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Gorebridge Golf Club, Midlothian. (1896 - WW1)

Founded in 1896.

Report on the proposed golf course in April 1896.

Dalkeith Advertiser Thursday 30 April 1896. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the new course in June 1896.

Dalkeith Advertiser Thursday 18 June 1896. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The course was quickly opened on Saturday 20 June at 3pm by Captain Dundas younger, of Arniston. All interested were invited to be present. The 1.25 train from Waverley stopped at Fushie Bridge to drop of the visitors. The secretary was W G McNab and the captain Dr Robert Inch. 

Description of the nine-hole course (prior to opening) in 1896. The course was laid out by Peter Lees of Barnton who said that it would be one of the most natural and sporting courses in Scotland. The first hole would require good play with two obstacles to negotiate, a burn and a three foot wall. The second was a splendid hole with the green situated in a hollow, it was a double green (shared with the eighth). The third was a tricky short hole with a burn immediately in front of the green which was surrounded by whins. The fourth was a fairly long hole with the burn forming a hazard from tee to green. The fifth was the longest hole on the course with “hazards abounding in the rushes” The sixth was an “easy hole” but the approach would have to be well judged as the burn was behind the green. The seventh had the burn immediately in front of the tee and the eighth, as mentioned earlier, shared a green with the second. The ninth was a fine hole with the burn again coming into play there was also a stone wall to be crossed. 

Layout of the proposed Gorebridge golf course. Edinburgh Evening News April 1896.

Gorebridge was a 9-hole course, situated in the Glen of Borthwick on Catcune Farm beside Borthwick Burn. The River Gore ran through the entire course and frequently came in to play.

The Inch Championship Medal was played on Saturday 2 October 1897. The leading early scores were made by Graham Walker, 118 and W G Macnab, 127.

The Harvieston Trophy started as an inter-club competition that was played annually on the Gorebridge course from 1898, it continued to be played until the onset of WW1.

Below is a competition result from March 1898. There is also a first mention for the Harvieston Trophy.

Dalkeith Advertiser Thursday 10 March 1898. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual general meeting held in May 1900.

Musselburgh News Friday 4 May 1900. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Results from the first round of the Harvieston Trophy played in June 1900.

Mid-Lothian Journal Friday 1 June 1900. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the final of the Harvieston Trophy played in June 1900.

Mid-Lothian Journal Friday 1 June 1900. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Amongst the winning team of the Morningside Free Church Golf Club in the final was S R Simpson and his medal can be seen below.

Result of an annual match played against Middleton at Gorebridge in August 1904.

Entry from the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1897; Number of members, 80; Secretary - G P Smyth, Clapperon Villa, Gorebridge; Captain, J M Blake; Entrance fee 10 s/6d except for working men who pay no entrance fee; Subs, £1/1s, working men, 10 shillings; Family ticket £3; Amateur  course record holder was J S Gibb, 72; Visitors’ fees were 6d a day, 1/6d a week and 3/6d a month. The course is situated in the beautiful valley of Borthwick. The little stream Borthwick winds its way through the length of the course and has to be crossed six times in the round of nine-holes. Several holes are fairly long - 320 yards.

Many businessmen were members, including captain J S Gibb, who was the proprietor of an ironmongery shop in Edinburgh. Sandy Miller of Catcune Mill also served as secretary at some time.

Ordnance Map from the 1900s showing the location of golf course.

O.S. Map - Revised 1905; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1908}.

In 1914 the secretary was H MacLean, and the professional was J Sanderson, and membership stood at 90. There was no entry fee. Subs were £1/1/0, for working men 10/6d, household ticket £2/2/0 and family ticket £1/10/0. Visitors’ fees were 6d a day. Sunday play was not allowed. Railway stations at Fushiebridge 300yds and Gorebridge 1 mile away.

Harry Vardon spent some time with his friend, J S Gibb, captain of the Gorebridge club, in June 1914. They visited Dalkeith & Newbattle Golf Club (also now defunct). Vardon partnered Mr William Duncan (captain of the D & N club) played a better ball match against J S Gibb and D T Gibb. Harry Vardon returned a score of 68 which equalled the course record held by John T Duncan.  

Club competitions: The Middleton Cup presented by Sir Edward (formerly M E) Moss of Middleton; the championship medal, presented by Dr Inch (won three times in succession by Willie Know; it was then his to keep); the Pendreich monthly medal.

Prize presentation in December 1914.

Dalkeith Advertiser Thursday 3 December 1914. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The owner of Catcune Farm demanded a much bigger rent following WW1 and this could have been one of the reasons for the club’s demise. It seems as though it had never been a happy partnership anyway judging by the following article in the “Advertiser”:

“Every season there is considerable damage done to cereal and other crops in the fields adjoining the golf course through golfers and others wading through them in search of lost golf balls. This occurs not only during play but on Sunday which is one of the busiest days for work. In spite of repeated warning this season it is again going on and the matter being now in the hands of the police, it is hoped a conviction or two may put a stop to such reprehensible and destructive conduct”

Gorebridge clubhouse.

Location of the Gorebridge golf course.

Gorebridge Golf Club disappeared after WW1.