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Renfrew Golf Club, Hillington Road Course. (1894 - 1973)

The Club was founded in September 1894.

A 9-hole course was constructed on land leased from local landowners Elderslie Estates. The course was extended to 18-holes in the 1920s with James Braid laying out the new course. There was also a new clubhouse, which opened on the 20 May 1925.

In 1968 enquiries were made by Ravenstone Securities to acquire the land rented by the club from Elderslie Estates. In exchange the club would be offered a new home on Blythswood Estate. A contract was eventually drawn up and signed, and the new course opened on the 29th September 1973.

From the Edinburgh Evening News Tuesday 24 July 1894 - "Renfrew - Suitable ground has been procured within the Elderslie Policies for the formation of a golf course. The club is to bear the name of the Royal Renfrew Golf Club."

Note; The first course on the Blythswood Estate was opened in 1896 by Lord Blythswood. A 16-hole strictly private course only played by distinguished guests, including royalty.

Below is the result of a match played at West Kilbride Golf Club on Saturday 25 May 1895.

In August 1895 the first monthly medal was played. The medal was given by Mr William Brown  of Meadowflats, the winner was Miss Whitehill with a score of 73; next was Miss Stobbo, 78; Miss Jessie Shearer, 80.

Location of the course at Downfield in the late 1890s.

O.S. map © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1899}.

Result from the autumn meeting held in October 1899; John L Murray (10,) 77; Joseph Buchanan (7,) 78; John Thomson (8) and Rev. J P Hogarth (9,) 82.

Result from the spring meeting April 1901.

Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette Saturday 27th April 1901. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of a match played on the Bushes course at Paisley in May 1901.

Result of the June 1901 monthly medal; Robert Morgan, jun., (17,) 80 net; R E Somers (+3,) 81; J F List (3,) 84; Alex. T Morgan (2,) 85; F W Allan (7,) 85; James R Campbell (6,) 86. 

Match against Paisley in June 1903.

Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette Saturday 6 June 1903. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the March 1904 monthly medal; A Morgan (scratch,) 80; R Cunningham (17) and John Kennedy (15,) 82.

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Renfrew Golf Club; station, Renfrew half mile, car from Glasgow to Renfrew passes course on Govan Road; hon. secretary - John Storry, British Linen Company Bank, Renfrew; captain, M Ure; green-keeper, J Wooton; entrance fee, £2 and subs £1; nine-holes. The course is a private one. 

Result of the 1905 November medal; John Kennedy (13) 82; R Cunningham (12) 84; James R Stewart (scratch) 86.

Result of the November 1907 monthly medal; D James (12,) 77; Joseph Buchanan (+1,) 78; John Vernal (9,) 80; John Urie (10,) 80.

Result of the October 1908 monthly medal; D Ferguson (11,) 75; J Buchanan (+2) 79; G M James (12,) 80; W W Halliday (11,) 81; G M Brown (7,) 82; G T Millar (7,) 82; J Brown (7,) 82.

Ordnance Survey Map showing the golf course and the pavilion to the north.

O.S. Map Revised 1909; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1924}.

In Spring 1925 James Braid visited to advise on the lay out of the extended 18-hole course.

From James Braid and his Four Hundred Golf Courses - "When it was time for the extension to eighteen holes, it was to Braid, on one of his many trips to Glasgow, that the club turned, in 1925.  A new clubhouse was ready as well, in May 1925. Braid, a notable creator of bunkers, returned in 1927 and added thirty-one bunkers. Three years alter he inspected the greens and fairways and pronounced himself very satisfied by the excellent condition of the course."

On Monday 29 June 1925 the extended course was opened by Mr A Hagart Spiers of Elderslie. Mr Spiers was presented with a special mashie. 

Result of the March 1926 medal; First Class; A Macdonald, 87-7-80; D Manson, 88-6-82; A Thomson, 90-8-82; Second Class; B Gourlay, 91-9-82; R S Sharp, 93-11-82; D J Drysdale, 96-14-82; Third Class; A Steven, 98-22-76; J Martin, 97-18-79; D McColl, 98-18-80. 

From the 1928 Golfer's Handbook; Renfrew Golf Club, Haining Road; Membership, 340; Hon. secretary - Charles Winter, Jesmond, Renfrew; Green-keeper James Middleton; 18-holes; Visitors on introduction; No Sunday play.

Result of the monthly medal for March 1930; First Class; A Donaldson, 82-5-77; W Freeland, 89-10-79; E Marsden, 86-6-80; L M Hillcoat, 88-8-80; A Pinkerton, 87-7-80; Second Class; W Thomson, 84-16-78; J Manson, 93-13-80; T Fleming, 95-15-80; H Gibson, 100-18-82; Third Class; R E Sertees, 96-19-77; Mr Crawford, 102-24-78; J M Paton, 99-20-79; J Patterson, 104-24-80. 

