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Rosehearty Golf Club, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. (1883 - 1951)
Golf was played at Rosehearty prior to the club being Instituted in 1883.
A nine-hole links course with good turf and natural hazards, a membership of between 40 and 60, and a SSS of 40 prior to WW2. The railway station at Fraserburgh was about 4 miles away. Sunday play was never allowed. Local hotel was the Forbes Arms.
The annual general meeting of the club was held on Wednesday 14 November 1883. Mr Mirrlees, the treasurer, produced the balance sheet which showed a balance in hand of 12s/8d. The following officers were elected; Captain - Col. Fordyce; Vice-Captain - James D Sharp; councillors - J D Johnston, James R Scott and D Ritchie; Secretary - A Ferguson; Treasurer - R Mirrlees. It was decided to play for the monthly medal on Saturday first.
Result of the annual prize competition played in January 1886; W Watt, 87; William Watt, jun., 97; James R Scott, 104; no scores given for James R Ferguson, Alexander Reid, James Cruickshank and J Riddell. Despite the unfavourable weather there was a large turnout.
Result of a match played at Fraserburgh in November 1886.
Buchan Observer and East Aberdeenshire Advertiser Tuesday 9 November 1886. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The following is from the Golfing Annual 1888/89; Instituted 1883; Entrance Fee nil; Subscriptions One Shilling; Membership of 20; Captain - Colonel Dingwall Fordyce; Vice-Captain - James D Sharp, Banker; Committee - J R Scott, W Gordon, A G West and W Watt; Secretary - Forbes C Grant, Accountant, Union Bank, Rosehearty. The lowest score in a club competition is 39, made by W Gordon. The club was formed in 1883 by Col. Fordyce of Bucklay, the proprietor's uncle, but it is nevertheless true that golf was played in the time of the first Lord Pitsligo. "The castle of Pitsligo overlooks the course, which must have been laid out by Lord Pitsligo himself. Some of the holes used in olden times are still to be seen in certain parts of the green. They are made of stone, and are great curiosities in their way. The course is composed of a stretch of links 1,854 yards long and about 600 yards broad. It consists of nine-holes, and is partly composed of bent. There are some exceedingly nice hazards."
Note; Lord Pitsligo and Pitsligo Castle were spelt "Pitaligo" in the Golfing Annual.
William Gordon, with a score of 40, won the yearly medal played on Saturday 21st April 1888.
In January 1890 the annual Yule competition was held, the weather was excellent and the greens were in splendid condition. The winner was Mr William Gordon with a score of 90, runner-up was Mr William Watt with 96.
The club goes into abeyance in the early 1890s.
Appeal for the club to be resuscitated in March 1897.
Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties' Advertiser Tuesday 16 March 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The question was asked in a newspaper report in May 1899 "What has become of the once famous Roseheart Golf Club ?"
The May 1890 medal was won by A M Shirran, 83.
In June 1901 the members of the Rosehearty Golf Club played for the medal given by Mr John Ritchie. The winner was Councillor Ross with a score of 88, W Watt was second with 89, George Gordon third with 90.
It was reported in May 1902 that the members of the Rosehearty Golf Club had been competing for the gold medal presented to the club by Mr A Dingwall-Fordyce of Brucklay Castle, hon. captain of the club. Mr N W Ferguson beat Councillor Ross in the final.
There was no entry for Rosehearty in the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook.
Postcard from the golf links in the 1900s.
Below is the result of a match played at Turriff on Saturday 26 June 1909.
| Turriff Golf Club | Rosehearty Golf Club | ||
| G Anderson | 1 | A Forbes | 0 |
| W Johnston | 1 | Rev J Gibb | 0 |
| G Munro (half) | 0 | J Thomson (half) | 0 |
| J Johnston | 1 | W J Birnie | 0 |
| J L Williams | 0 | W Ross | 1 |
| J M Gordon | 1 | F Barclay | 0 |
| A Burns | 0 | J Baxter junior | 1 |
| J Low (half) | 0 | J M Nish (half) | 0 |
| Rev G L Duff (half) | 0 | Rev A W Stevenson (half) | 0 |
| A Hutcheon (half) | 0 | Jas Smith (half) | 0 |
| F C Mitchell | 1 | W Henderson | 0 |
| R C Gray | 1 | F C Grant | 0 |
| J L Keith | 1 | W W Laing | 0 |
| 7 | 2 |
The annual match between teams selected by the captain and vice-captain was played on Thursday 10 April 1913, result below.
| Captain | Vice-Captain | ||
| A Forbes | 1 | W Anderson | 0 |
| J C Souter | 1 | Reverend J Gibb | 0 |
| A J Buchan | 1 | J Summers | 0 |
| A T Morison | 1 | W Henderson | 0 |
| W F Gordon | 1 | A Robertson | 0 |
| Capt Robertson | 0 | A J W Milne | 1 |
| F C Grant | 0 | R W Downie | 1 |
| A Bisto (half) | 0 | A Archibald (half) | 0 |
| S Ritchie | 0 | G Strachan | 1 |
| W Henderson, junior | 0 | J Forbes | 1 |
| B Forbes | 1 | J Downie | 0 |
| 6 | 4 |
In 1914 there was no entry fee. Subs were 5/-. Visitors’ fees were 6d a day and 1/6d a week.
