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Inveraray Golf Club, Argyll. (1893 - WW2)

The original club was founded in 1893.

The nine-hole course was laid out on the shores of Loch Fyne close to the castle with beautiful scenery. The Pier at Inveraray was 5 minutes away. Local hotels were the George and the Argyll Arms.

Newspaper report from June 1893 - "Lord Lorne has presented a prize to the Inveraray Golf Club for competition. Somebody might now chip in with a scythe to cut the grass on the course, which is deadly in the way of lost balls."

Report on the annual meeting in June 1894.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 16 June 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting in April 1899.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 29 April 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting in May 1901.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 18 May 1901. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition result from July 1901.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 6 July 1901. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition result and course record in May 1902.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 10 May 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of a match played in June 1902.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 7 June 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Membership of 20; hon. secretary - Jas Lindsay jun., Main Street, Inveraray; captain, A MacArthur; entrance fee nil and subs 10 shillings; visitors - 1s a day, 2s/6d a week, 5s a month. The course is situated on the shores of Loch Fyne near to Inveraray Castle. The average length of the holes is about 300 yards. The course is grassy and inclined to be long during summer. 

Image courtesy of Frank Accleton. Postcard by Wm. Richie and Sons from 1905-1910.

In 1914 membership was 40. There was no entry fee. Subs for gents were 7/6d and ladies 5/-. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day, 2/6d a week and 7/6d a month. There was no Sunday play. There was a steamer from May to September. The Pier was ¼ mile away.

Early postcard showing golfers on the Inveraray golf course.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 5 June 1920. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In 1923 membership had reduced to 30. Visitors’ fees increased to, 5/- a week and 10/- a month.

Oban Times Saturday 13 October 1923 - "The final competition for the oak cased mantel piece presented by Peter Cameron, Dunchuach Cottage, captain of the club, was won on Saturday by Lieut. Robert Morrison. The monthly gold medal competition has also been decided. The winner of the medal was John Munro. It is pleasing to know that those two winners earned distinguished war records in the Great War." 

From the Oban Times Saturday 6 June 1925 - "The golf course is now in excellent condition for play, and is very popular to the visitors to the district. At a general meeting of the club, the following appointments were made; President, Alfred E Lowis; Vice-President, R R Ballingall, Arkinglass; Treasurer, D F F Forbes, National Bank; Secretary, A F D Macintyre; Green-keeper, Neil Macintyre. 

In September 1925 the following members qualified for the final in the monthly gold medal competition; Archibald MacArthur, Robert Morrison, A MacGeachy, James Buntain, James Cameron, Neil E Macgugan, H B Jenkins, Peter Cameron, D N MacIsaac, William Stewart and A F D Macintyre. The final was won by A F D Macintyre; runner-up, Neil E Macgugan.

The following officers were elected at the annual meeting in April 1927; President, Andrew R Page; Vice-President's, William Disselduff, R R Ballingall; Captain, Donald Clark; Vice-Captain, Robert Morrison; Treasurer, George Sime; Secretary, A F D MacIntyre.

In April 1928 George Farquharson was appointed green-keeper. Qualifying competition for the gold medal; A M MacPherson, 80-5-75; Hugh Campbell, 103-24-79.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 10 May 1930. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the ladies' May 1931 monthly medal; Miss Susan Stewart, 121-11-110; Mrs Robert Morrison, 114-3-111; Miss Kate MacKellar, 115 scratch; Gent's; winner, J MacCallum; second, Peter Munro; third, Neil Livingstone.

Mixed match played in June 1931.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 4 July 1931. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In August 1931 the competition for the Ian Campbell Blair Silver Cup was played. The winner was Neil Livingstone, 3 down on bogey. Result of the Captain's Prize; Winner, Neil Livingstone; Runner-up, William Greenshields. 

Annual meeting in March 1934.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 24 March 1934. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Prize presentation 1934.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 10 November 1934. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In 1935 visitors’ fees were now 1/6d a day, 6/- a week, 10/- a fortnight and 15/- a month, no Sunday play.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 11 July 1936. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Result of the 1937 August medal; John A Sinclair, 144 net; F A Nicol, 145 net.

Result of the August 1938 monthly medal; James Drummond, 74-3-71 and 76-3-73 = 144; D Bell, 82-10-72 and 84-10-74 + 146. In the final of Iain Campbell-Blair Cup the winner was D Bell; runner-up, George MacVicar.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 13 May 1939. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Although the club appeared in editions of the Golfer's Handbook into the 1960s the course had disappeared at the onset of WW2.

In 1940 the Duke Of Argyll gave the golf course up to the Services for military accommodation. That was the end of Inveraray Golf Club until circa 1989 when through the community council the Inveraray Golf Club was once again reformed through a gift of land to the east of Inveraray by the Duke Of Argyll. After four years of hard work the new Golf Club was re-opened in 1993 (exactly one hundred years on from the formation of the former club.)

The Inveraray golf course in the 1920s. Authors Collection.

A 1934 photocard of the course. Postcard by Spencer 417.

Location of the former Inveraray course which disappeared in the 1960s. O.S Map © Crown Copyright.