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.

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyllshire. 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.

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyllshire. 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.

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyllshire. 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.

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyllshire. 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.

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyllshire. Competition result from 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.

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyllshire. 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. 

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyll and Bute. Wm. Richie  and Son postcard of the course 1905 - 1910.

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.

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyll & Bute. Early postcard of golfers on the Inveraray course.

Early postcard showing golfers on the Inveraray golf course.

 

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

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

  Secretary Professional/greenkeeper
1905/6 Jas Lindsay junior, National Bank, Inveraray.  
1914 J Lindsay junior D Morrison (g)
1923 D Clarke P Campbell (g)
1930 F A Ferrier, Main Street, Inveraray. J Drummond (g)
1935 F A Ferrier F A Ferrier (g)
1940/60s F A Ferrier N Livingstone (g)

 

  Amateur course records
1906 W Stewart 70
1923 J P Munro 71
1935 D Clark 67
1940/60s D Stewart 71

 

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.)

 

Inverarary Golf Club, Argyll. The course in the 1920s.

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

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyll. The golf course and Loch Fyne.

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

 

Inveraray Golf Club, Argyllshire. O.S. Map showing the golf course.

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