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Shetland Golf Club, Bressay Course, Lerwick. (1891 - 1970)
The club played on courses at Bressay and Ansbrae.
Report on the first annual meeting in November 1891.
Shetland Times Saturday 21 November 1891. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
From the Dundee Advertiser Thursday 3 December 1891; "A Golf Club has been formed at Lerwick under the name of Shetland Golf Club. There are over 30 members - Mr John Bruce of Sumburgh being elected Captain, and Lieutenant Furlonger Secretary and Treasurer. A course has been obtained at Bressay."
Report on the new Shetland Golf Club at Bressay in 1891.
Elgin Courant and Morayshire Advertiser Friday 4 December 1891. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
At the spring meeting on Saturday 9 April 1892 the "Fort Medal" presented by Lieut. Furlonger R.N., was played for, result; C D Laurenson, 114-18-96; J B Anderson, 129-30-99; A A Porteous, 135-36-99; A Mitchell, 118-16-102; A McD. Reid, 122-18-104; A C Hay, 108 scratch; A Sutherland, 145-36-109; H Shennan, 110 scr; J C Grierson, 132-16-116; A Furlonger, 130-12-118; A Sandison, 123 scr; J J R Meiklejohn, 124 scr; J S Tulloch, 163 scr; A Mitchell junr, 191 scr.
Shetland Times Saturday 4 June 1892. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Competition played in August 1893.
Shetland Times Saturday 12 August 1893. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a match against Orkney Golf Club in May 1895.
Shetland Times Saturday 11 May 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a match played at Bressay against Orkney (Kirkwall) Golf Club in April 1896.
| Shetland (Lerwick) Golf Club | Orkney (Kirkwall) Golf Club | ||
| J Clark | 10 | J McEwan | 0 |
| L Laurenson | 3 | A Buchan | 0 |
| A Bethune | 0 | G Gibson | 2 |
| A Russell | 0 | G Sutherland | 0 |
| A W Laing | 0 | J Slater | 6 |
| J W Laurenson | 8 | J M Scott | 0 |
| J R Halcrow | 2 | B H Hosack | 0 |
| C J Gilbertson | 9 | J Fraser | 0 |
| 32 | 8 |
Report on Golf in Shetland in May 1896.
Shetland Times Saturday 30 May 1896. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of the June 1896 monthly medal; A Bethune, 90-3-87; T Laing, 97-3-94; A L Laing, 97-3-94.
Competition played in July 1896.
Shetland Times Saturday 1 August 1896. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Shetland Times Saturday 14 August 1897. Image © Shetland Amenity Trust.
Below, the virtues of Shetland Golf.
Article from The Sketch Wednesday 5 July 1899. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Result of the Sheriff's prize played on the Bressay course in July 1901; L Laurenson, 89-2-87; A A Laing, 89-1-88.
In July 1903 Arthur A Johnston presented the Shetland club at Bressay with a silver salver, and a silver cigarette case for second prize; George Scollay, 89-3-86; A L Laing and J Clark tied for second with 89.
The following is from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1891; Membership of 80; Hon. Sec. D R Morrison, 74 Commercial St, Lerwick; Captain - J Bruce; Entrance Fee Nil and Subs 12s/6d; Nine-holes; Amateur Record - J Clark, 68 (18-holes); Terms for visitors - 2s/6d a month. The principal course for the Shetland Club is on the Island of Bressay, opposite Lerwick, and distant by sea about a mile. This is a nine-hole course; the turf is fairly good and the ground of an undulating nature. The chief hazards are the natural formation of the ground, patches of gorse, ditches, and stone walls. The Shetland Club also has a six-hole course at Annsbrae, Lerwick. This is a very sporting course, the ground being very hilly. It is intersected by stone walls, and bounded on one side by cliffs descending to the sea. The turf is excellent.
In April 1907 the Lerwick club travelled to play on the new course of the Scalloway club. John Junor playing against C J Gilbertson, did the 14-holes in 73, the first round being done in 33.
| Scalloway Golf Club | Lerwick Golf Club | ||
| Mr Georgeson | 0 | Mr Dunbar | 5 |
| Mr Macdiarmid | 0 | Mr Clark | 6 |
| Mr Junor | 5 | Mr Gilbertson | 0 |
| Mr Robertson | 6 | Mr Murray | 0 |
| Mr Pretsell | 0 | Mr Allan | 1 |
| Mr Jamieson | 7 | Mr Anderson | 0 |
| Mr Copland | 4 | Mr Kirton | 0 |
| Mr Grant | 0 | Mr Mitchell | 4 |
| Mr Barrie | 0 | Mr Russell | 1 |
| Mr Smith | 0 | Mr Kay | 2 |
| 22 | 19 |
New course record for the Bressay course in June 1908.
Shetland Times Saturday 13 June 1908. Image © Shetland Amenity Trust.
Report on the annual meeting in 1908.
Shetland Times Saturday 4 April 1908. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of a competition held in October 1908; A Cecil Laing, 93-10-83; R F Inkster, 83+2=85.
