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Ardersier Golf Club, Inverness. (1907 - 1920s)

There is evidence that the club could have been founded as early as 1907.

The club was sometimes called Ardersier and Fort George Golf Club.

Below the announcement of the opening of the course in July 1908.

 

Ardersier Golf Club, Inverness. Announcement of the opening of the golf course in July 1908.

From the Inverness Courier Tuesday 7th July 1908. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The annual general meeting was held in the Public School on Friday 2nd April 1909. Major A B Ritchie, Seaforth Highlanders, president of the club, occupied the chair. The accounts for the year were considered highly satisfactory. Dr. Lindsay, captain of the club, reported on the work of the club during the season, and on leaving office nominated Captain Campion, Seaforth Highlanders, as his successor. Colonel Russell, Treeton, vice-president, thanked Major Ritchie for presiding, and he, in replying, said that he would like to present the club with a prize for competition. 

Below is a report on the opening of the new clubhouse in July 1909.

 

Ardersier Golf Club, Inverness. Report on the opening of the new clubhouse in July 1909

 

Ardersier Golf Club, Inverness. Report on the opening of the new clubhouse in July 1909

 

Ardersier Golf Club, Inverness. Report on the opening of the new clubhouse in July 1909

From the Inverness Courier Tuesday 6th July 1909. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

In July 1911 the Ardersier club played a match at Rosemarkie against the Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club, the home team won by 8 matches to 4. The visitors were entertained to tea in the clubhouse. 

Prior to WWI Frederick Joseph Rickets (also known as Kenneth J Alford) wrote the famous “Colonel Bogey”  march while stationed at Fort George with the 2nd Battalion of the Argylls. Ricketts’ widow later wrote “While playing golf on the Fort George course, one of the members whistled the first two notes (B flat and G) instead of calling fore!! and with impish spontaneity was answered by my husband with the next few notes. There was little sauntering and Moray Firth’s stiff breezes encouraged a good crisp stride. These little scraps of of whistling appeared to “catch on” with the golfers, from that beginning the Quick March was built up”

The clubs final appearance was in the late 1920s; the secretary at the time was H Brooks of Fort George Station House, Ardersier and the professional W Macintosh, who joined the club in 1915, remaining there until 1927. It was a 9-hole course with a membership of 60. Course record was held by J Forrest with a score of 33. Visitors’ fees were 1/- a day, 2/6d a week and 5/- a month. The railway station at Fort George was 1 ¼ miles away.

The course was taken over in WW1 for the war effort.

Sketch of map showing the location of Ardersier Golf Club at Fort George.

Map showing the location of Ardersier Golf Club at Fort George.

Grid reference NH78565 56995, co-ordinates 278565 856995.