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Beith Golf Club, Ayrshire. (1896 - 1907)

Extract from "The Herald" 14 February 1896 – “Beith Golf Club – The links were formally opened on Saturday, but owing to wet weather only a few completed the course. Mr Walter Williamson, writer, the captain, was presented by the members with a handsome driver as a momento of the occasion. Over 80 ladies and gentlemen have already become members.”

The August 1897 monthly competition for the Captain’s Prize was won by Robert Dunlop, 55-18-37.

Ladies' competition results in October 1897.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald Friday 22 October 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The winner of the monthly medal in July 1899 was the Rev. I G Sutherland.

The handsome new clubhouse of the Beith Golf Club was opened in September 1903.

From the 1905 Nisbets Golf Yearbook; Hon. secretary – R Dunlop,  Myrtlebank, Beith; Captain - A Gow M.D; Membership of 100; Entrance Fee nil and Subs 21s/6d, ladies 5s; Nine-holes; Amateur record – D Baird, 34; Terms for visitors 1s a day, 5s a week, 15s a month. The Beith golf course is a 10 minute walk from the centre of the town. The turf is well adapted to the game and the hazards are walls, burns, hedges etc. The course stands very high and commands a beautiful view of the Firth of Clyde, the Hills of Arran, and Ailsa Craig.

The amateur champion at Beith in April 1907.

Kilmarnock Herald and North Ayrshire Gazette Friday 3 May 1907. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It was reported in August 1907 that the club was to discontinue the tenancy of the Grangehill golf course in November 1907.

The club moved to its current course at Threepwood Road following the closure of the Grangehill course in 1907.

During the 1980/90s the game of golf was growing in popularity and many new courses were opened. Due to the new found confidence in the game it was decided to extend the Beith course to 18-holes in 1993.

During the 2000s the boom peaked with the inevitable outcome – a downturn in club membership, rising costs etc., which led to many club and course closures.

In 2017 with mounting losses and decreasing membership Beith Golf Club was on the verge of closure. At an EGM in September it was decided to wind-up the club by the end of year.

The club thankfully survived but it was eventually decided to reduce the course to nine-holes in an attempt to cut costs and hopefully continue playing golf.

This section of the history of the club records the loss of the abandoned holes.

The pictures below show a selection of the “new holes” prior to the course reverting to nine-holes in 2017.

Thanks again to Douglas Lockhart who visited the site on Wednesday 4 November 2020 and took the pictures below of the former holes. First fairway as far as the ditch in the low ground and the 18th in the opposite direction after crossing the low ground and as far as the old 18th green are now a practice ground. Walking these it was noticeable how wet these holes were underfoot compared with the 10th (1st on 9 holes) and 2nd both holes on the original nine hole layout which are much drier - a point made to me by the club captain, Robin Menzies.

Douglas Lockhart and Golf's Missing Links would like to thank Robin Menzies, Captain of Beith Golf Club for his assistance.

View from 1st tee of 18-hole course.

Looking back to tee - note green-keeping shed and current 2nd fairway on right going uphill into distance.

11th fairway from back tee.

12th fairway from tee.

Approaching 12th green.

Approaching 13th green.

14th from tee.

Approaching 14th green.

Crossing ditch on 15th fairway.

Fairway bunker 15th.

View of 15th green.

Path from 16th green to 17th tee.

Seat at 16th forward tee with hole name.

16th green.

17th (par 3) looking to green from back tee.

A deep bunker and 18th green.

The scorecard and course plan below is for the current nine-hole course (2020). 

The Google Map below shows the area around Grangehill, location of the earlier golf course. The current course, which was under threat of closure (November 2017), can be seen to the east.