 Blairbeth visited Kirkhill at Cambuslang. The home team won by 10 matches to two.
In July 1914 the Rev. T Wardrop (9) from Blairbeth played in the Amateur Tournament at Troon in July 1914.
The opening of the new course in April 1934.
Aberdeen Press and Journal Monday 16 April 1934. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Result of the June 1935 bogey; J Lambie and J Stewart 2down; J Greenan, 3down; F W Collins, 4down.
R Stewart, Blairbeth, in the final of the Scottish Boys' Championship in April 1936.
Dundee Courier Saturday 18 April 1936. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
R Stewart became the new Scottish boy champion in April 1936. In the final he beat A H Nisbet by 8 and 6.
From the 1937 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 220; Secretary - James Campbell, 105 Blairbeth Road, Burnside; professional and green-keeper, Geo. Miller; 9-holes, SSS 73; Visitors, 1 shilling day; No Sunday play.
Monthly medal result from May 1939; First Class - N Campbell, 75-4-71; A Craig, 83-10-73; James Barrowman, 86-13-73; James C Todd, 85-12-73; Second Class; James J Gartshore, 93-18-75; W E Fernie, 94-17-77.
From the 1947 Golfer's Handbook; Hon secretary and treasurer - W D Muir, 58 Springfield Park Road, Burnside; green-keeper, J Campbell; nine-holes SSS 72; visitors, 1 shilling a day; no Sunday play.
The Ordnance Survey Map below from the late 1940s shows the Blairbeth golf course. Interesting to note the unknown clubhouse and course to the east at High Burnside.
© Crown Copyright {probable year of publication 1949}.
Golfer's Handbook 1951; Membership of 200; hon. secretary - M P Gibson, 35 Greenhill Road, Rutherglen; green-keeper, J Lennie; Sunday play allowed.
The new course of 18-holes appears in the mid 1950s.
Golfer's Handbook 1955/57; Membership 220; hon. secretary - F S Bell, 5 Park Drive, Rutherglen; professional and green-keeper, J Aird (1955) R B Moffatt (1957:; 9-holes, 3,002 yards, SSS 71 (1955) 18-holes 5,600 yards (1957); visitors on introduction, 1s/6d a day, Sunday, 3s/6d.
GH 1961; Membership 400; secretary, J S Keith; green-keeper, F Watters.
GH 1964; As 1961 except for - Professional, A Robertson; green-keeper, H Green; 18-holes 5,800 yards SSS 68.
GH 1966; Secretary, J S Keith; green-keeper, H Green; amateur course record, N Henderson and C Green, 69.
GH 1972; Secretary, C Hamilton; professional, D McLaughlin; course records; professional - W G Cunningham, 69; amateur - M Lygate, 65.
GH 1975; Secretary, F T Henderson; professional, D McLaughlin; amateur course record - J S Scott, 64.
GH1982-91; Secretary, F T Henderson; 18-holes 5,448 yards SSS 67; course records; amateur - D B Howard, 60.
From the 1898 Golf Course Guide; Founded 1910/57; 18-hole parkland course, 5,518 yards, SSS 69.
Golfer Course Guide 2004; 18-holes, 5,537 yards, SSS 68.
From the 2006 Golfer's Handbook; Membershsip 450; Secretary, John Bell; 18-holes, 5,537 yards, SSS 68; Visitors' fees - £22.
The club continued to appear in the Golfer's handbook until closure.
Sad news; the current course closed in October 2015. The 18-hole tight, and difficult hilly parkland course, measured 5,537 and had a par of 69. It was situated at the foot of Cathkin Braes Country Park with beautiful views over the city of Glasgow. In September 2015 there was a suggestion that the course would be reduced to nine-holes, an attempt to reduce running and maintenance costs, but this never came to fruition.
Alan McPherson is playing all of Scotland’s golf course to raise funds for Cancer Research. Alan played the Blairbeth course in May 2010. His blog can be found on:-
http://scottishgolfcourses-allofthem.blogspot.com/2010/05/blairbeth-golf-club-course-no-297.html
Above images courtesy of Gary Dempster.
Scorecard for Blairbeth Golf Club.
Above are views of the Blairbeth course and clubhouse prior to closure.
Thanks to Dr Douglas Lockhart who visited the site of the former course on Sunday 23 May 2023 and provided the pictures below. Unfortunately he didn’t have a course plan to work to so was unable to identify individual holes. “The grass was roughly cut – some old tees visible including two tee marker posts – new paths – some tree planting. Very little definition to follow old holes – a course plan would have been handy.”
Sign at the entrance.
A former tee with marker just visible.
Allotments now on the site of the former clubhouse.
Golf Road, probable location of the early Blairbeth golf course.
Although the exact location of the first course remains a mystery a clue on the above map from 1914 may give some idea. I have highlighted Golf Road, this was not on the 1914 or 1920 maps but does appear in the 1930s. Road names are usually a good indication to the former use of the land, this very often happens when a golf course is covered by urban development.
Location of the second Blairbeth course.
The clubs final course at Cathkin Braes is to the south of Fernhill on the Google Map below.