The annual meeting was held in May 1915, A Forbes in the chair. The secretary, J C Souter, submitted a satisfactory balance sheet. The following officers were elected; Hon. president, A Dingwall Fordyce; captain, F C Grant, J.P; vice-captain, Provost Summers; secretary and treasurer, J C Souter; committee - Rev. James Gibb, A Forbes, W W Laing, J Rae and W Simpson.
In the 1920s visitors fees were 6d a day, 2/6d a week and 5/- a month.
Result of a match played in June 1921 against the now defunct Strichen Golf Club.
| Rosehearty Golf Club | Strichen Golf Club | ||
| W Bruce | 1 | W Lipp | 0 |
| J Forbes | 1 | James Shand | 0 |
| A W H Marr | 1 | C Bremner | 0 |
| J B Duncan (halved) | 0 | E Attwood (halved) | 0 |
| H Gordon | 1 | R Alexander | 0 |
| A Forbes (halved) | 0 | H Scott (halved) | 0 |
| G Forbes | 1 | P McKilligan | 0 |
| N Davidson | 0 | E Shand | 1 |
| J Rae (halved) | 0 | J Robertson (halved) | 0 |
| W Cranna | 1 | J Shand | 0 |
| T Buchan | 1 | A D Bremner | 0 |
| D Forbes | 1 | L Thomson | 0 |
| J Downie | 1 | O W Simpson | 0 |
| W Henderson, sen. | 1 | W Henderson | 0 |
| 10 | 1 |
In the final of the Golf Challenge Medal in July 1921 A W H Marr beat J B Duncan by 3 and 2. Mrs Milne won the ladies' monthly medal.
Following are the office bearers appointed in May 1924; Hon. President, A Forbes, M.A; captain, Hugh Gordon; vice-captain, Miss Summers; secretary and treasurer, A Marr; committee - Mrs Milne Mrs Riddell, Miss Grant, Miss Buchan, J Simpson, G Innes, G Forbes. Green-keeper, A Mcfarlane.
The annual dance and presentation was held in January 1926. Prizes presented by Mrs A W H Marr; Champion, Stephen Ross; lady champion, Miss Summers; Mrs W J Milne, Miss Chris. Buchan, R Gordon, A Greig, John Milne. Joint secretaries were Mrs Milne and James Simpson.
From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Membership of 50; secretary - A Buchan, 33 Pitsligo Street, Rosehearty; green-keeper, A Macfarlane; visitors' fees 1s a day, 3s/6d a week, 10s a week; No Sunday play.
The club again seems to decline for a couple of years.
Attempt to revive the club in September 1937.
Aberdeen Press and Journal Tuesday 7 September 1937. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Fund raiser in December 1937.
Aberdeen Press and Journal Tuesday 28 December 1937. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Competition prizes were presented by Mrs Taylor in the Fordyce Street Hall in February 1939; Club Championship, W Simpson; runner-up, F Ross; ladies' championship, Mrs P Simpson; runner-up, Mrs Morrice; handicap, Miss Forrest , Mr P Simpson; foursome , J B Milne and Miss Forrest; one-club competition, Mrs D Forbes, P Simpson; stroke handicap, Miss B Murray, W Gerrard.
Entry from the 1947 Golfer's Handbook; Secretary, Ian R C Morrice; green-keeper, A Duncan; membership of 60; nine-holes with a SSS of 40; visitors' fees 1s a day, 3s/6d a week, 7s/6d a month. Sunday play not allowed.
The final annual business meeting found for the earlier club was in April 1951. The following office bearers were appointed; Captain, Mr Simpson; vice-captain, Mrs Marr; secretary and treasurer, A W H Marr; committee - Mrs Milne, Miss Philip, Mrs Riddel, E Duthie, H MacDonald, John Duthie; green-keeper, Mr McFarlane.
Although the club continued to be listed in the Golfer's Handbook following WW2 it was a repetitive entry and the original club disappeared in the early 1950s.
| Secretary | Professional/green-keeper | |
| 1890 | Forbes C Grant, Union Bank, Rosehearty. | |
| 1914 | J C Souter | A White (p) |
| 1940s | Ian R C Morrice | A Duncan (g) |
| Course records | |
| 1890 | W Gordon 39 |
| 1920s | Reverend James Gibb 34 |
| 1940s | A W H Marr and J Milne (amateur) 34 |
The following is an extract from a report from the Aberdeen Press and Journal in December 1971.
"First steps have been taken to put a Buchan town on par with other burghs in the area. For it was announced that it has definitely been decided to recreate a nine-hole course on the Links at Rosehearty and a golf club has been formed.
There was a course at the town many years ago but it disappeared, and it is now considered that a revival of the course would be a boon to the burgh."
The new club is on the site of the old course.
The stunning coastline of Rosehearty was featured in the Burt Lancaster film “Local Hero.”