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Doune Golf Club, Stirlingshire. (1903 - WW2)
The club was founded in 1903.
Originally a 6- hole course, it was extended to 9-holes prior to WW1.
Mention of a Doune Castle Golf Club in the 1930s.
By the 1940s the course measured 2,700yds and had a par of 35. The inland course had six holes on the flat with the other three on hilly ground. The course and clubhouse, which had no license or catering, was a ¼ mile from the town centre; Alexander’s ran buses to the course entrance. The station at Doune 5 was minutes away. Local hotels were the Woodside and Gibsons Temperance.
The course was opened on Saturday 27 November 1903 by the Countess of Moray.
Strathearn Herald Saturday 5 December 1903. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1903; Membership, 80; Station at Doune 5 minutes; Hon. Secretary - P C Merrie, The Schoolhouse, Doune, Perthshire; Captain, Rev.J Chalmers Peat, B.D.; Entrance fee, nil, subs, 10s/6d; Number of holes, 6. Extension to 9 in progress; Green-keeper, J McAnish; Amateur course record - J Chalmers Peat, 20 for 6-holes; 69 for 18-holes; Visitors, 6d a day, 2s a week, 3s a fortnight, 5s per month. Present course is laid out on a hillside and has some good sporting holes; especially the last hole, which lies in a narrow corner between a wood and the road. The extension, which lies on the level and will almost double the area to be played over, should prove a great boon, as it enables the holes to be considerably lengthened, and brings in an additional hazard in the shape of a stone dyke to be crossed three times.
On Wednesday 13 September 1905 Mr J W McAnish and Miss Ashton played Mr Ian Mackay and Miss Maggie McLachlan in the final tie for the two pictures presented to the club by Mr Russell MacNee, artist. The winners were Mr Mackay and Miss McLachlan. (Russell MacNee is now a collected artist).
A meeting was held in October 1905 when the following office bearers were elected; President, Colonel Campbell of Inverardoch; vice-president, Rev G S Mackay; captain, Rev J C Peat; secretary, P C Merrie; treasurer, John Main; committee – Messrs. Macnee, Gray, Crockett, Stewart, James McAnish, John Cameron and D Ferguson. The following were appointed to a committee to supervise the erection of a pavilion at a cost £60; Rev G S Mackay, Mr McNee, Mr Merrie, Mr Main and Mr Gray.
Report on the opening of the new clubhouse and extended course in April 1906.
Bridge of Allan Gazette Saturday 5 May 1906. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Course scorecard; Hole One; 230 yards; Bogey, 4; Hole Two; 200 yards; Bogey 4; Hole Three; 130 yards, Bogey Three; Hole Four; 120 yards; Bogey Three; Hole Five; 280 yards; Bogey Five; Hole Six; 135 Yards; Bogey Three; Hole Seven; 135 yards; Bogey 4; Hole Eight; 295 yards; Bogey Five; Hole Nine; 235 yards; Bogey Four.
In 1906 Visitors fees were 6d a day, 2/- a week and 5/- a month.
Result of a match against Polmont played in April 1907.
Strathearn Herald Saturday 27 April 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In May 1911 Sir A Kay Muir presented the club with a cheque for £10 to buy a challenge cup. The management decided to play for the trophy under handicap rules.
A competition for prizes presented by the captain Dr Stark Christie, were played for in June 1911. The result was a tie between Miss Ashton & P C Merrie and Miss M W MacLachlan & James Gorrie, both couples finishing on 1down.
In June 1911 Doune suffered a heavy defeat in a club match at Bridge of Allan, result below.
| Bridge of Allan Golf Club | Doune Golf Club | ||
| R J Gerrard | 1 | J Petty | 0 |
| A M Wylie jnr | 1 | W McLauchlan | 0 |
| E Irvine | 1 | A M McAinsh | 0 |
| H Mellis | 1 | J Ashworth | 0 |
| R Whyte | 1 | P C Merrie | 0 |
| L McIntyre | 1 | G S McKenzie | 0 |
| D Fyfe | 1 | A K Buchanan | 0 |
| A R Jenkins | 1 | W McAinsh | 0 |
| A Ramage | 1 | J Gorrie | 0 |
| P Webster | 1 | R Winter | 0 |
| A Mann | 1 | J M Cameron | 0 |
| W Ormiston | 1 | W A McKean | 0 |
| J A Kelly | 1 | Rev Mr Griffiths | 0 |
| 13 | 0 |
Below office-bearers for 1912.
