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Bridge of Weir Thistle Golf Club. (1899 - 1958)
The club was founded in 1899 by a group of businessmen; one of them was Arthur Muirhead of Clydesdale Leather Works.
The first 9-hole course was laid out at Clevens Farm with holes varying in length from 170 to 360 yards. In the early 1900s the entrance fee was 21/- and subs 15/- The course was about half a mile from the railway station.
Due to the encroachment of the new Ranfurly Castle course on the Thistle course at Clevans in 1903 the club moved to a new course on Auchensale Farm. It continued at this location until its demise in 1958.
Below a report on the proposed Bridge of Weir Thistle Golf Club in November 1898.
From the Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette Monday 14th November 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Below is a report on the opening of the Thistle course in May 1899.
From the Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette Saturday 20th May 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The first monthly medal was to take place in June 1899 with the stipulation that "To ensure a contest, sixteen entries must be received."
There were 23 entrants for the October 1899 monthly medal, result; A Holmes (10,) 86; W Watt (4) 87; A Watt (10) and J Wilson (2,) 88; J Holmes (4) and J Watt (10,) 92; J Clark (6,) 94.
Below is the result of a match played at Lochwinnoch Golf Club in October 1902.
| Lochwinnoch Golf Club | Bridge of Weir Thistle Golf Club | ||
| W Waddell | 1 | E Fox | 0 |
| R Morrison | 1 | J Doherty | 0 |
| J Y Love | 2 | D McMillan | 0 |
| R L Connell | 5 | J Moore | 0 |
| G Martin | 0 | A Cameron | 3 |
| D McClure | 0 | J Watt | 6 |
| J McKinlay | 0 | J Houston | 4 |
| W Milligan | 2 | J McCulloch | 0 |
| 10 | 13 |
In 1903 the club moved to the course at Auchensale.
Following WW2 a lease was taken out on the land for a further ten years. As the lease was approaching renewal the farmer at Auchensale informed the club that he intended to terminate the lease and revert the course to farmland.
The club closed in 1958.
The Thistle club had always had a close association with the Lochwinnoch Golf Club, they played inter club matches and many of the members worked together at the local manufacturing companies. Over twenty of the Thistle members took the opportunity to join Lochwinnoch when membership was offered from their friendly neighbours. One of the first to take this opportunity was George Payne, he played an important part in the progression of the Lochwinnoch club in the 1960s, he became secretary at Lochwinnoch from 1964 to 1966.
The Google Map below shows the area around Auchensale, location of the later Thistle golf course.