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Thurso Golf Club, Dunnet Links. (1893 -1906)

Golf was played at Dunnet as early as the 1880s.

The following is an extract from a report from the John o' Groat Journal Wednesday 10 June 1885; "THE WICK ANNUAL HOLIDAY - at Elgin there was a bowling match, at Thurso cricket matches, and at Dunnet a golf match."

Thurso Golf Club was founded in 1893. 

The first course was laid out on the Dunnet Links where it continued to play its golf until 1906 when it moved to the present Ormlie course. The club played most of its golf at Ormlie although the Dunnet course was still maintained for play after 1906.

The club continued to prosper until the outbreak of WW1, then, as was the case with most golf clubs, many members were required for active service and the club went into abeyance for the duration of the war.

In 1919 measures were taken to reform the club and make both courses fit for play.

In 1921 a group under the direction of Dr. McGregor, Castletown, met with the committee of the Thurso club to discuss the future of the Dunnet Links. An agreement was reached which led to the forming of the Dunnet Bay Golf Club.

There is a separate article on this website for the now defunct Dunnet Bay Golf Club.

Below is a brief history of the Thurso Golf Club during its time on the Dunnet course.

From the John o’Groat Journal Friday 16 June 1893. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From "Golf" Friday 30 June 1893.

The Dunnet Links were open for play on Monday 19 June 1893, there where about a dozen members present. The game was new to most of them but they expressed themselves highly delighted with it.

In July 1893 Mrs Somerville presented a magnificent silver cup to the club for competition. Thanks were passed on to her by the club captain, Dr. Durran.

On Saturday 10 July 1896 the final for the gold medal presented by Mr Durran, the captain, was played. Mr Phease, rector, Miller Institution, beat Mr Sinclair Donald by 7 and 6. On the same day W Smith won the monthly medal with a score of 100-6-94.  

Following is a report from the John o’Groats Journal Friday 24 September 1897 on a new course at Bleachfield. “A special meeting of Burgh Commissioners was held on Monday night when it was resolved to hold a conference with the Thurso Golf Club with a view of fixing upon a suitable course, and making other necessary arrangements for the successful launching of an “institution” which is calculated to greatly benefit the town by making it more attractive to visitors. A suggestion that the course should be upon the farm at Bleachfield seems to meet with general approval.” 

Mention of a possible new course in June 1900.

Dundee Evening Post Thursday 26 June 1900. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In August 1902 the cup presented by R L Harmsworth, M.P., to the county golf clubs for competition was won for the season by Thurso Golf Club.

From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1893; Number of members, 65; Station at Thurso nine miles; Hon. secretary – Robert Bruce, Solicitor, Thurso; Captain - Dr. Durran; Entrance fee nil and subs 5 shillings; Nine-holes; Professional record – D Herd, St Andrews, 88; Amateur records – S S Goudie, 79 and D H Moore, 38 (nine-holes); Terms for visitors, 1s a day, 2s/6d a week, 5s for the season. Local hotel “Dunnet.”

The above map shows the Dunnet Golf Course. © Crown Copyright {1905}

Below is the result of a match played against Wick Golf Club on the Reiss Links in June 1907.

The first competition for the Ormlie Course Medal was played in April 1909 and was won by Alex Miller with a score of 67.

John o'Groat Journal Friday 3 October 1913. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.