From the Dundee Courier Thursday 14 March 1912. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Just prior to WW1 the club had a membership of 75. There was no entry fee. Subs for gents were 10/6d and ladies 7/6d. Family tickets cost £1/5/0. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day, 3/- a week, 5/- a fortnight and 7/- a month. Sunday play was not allowed.
Below the opening game of the season in April 1923 was a captain versus vice-captain match.
| Captain | Vice-Captain | ||
| Rev. J C Peat and Miss McFarlane | 1 | R W Fairweather and Miss McAinsh | 0 |
| M Fallon and Miss L Paterson | 0 | D J Henderson and Mrs W Leslie | 1 |
| J Petrie and Miss C Bain | 0 | J McNab and Miss Bryce | 0 |
| Ian Russell and Miss Isobel Main | 0 | M Mackay and Miss Cuthbert | 1 |
| T Connelly and Miss Bowie | 1 | J McKenzie and Miss Paterson | 0 |
| Mr McBirnie and Miss Miller | 0 | R Ashworth and Miss S Stewart | 1 |
| W Hunter and Miss D McAinsh | 0 | T Russell and Miss N McEwen | 1 |
| J Meikle and Miss Merrie | 0 | W McLachlan and Miss Mungall | 1 |
| P C Merrie and W Mackay | 1 | G Charleston and W Scrimgeour | 0 |
| W Marr | 0 | J Main and J Graham | 0 |
| 3 | 5 |
In 1924 membership was 100. Visitors’ fees had increased to 1/6d a day, 5/- a week, 7/6d a fortnight, 15/- a month.
Bridge of Allan Gazette Saturday 21 June 1924. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Fund raising for the new clubhouse and course in November 1924.
Strathearn Herald Saturday 1 November 1924. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s there was a membership of 120. Visitors’ fees were 1/6d a day, 6/- a week, 10/6d a fortnight and 17/6d a month.
| Secretary | Professional/greenkeeper | |
| 1903/24 | P C Merrie, The School House, Doune. | |
| 1905/07 | J McAnish (p) | |
| 1907/10 | J Kidd (p) | |
| 1910/14 | J Corrie (p) | |
| 1923 | T Callahan (g) | |
| 1924 | Geo F F Smith, Union Bank House, Doune. | Jas Anderson (g) |
| 1920s/30s | J Dykes, Union Bank House, Doune. | |
| 1935 | J M Campbell, Northlea, Doune. | A Ferguson (g) |
| 1940/47 | J Gardner Smart, West Manse, Doune. | J Mills (g) |
| Course records | |
| 1906 | Reverend J Chalmers Peat (am) with a score of 20 (Six hole course) |
| 1924 | A H Merrie (am) 35 |
| 1935 | Ian R Russell (am) 72 J Black (pro) 68 |
Mention of a Doune Castle Golf Club in the Callander Advertiser Saturday 16 September 1933 - "Callander and Doune Castle Golf Club engaged in an inter-club match at Doune, and the result was halved."
In September 1937, the club championship, carrying with it the Tennent Trophy, was won by C A G Mungall who beat R G M Cameron in the 36-hole final by 10 and 9. Mr Mungall also claimed the Muir Cup this season.
Report on the annual meeting in March 1939.
Stirling Observer Thursday 23 March 1939. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
In July 1939 R H Renton, who was a newcomer to the game, holed in one at the 215 yard second hole.
The Lord Doune Cup was played in September 1939 and was won by Ian Stewart. His total net score of 129 over 36-holes as follows, 78-14-64 and 79-14-65. Gals day competitions; Pitching and putting, Hugh W Chiholm; putting, Jack Sommerville; mixed foursomes, Mrs Shane and Jack Sommerville; long driving - gentlemen, J Stewart; ladies - Mrs Shane; five-hole competition, Tom Dykes.
Below a sad report and a sign of the times in May 1940.
From the Stirling Oberver Thursday 2 May 1940. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Doune Golf Club disappeared at the time of WW2.
Post-WW2 Ordnance Survey Map showing Round Hill. The golf course was laid out to the north of Round Hill and west of Black Park. Five minutes from the Railway Station, also marked on the map.
O.S. Map Revised 1948; © Crown Copyright {year of publication ca. 1950}.