Lumphanan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. (1923 - 1966)

First appeared in 1923.

Below the opening ceremony.

 

Lumphanan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. The opening ceremony in July 1923.

From the Aberdeen Press and Journal Saturday 14th July 1923. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

Report on the opening of the course in July 1923.

 

Lumphanan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. Report on the opening of the golf course in July 1923.

 

Lumphanan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. Report on the opening of the golf course in July 1923.

 

Lumphanan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. Report on the opening of the golf course in July 1923.

 

Lumphanan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. Report on the opening of the golf course in July 1923.

From the Aberdeen Press and Journal Monday 9th July 1923. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

 

In 1924 the secretary was John Clarke, Craig Cottage, Lumphanan. A 9-hole course with a membership of 80. Visitors’ fees were 10/- a month. Sunday play was not allowed. The Station at Lumphanan was 100 yards away. Local hotel was the Lumphanan.

The annual meeting was held in April 1928, the president, R Moir, in the chair. Following officers appointed; President, R Moir; secretary and treasurer, R D Donald; captain, George Christie; vice-captain, A Milne; sports committee - J Mudie, J Copland, A Milne, George Merchant. A Milne was appointed green-keeper.

Below is the opening competition of the season played in May 1928 between teams selected by the secretary and captain. 

Secretary's Team   Captain' Team  
R D Donald 0 Geo Christie 1
Jas Copland 1 Geo Merchant 0
G M Merchant 1 Alex Beveredge 0
H Calder 1 J Marr 0
Charles Marr 1 R McGregor 0
  4   1

In August 1931 Lumphanan visited Aboyne and were on the wrong end of a beating, result below. 

Aboyne Golf Club   Lumphanan Golf Club  
Jas Tawse 1 F A Honeyman 0
S Tawse 1 H Calder 0
A Simpson 1 C Littlejohn 0
A Littlejohn 1 G Merchant 0
J Copland 1 M McCaskill 0
G Williams 1 G Christie 0
A Gordon 1 J M Irvine 0
H Paterson 1 A Thomson 0
M Bruce 1 J Mudie 0
G Marnoch 1 A Milne 0
  10   0

The course was opened for the season in May 1933 with a match between teams representing the captain and secretary.

Captain's Team   Secretary's Team  
Alexander Milne 1 J M Irvine 0
Charles Leslie 0 James Copland 1
George Christie 0 George Merchant 1
Edward Angus 1 Harry Rae 0
Peter Sim 1 M McCaskill 0
George Stephens 0 Charles Marr 1
  3   3

The annual meeting was held in the clubhouse in April 1934, W G McRobbie, president, presided. The following officers were appointed; Hon. presidents - R Moir and John Don; president, George Christie; vice-president, George Merchant; captain, James Copland; vice-captain, M McCaskill; secretary and treasurer, J M Irvine; management committee - Charles Leslie, Alex. Thomson, Henry Calder; greens committee - Alex. Milne, Edward Angus, W G McRobbie; sports committee - George Christie, Charles Leslie, George Marchant, Captain, Vice-Captain.  

The annual meeting was held in April 1939, the following officers were elected; Hon. presidents - Sir C M Barclay-Harvey, Col. H J Kinghorn, Capt. J H Cochrane, Robert Moir, John Don; president, Alexander Milne; vice-president, Albert F Law; captain, Henry D Calder; vice-captain, George Gauld; secretary and treasurer, J M Irvine; committee - Peter Sim, jun., George Calder, James H Grant; greens committee - James Copland, Henry Calder, John D Copland; sports committee - Captain, Vice-Captain, A E Urquhart, Charles Leslie, James H Grant, Albert F Law, Robert R Anderson.

In 1940 and 1947 the secretary was J M Irvine, Bank House, Lumpanhan, telephone number 23, and the green-keeper was G Buchan. Membership was 30. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day, 3/- a week, 5/- a fortnight and 7/6d for two months. Sunday play was permitted.

In May 1949 the Lumphanan Golf Club's first meeting since 1939 was a match between teams representing the captain, H Calder, and the secretary, D Asher, it ended in a 4- 4 draw. The course had been prepared for play by the willing and enthusiastic help of the committee and was in fine condition. 

Result of the June 1949 monthly medal; D Asher, 76-2-74; J D Copland, 78-3-75.

The winner of the Littlejohn Cup in July 1949 was R Hossack (18) with a net score of 278, runner-up was M Hossack, 291, other scores; H D Calder (scratch,) 311; J D Copland (3,) 315; A Milne (18,) 323; F Hossack (18,) 357.

During the 1950s the secretary was D Asher, Bank House, Lumphanan. Visitors’ fees were 1/6d a round and 5/- a week.

In August 1950 a young member, Peter Williams, won the competition for the Peter McDonald Cup with a score of net 117 for the 36-holes, runner-up was R Paelicke.

By May 1963 the club had only four members, the picture below shows three of the four examining a golf ball outside the clubhouse, from left to right; Alexander Milne (President,) George Gauld and Henry Calder. 

 

Lumphanan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. Three of the four member outside the clubhouse.

From the Aberdeen Press and Journal Tuesday 7th May 1963. With thanks to D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved.

 

The following is an extract from the report that accompanied the above image. "Lumphanan Course is in the Doldrums - GOLF CLUB WITH A HANDICAP! - There are only four playing members left - Lumphanan Golf Club will die unless there's immediate and substantial support. The little forty-year old club with its railway carriage clubhouse has dwindled away until there are only four playing members. Even the hon. secretary, bank manager Mr W Duncan, is not a member.  The four members are Alexander Milne, George Gauld, Henry Calder and Sammy Watson, who was a railway signalman and also the green-keeper."

In 1964 the secretary was W W Duncan, Bank House, Lumpanhan, telephone number 233. The 9-hole course had a membership of just 15. Visitors’ fees were 1/6d a round and 7/6d a week. Local hotel was the MacBeth Arms.

Lumphanan Golf Club fell into decline and had disappeared by 1966. Twenty years elapsed before moves were made to re-open the club; this finally happened in 1994.

Location of the course in the 1930s.

 

Lumphanan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire. The course on the 1931 Ordnance Survey Map.

Ordnance Survey Map © Crown Copyright {1931}