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Dunvegan Golf Club, Isle of Skye. (1900 - 1950s)

Founded in 1900.

Dunvegan had a 9-hole, hilly and challenging course. Membership was 60 in the early years, reducing to 40 by closure. The clubhouse was not licensed and there was no catering. Sunday play was not allowed and there were no caddies.  The Pier at Dunvegan was ¼ mile away, and there was a daily steamboat service from Mallaig, Kyle of Lochalsh  to Portree, then a bus service to Dunvegan.

Orbost Golf Club, Dunvegan, had its own course which appeared in the 1930s. See separate entry for Orbost Golf Club.

Report on the club/course in January 1902.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 11 January 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In June 1902 a Dunvegan team of eight players visited South Uist.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 14 June 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The return match in August 1902.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 9 August 1902. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Entry from the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Dunvegan Golf Club; The club is in a state of transition, a new course being in process of formation.

Result of a match played at Dunvegan against Portree in September 1905.

Northern Chronicle and General Advertiser for the North of Scotland Wednesday 27 November 1905.Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 16 January 1909 - "On Christmas Day members of the Dunvegan Golf Club met to play the last match of the season for prizes given by their popular captain John McKenzie.  The Dunvegan club is under the presidency of Macleod of Macleod was formed in 1900, and is one of the most successful in the Hebrides, and one has only to look at the match card from year to year in order to realise how such an institution is appreciated by everyone in the district. The membership is about 50, and of these there are few, if any, are not playing members. The present clubhouse, being rather small for the requirements of the club, it has been decided to erect a larger pavilion on a knoll above the first tee.

As a course, it is one of the most sporting in the country, there being many natural hazards, without a single impossible one. The first, or the Road Hole, measures 408 yards over green undulating sward, with a slight incline for about two-thirds the distance. No 2, or clerich (sic), 230 yards in length, is the most sporting hole on the course, the green being guarded on the one hand by a ravine six foot deep, and by a quarry on the other. The third, or Majuba, is 193 yards, and is a stiff slope, presenting no difficulties, but necessitating a pause for taking breath, and well worth a pause it is. Standing on the green, the view which unfolds itself to the eye is beautiful in the extreme. To the west, to the foreground, stands the kirkyard of St. Mary's, in which the pyramid erected by Lord Lovat shows up conspicuously. Leaving this, you proceed in a northerly direction towards the fourth hole, distant 400 yards. After holing out, a beautiful wooded valley comes into view, at the lower end of which stands Dunvegan Castle. To the fifth hole is a fine stretch of 500 yards down to the green which is on an artificial plateau of good dimensions. To the sixth a distance of 300 yards to a very good natural green, with some nice hazards on the way. The seventh is uphill, distant 215 yards, and to the eighth, a short hole of 125 yards, but here the green is guarded on the far side by a barn. The ninth, home hole, runs down a grassy slope, towards the clubhouse and is 430 yards long. It will be observed the course is no mean one, measuring 3,000 yards for the nine-holes. The record of the course was made by Iain T Mackenzie in 72, a remarkably fine score when we consider that "bogie" for the eighteen-holes runs to 84.

In the Christmas match final Iain T Mackenzie beat Duncan Macphie by 4 and 3. The greens were in perfect order thanks to the green-keeper Mr Meikle, while the weather left nothing to be desired."  

Entry fees in 1914 were 2/6d and subs 5/-. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day and 2/6d a week.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 23 July 1921. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 27 May 1922. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In 1923 visitors’ fees were 1/6d a day, 5/- a week, 7/6d a fortnight and 10/- a month.

Below is the result of a match played at Dunvegan against Portree on Saturday 28 May 1927. 

Presentation to the long serving captain in June 1928.

Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser Saturday 30 June 1928. Image © Wyvex Media Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

It was reported in February 1931 that long serving treasurer J W Fraser was moving to Stornoway. During his time he also served the club as secretary and captain. 

From 1936 to 1949 visitors’ fees had been reduced to 1/- a day, 3/6d a week and 7/6d a month.

By 1951 visitors’ fees had increased to 2/6d a day, 7/6d a week, 12/6d a fortnight and 21/6d a month.

The above map shows the course marked in the top centre. Reproduced from the {1904} Ordnance Survey Map.

Location of the course, Dunvegan G C disappeared in the early 1950s.