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Dubbieside Links, Innerleven, Fife. (1820 - 1867)

Three clubs are reported to have played over the Dubbieside Links; Innerleven Golf Club; Inverleven Golfing Society; Innerleven Golfing Society. 

At a meeting on Tuesday 29 February 1820 fifteen gentlemen drew up a constitution for a club, it was to be called the Inverleven Golfing Society. Also at this meeting the members formulated the rules of the game for the club, this was before R&A rules were drawn up. The course of 15-holes would be laid out at Dubbieside (on land later occupied by the Methil Power Station).

From the Caledonian Mercury Saturday 18 October 1823 - "The medal of the Inner Leven Golfing Society was played for on Tuesday 7th, and won by Mr Alexander Lewis, Pakhill."

The gold and silver medals for the Inner Leven Golfing Society were played for on Tuesday 3 October 1826 and won by Mr Wallace, Parkhill, and Mr Pattullo, St Andrews.

Star (London) Wednesday 15 October 1828 - "The gold and silver medals of the Innerleven Golfing Society were played on Tuesday seventh. The former was won by Alexander Wallace, Parkhill and the latter by Charles M Christie, Esq., of Durie."

Inverleven Golf Society button.

The club continued to prosper and by 1829 there were over 50 members.

The Innerleven Golfing Society's gold and silver medal was played in October 1829. The former was won by Alexander Wallace, Parkhill, and the latter by James Greig, Leven.

Fife Herald Thursday 28 October 1830 - "The gold and silver medals of the Innerleven Golfing Society were played for on Friday the first instant; the former was gained by Alex Wallace esq., Parkhill and the latter by Mr Oliphant esq."

On Tuesday 14 April 1835 the silver medal of the lnner-Leven Golf Club was won by David Wallace with a score of 108.

The annual gold medal competition played in September 1938.

Caledonian Mercury Monday 17 September 1838. Public domain.

The Gold Medal of the Inverleven Golfing Club was played on Tuesday 25 August 1840. It was reported that the winner, David Wallace of Balgrummo returned a score of “114 strokes in three rounds” Nine couples in succession started from the “middle hole”. It was remarkable that, with the exception of one year, the gold medal had been held for sixteen or seventeen years by an uncle and nephew. Following the competition the members dined at Marshall’s Inn. The captain, Mr Cutler, was in the chair, report below.   

Fife Herald Thursday 3 September 1840. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Golf and Sports played by the Innerleven Golf Club in July 1841.

Fifeshire Journal Thursday 15 July 1841. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The spring meeting of the Innerleven Golf Club and the competition for silver medal and the election of officers for the year took place in April 1843. 

Caledonian Mercury 15 April 1843. Public domain.

Report on the Innerleven Golf Club spring meeting in April 1844.

Fife Herald Thursday 25 April 1844. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In August 1844 the Innerleven Golfing Society played their autumn meeting over the Leven Links.

The following interesting report on the autumn meeting for the Innerleven Golfing Club is from the Fife Herald Thursday 5 September 1844 “The autumn meeting took place on Friday and was attended by an unusually great number of members. For several years the enrolment of new members has been considerable, but on this occasion an unprecedentedly large addition has been made to the club. The golfing-green on Friday was crowded with players, and the concourse of spectators was correspondingly great. Never was a more animating spectacle exhibited on the links, and the interest which the spectators showed with respect to the contest evinces the increasing popularity of our peculiarly national game. Mr David Wallace of Belgrummo came in at the very low number of 89 strokes, and was declared the successful competitor. Many matches were played after the contest for the medal, but the one which excited most interest was that between the St Andrews caddies, Allan Robertson (Champion of Scotland) and Morris. Their ease, dexterity, and power were admirable, and afforded to golfers a most gratifying and instructive lesson. After the sport of the day, a large party dined at Marshall’s Inn – Henry Peter Esq., of Kirkland, the Captain of the Club, in the chair. This was followed by the annual ball, at which a large and fashionable party attended. It would be well that the club should turn its attention to the preservation of the most beautiful part of the links, which are fast crumbling down before the invasion of every high tide. Within the last ten years, thirty yards, it is said, have fallen in; and if the present process of destruction should go on (as it must do if not prevented), the sea will in a few years completely wash over the eastern part of the golfing-ground. This should be looked after by some party. The golfers, as a thriving body, should make some effort to arrest the progress of demolition, and this could be done at no great expense, by the driving in of piles and stones, and by sloping the banks. The proprietors of the village should also take up this matter, as the value and very existence of their property are threatened by it”

Reports on the Great Match played on the Dubbieside Links in April 1846.