On the 1 November 1909 Shetland Golf Club journeyed over to Scalloway to play a match.
| Scalloway Golf Club | Shetland Golf Club | ||
| Dr. Pretsell | 0 | J Clark | 1 |
| G Macdiarmid (halved) | 0 | W Merrylees (halved) | 0 |
| J Junor | 1 | J W Laurenson | 0 |
| J W Crook | 1 | J D Kirton | 0 |
| W G Sloan | 0 | C Dunbar | 1 |
| Peter Grant | 0 | R F Inkster | 1 |
| B S Copland (halved) | 0 | L Laurenson (halved) | 0 |
| J A Smith | 0 | D Smith | 1 |
| P Twatt | 1 | R Tulloch | 0 |
| R Nicolson | 0 | C E Mitchell | 1 |
| 3 | 5 |
It was reported in December 1909 by the secretary, C Dunbar, that the club had regained the tenancy of Annsbrae Parks and members were now permitted to play on the course.
Result of a ladies' competition played in May 1910; Miss Gulland, 117-9-108. Mr J Clark won the monthly medal with a score of 75+7-82.
A handicap competition was played on the Bressay course in July 1910, the winner was T Tulloch, 88-13-75.
The annual meeting was held in March 1911, J B Anderson in the chair. Office bearers for the year; Hon. captain, R H Bruce of Lunna; secretary and treasurer, J J Brown; committee - G G Kay, J Clark, A B Douglas, L Laurenson, A W Laurenson, J Smith, C E Mitchell. A presentation was made to the retiring secretary, Mr C Dunbar.
The Samburgh competition was played on the Bressay course in May 1911; J D Kirton, 81-3-78; A Linklater, 88-6-82; J P Mackay, 95-12-83.
In July 1911 the competition for the Lunna prize was played. James Innes was the winner with a score of 88-3-85. J Clark and G Scollay tied as runners-up.
In September 1911 a new record was established for the Bressay course when, once again, John Clark, playing with James Innes, went round the course in 64; First Round - 5,2,6,4,3,3,3,3,3 = 32; Second Round - 4,4,4,3,3,3,3,4,4 = 32.
Hole-in-one and competition on the Bressay course in 1915.
Shetland Times Saturday 3 July 1915. Image © Shetland Amenity Trust.
Another new record by Mr J Clark for the Bressay course in 1917.
Shetland Times Thursday 13 September 1917. Image © Shetland Amenity Trust.
Report on the Bressay course in June 1924.
Shetland Times Thursday 26 June 1924. Image © Shetland Amenity Trust.
At the annual meeting in March 1935 the following officers were elected; Captain - R H Bruce, London; secretary - Harry S Drever; treasurer - Andrew P Anderson; executive committee - Alex. J Cluness, Fred W Strachan, Alex. Linklater, George Scollay; Wilfred Ollason.
George Scollay presided at the annual meeting held in March 1936. Many improvements had been made to the Bressay course. The winner of the captain's challenge cup was Harry Drever, who also won the McVitie and Price Cup. The following officers were elected; Captain, Robert H Bruce of Lunna; secretary, H S Drever; treasurer, Andrew P Anderson; committee - A J Cluness, George Scollay, Fred W Strachan, Wilfred A Ollason, Alex. Linklater.
In April 1938 the club members made a presentation of a gold watch to Harry S Drever, who had been secretary for four years. Mr Drever was moving to a new job in Edinburgh.
Following WW2 the secretary was S R Michael, Commercial Bank of Scotland. The club had a membership of 50. Amateur course record; Harry S Drever, 70. The nine-holes had a Par and SSS of 70. The course at Bressay was one mile by boat from Lerwick. Visitors' fees; 1s aday, 5s a week, 7s/6d a fortnight. Sunday play was not allowed.
At the annual meeting in March 1950 it was stated that improvements had been made on the Bressay course and it should be in excellent condition for the start of the season. The following officers were elected; Captain, R H W Bruce; Secretary, H S Drever; Treasurer; J B A Sutherland; Patrons; Mr Bruce, Sir Arthur J Nicholson, Major Sir Basil Nevil-Spence, Lt-Col. M Shearer, G T Kay, N O M Cameron, L A Smith, D Swanson, A Young.
Report on the annual meeting in 1953.
Shetland Times Tuesday 7 April 1953. Image © Shetland Amenity Trust.
The Sunburgh competition was played on the Bressay course in July 1957, result; Jack Goodlad, 88-15-73; G S Clouston, 83-8-75; W L Hastings, 93-18-75; George Robertson, 95-10-85.
In the early 1960s the secretary was S G Robertson, 3 Carlton Place, Lerwick. Membership of 20. Visitors' fees were 2s a day, 7s/6d a week, 12s/6d a fortnight.
The club on the brink of closure in March 1964.
Shetland Times Friday 16 October 1964. Image © The Shetland Times Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Aberdeen Press and Journal Wednesday 1 December 1965. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd (Newspapers). Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Competitions played at Bressay in July 1966.
Shetland Times Friday 29 July 1966. Image © The Shetland Times Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Move to the Sumburgh Airport Course in October 1966.
Shetland Times Friday 14 October 1966. Image © The Shetland Times Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Prize presentation in December 1966.
Shetland Times Friday 9 December 1966. Image © The Shetland Times Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Later in the 1960s the secretary was Ian S Rennie, 15 Knab Road, Lerwick. Membership had risen to 30. Visitors' fees were 3s/6d a day, 15s a month. Sunday play was now permitted.
Just prior to the move to the Dale course in the 1970s the secretary was S W A Moncrieffe. Membership had risen to 60.
The current Shetland Golf Club is located at Dale, Gott, this course opened in the 1970s.
Ordnance Survey Map showing the Bressay Golf Course.
Ordnance Survey Map © Crown Copyright {1928}