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Royal Craggan Golf Club, Mar Lodge, Braemar, Aberdeenshire.
It is generally accepted that the club was instituted in 1909. As can be seen below the course was in existence in the early 1900s.
From the Dundee Evening Telegraph 29/11/1901; The Duke of Fife’s order to extend the new Mar Lodge golf course from twelve to eighteen-holes is due to the fact that the King intends to play over these private links next year.
Below is evidence of the earlier eighteen-hole course.
From The Tatler December 25th 1901. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The following is from The Golfing Annual 1909/10; Instituted 1909; A nine-hole private course on the Duke of Fife’s estate at Mar Lodge; Membership of 50; Membership is strictly confined to members nominated by the Patrons, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Fife, and Mar estate employees and members of the Mar Lodge establishment. G T Harris, the Duke’s private professional, laid out the course and the holes vary from 115 yards to 400 yards. His Grace bears all the cost of upkeep. It adjoins the Duke’s own 18-hole course.
The article below again states that there were two courses on the Mar Lodge estate at this time; Royal Craggan and Mar Lodge.
Aberdeen Press and Journal Monday 7th November 1910. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
View of the Dee and Mar Lodge, Braemar.
Competition results November 1911.
Aberdeen Press and Journal Thursday 2nd November 1911. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Below is the result of a match played at Braemar on Friday 26th September 1913.
| Braemar Golf Club | Royal Craggan Golf Club | ||
| A M Shirran | 1 | A Lawson | 0 |
| J Milne | 0 | F McLaren | 1 |
| Sir M A Anderson | 0 | C Kemp | 1 |
| Father McHardy | 1 | A Lamont | 0 |
| A Fraser | 1 | A Albery | 0 |
| Dr Essery | 0 | W Wilks | 1 |
| J Ewan (half) | 0 | Miss Easton (half) | 0 |
| A C Grant (half) | 0 | A Glennie (half) | 0 |
| Dr Thomson | 1 | C H Taylor | 0 |
| 4 | 3 |
In April 1919 G T Harris, Royal Craggan professional, left to join Richmond Golf Club.
In 1922 the secretary was Alex Lawson, Mar Lodge, Braemar. There was a membership of 50. A private course on H.R.H The Princess Royal’s Estate at Mar Lodge.
Below is the result of a match played at Braemar on Saturday 25th November 1922.
| Braemar Golf Club | Royal Craggan Golf Club | ||
| J W Davidson | 1 | Fred McLaren | 0 |
| A M Shirran | 1 | Alister Lamont | 0 |
| Dr MacIntosh (half) | 0 | R Scott (half) | 0 |
| H J Manson (half) | 0 | J Jamieson (half) | 0 |
| J Fraser | 1 | P McIntosh | 0 |
| Andrew Shirran | 0 | J Lamont | 1 |
| 3 | 1 |
From 1930 to the mid 1970s the secretary was Alex T Bissett, Mar Lodge, Braemar.
The courses closed at the time of WW2.
Royal Craggan Golf Club continued to be listed in the Golfer’s Handbook to the mid 1970s although it had long gone. The secretary listed throughout this time was Alex T Bissett, Mar Lodge, Braemar.