Caledonian Mercury Thursday 23 April 1846. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Fifeshire Journal Thursday 30 April 1846. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competition played In September 1846.

Caledonian Mercury Thursday 7 September 1846. Public domain.

The silver medal for the Inverleven Golfing Society was played on Friday 9 April 1847. The sixteen members along with some “Edinburgh friends” braved the stormy weather, leading scores; John Henderson, merchant, Leven, went round in 98 strokes; John Martin, Edinburgh, and Peter Bonthron, Leven both went round in 104. 

In 1848 the Dubbieside links was reportedly the place where Allan Robertson and Old Tom Morris first played with the gutta-percha ball, the replacement of the feathery.

Competition for the Gold Medal in September 1852.

Fife Herald Thursday 9 September 1852. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Innerleven Golf Club competition played in 1855. 

Caledonian Mercury Tuesday 4 September 1855. Public domain.

In August 1856 the Innerlven club played on the Dubbieside Links for the silver cup presented by Mr Hay Erskine Wemyss of Wemyss Castle and was won by D Marshall, draper. In the evening the members sat down to an excellent dinner at the Crawford's Hotel, and spent a very merry night, report below.

Fife Herald Thursday 7 August 1856. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In April 1858 the Inner Leven Golf Club played for the silver medal which was won by D Wallace, farmer, Balgrummo. R Smith won the sweepstake, a rather handsome sum, as each player gave half-crown towards them.

Fife Herald Thursday 12 August 1858 - "Leven - Inverleven Golf Club - On Friday last, the members of the Inverleven Golf Club played for their gold medal. The playing was superb, and all passed off in true golfer's style."

Result of the gold medal competition for the Inverleven Golf Club in September 1858.

Fife Herald Thursday 30 September 1858. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Fife Herald Thursday 8 September 1859 - "Allan Robertson played a threesome with Wm Dunn and Tom Morris over the Dubbieside Links. Allan holed 18-holes (two rounds), at 80; Thomas Morris, at 89; and Dunn at 91 strokes."

In September 1859 the Inverleven Golf Club competed for their gold medal. The winner was D Marshall, 87.

In April 1860 many were attracted to the links for the second medal of the Inverleven Golf Club was won by Mr Smith, merchant, with a score of 91.

In April 1961 the Inverleven Golf Club met to play for the silver medal which was won by Robert Smith, draper, Leven, with a score of 89. Many spectators beheld the game. 

In September 1861 the Inverleven Golf Club played for the gold medal on their own links. The day was stormy and wet, and the play, accordingly, not so good as usual. The fewest strokes for the two rounds  were 89, were played by David Marshall who won the medal. Runner-up was T Peter of Kirkland Works.

The annual spring meeting was played on Friday 10 April 1863. William Henry Haig, who completed the 18-holes in 92 strokes, won the silver medal. John Dunn, Edinburgh, scored 93 and Robert Smith, Leven, 96. Mr Henry Peter, Kirkland, was elected captain in place of Mr Haig, Cameron Bridge, who retired from the position.

Competition for the gold medal in September 1864.

Daily Review (Edinburgh) Monday 5 September 1864. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result from the autumn meeting in 1865.

Edinburgh Evening Courant Wednesday 20 September 1865. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The entry below is from the 1866 Golf Yearbook and is listed as a Course of 18-holes.

Image courtesy of Neil Laird - Scottish Golf History.

In 1866 the course was under pressure from Industrial development. As well as building it was also planned to lay down railway lines which would encroach on the course. At the autumn meeting in 1867, “because of the diminishing breadth of the green”, the club decided to make a move and play on the “popular green at Leven”. At this time three other clubs were playing over the Leven course; Leven Thistle, Leven Golf Club and Lundin Mill.

Report from "Golf" in 1893 on the early history of Inverleven Golf.

From "Golf" Friday 30 June 1893.

Reflections on the Inverleven Golfing Society at the annual dinner of the Innerleven Golf Club in 1909.

Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette Wednesday 28 April 1909. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

O.S> Map showing Innerleven (Dubbieside) Links.

© Crown Copyright {1855.}

The Google Map below pinpoints the location of the Dubbieside course.