Golfer's Handbook 1933; Renfrew Golf Club, Haining Road; Membership, 360; Secretary - B Gourlay, 1 Haining Road, Renfrew; Green-keeper James Middleton; 18-holes; Visitors (intro), 1s a day; No Sunday play.

Result of the monthly medal played in March 1935; First Class; W M Fleming, 87-10-77; J Fletcher, 79net; W Thomson, 85-3-82; Second Class; W McCaig, 93-13-80; J Edmiston? 97-16-81; Third Class; J R Kane, 95-18-77; A Taylor, 99-18-81.

Result of the monthly medal for April 1935; First Class; Colin Campbell, 81-8-73; W Thomson, 80-3-77; Second Class; F (P) A Pope, 74net; A D Speedie, 89-14-75; Third Class; J R Kane, 88-18-70; A Taylor, 96-18-78; T Scott, 96-18-78.

Ordnance Survey Map from the 1930s. The construction of Glasgow Road starts to encroach from the east and the golf pavilion has disappeared.

O.S. Map Revised 1934; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1937}.

Golfer's Handbook 1937; Renfrew Golf Club, Haining Road; Membership, 360; Secretary - D Livingston, Gordon Villa, Inchinnan Road, Renfrew; Professional and green-keeper, L F Millar; 18-holes, Par, 76, SSS 74; Amateur course record; W Thomson, 72 Visitors (intro), 1s a day; Sunday after 1 pm, 3s/6d; Licensed.

Result of the monthly medal played over 15 holes in April 1938; First Class; L M Hillcoat (6h'cap), 58; R G Sharp (2½), 61½; T Speedie (7½), 62½; J Fletcher (1) and E G Marnock (4), 63; Second Class; F Maitland (11), 58; J M Gourlay (10), 63; Third Class; G P Hutcheson ( 14), 56; J Martin (14), 63.

Result of the monthly medal played in August 1938; First Class; J C MacColl (3), 69; R Millar (8), 70; R G Sharp (3), E S Macharg (6) and N Macaskill (10), 71; Second Class; W Wallace (14), 64; N McDonald (12), 69; W Cockburn (16) and J K Burns (16), 71; Third Class; R Fleming (20), 67; J Imlach  (21), 69; S Crombie (20), 70. Result of the Ladies’ souvenir spoon; Mrs J Stewart (13), 69; Mrs P Farquharson (21), 71; Mrs W Alexander (17), 73.

Result of the autumn meeting played in September 1938;R Smith (16) and J Sinclair (17), 68; R G Sharp (3), W B McCaig (12), J A Dunn (14), R McGregor (17), R Thomson (19) and J Chalmers (23), 70; scratch - R G Sharp, 73. Ladies’ result (bogey); Miss J M Glendenning (19), 2down; Miss H A Kerr (12), 3down; Mrs A Stewart (12), 4down.     

Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW2 showing the golf course and pavilion (to the west). The construction of the Glasgow Road is now complete.

O.S. Map Revised 1939; © Crown Copyright {year of publication ca. 1948}.

In 1947 the secretary was J M Taylor, 32 Second Avenue, Victory Gardens, Renfrew, and the green-keeper J R Carruthers. 18-holes, Par 68. Visitors’ fees, on intro, 1/- a day, 2/6 Sunday after 2pm. The captain was John P Gready, M.A.

Sunday Mail (Glasgow) Sunday 11 September 1949. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

It was reported in December 195o that John R Carruthers, head green-keeper and professional of Renfrew Golf Club, had accepted a similar post at Bathgate Golf Club.

Exhibition match in 1951.

Paisley Daily Express Tuesday 12 June 1951. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the December 1958 medal (12-holes); Scratch; E C Douglas and G Duncan, 56; First Class; G Duncan, 56-5-51; Second Class; 58-8-50; Third Class; 66-12-54. 

Report on the new course in March 1971.

The Scotsman Tuesday 16 March 1971. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In 1972 just prior to the course closure, the secretary was M B Hewitt. The 18-hole course measured 5,733 yards with a SSS of 67. Amateur course record, A Mill 64.

By 1973, the Renfrew Airport had already been and gone; you can see that Deanside House is now the Airport Hotel and one of the old runways separates the course from the clubhouse. The M8 was also under construction, the course was now nearing the end, and the club was about to move to its new home on the Blythswood Estate. Ironically the pavilion from the original course was still standing on Hillington Road.