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Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club, Monkton Road Course. (1899 - 1963)
The club was founded in 1899.
It was often called St Cuthbert's.
The Prestwick St Cuthbert club moved to their present location in the early 1960s.
The original course was situated at the north end of the town lying between the Glasgow and Ayr railway line and on the main road from Kilmarnock to Ayr. The expansion of Prestwick Airport, which included the lengthening of the main runway and the construction of a new terminal building in the late 1950s and early 1960s, necessitated the club’s relocation. The club moved in about 1963 to a former RAF station to the east of the town.
Report from "Golf" in February 1899.
Golf - Friday 17 February 1899. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The following report is from The Scotsman Friday 24 March 1899. "PRESTWICK ST CUHBERT'S - A nine-hole course has been laid off on the ground leased on Fairfield Estate, lying midway between Prestwick and Monkton and to the east of the railway. Charlie Hunter of the Prestwick Club, and Andrew Somerville, professional of this new club, went over the ground and fixed positions for the greens, and in the course of a month it is expected that the members will have a formal opening. The course is finely diversified and gives ample scope for careful play. The following are the distances of the several holes; First, 280 yards; Second, 385 yards; Third, 300 yards; Fourth, 200 yards; Fifth, 300 yards; Sixth, 180 yards; Seventh, 220 yards; Eighth, 100 yards; Ninth, 400 yards."
I would like to thank Alasdair Malcolm for supplying information and allowing us to use the course maps and the photographs for Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club, St Nicholas Ladies Golf Club and the St Ninians Golf Club.
The first hole on the former course.
North British Daily Mail Saturday 21 April 1900. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The first annual meeting was held on Saturday 5 May 1900, the accounts of income and expenditure proved satisfactory. Mr J W Weir was elected captain; Mr J W Gilmour, vice-captain; Mr W McLennan, secretary and treasurer.
Further development on the course in July 1900.
Glasgow Herald Monday 2 July 1900. Public domain.
The Scotsman Saturday 8 December 1906. Image © National World Publishing Ltd.
Robert Hunter medal played in May 1907; First Class; D R McCulloch (2), 70; Gordon Lockhart (3), 72; A S Miller (2), 74; Second Class; James McBlaine (24), 71; W S Morton (12), 78; Robert Muir (18), 78.
From the Aberdeen Press and Journal Tuesday 24 December 1907; "EXTENSION OF A PRESTWICK COURSE - Prestwick St Cuthbert's Club have secured some 15 acres of additional land, with the result that the course has been lengthened by about 500 yards. Six new greens have been laid out, and will be ready in a day or two."
Pre-WW1 Ordnance Survey Map showing the course and clubhouse.
O.S. Map Revised 1908; © Crown Copyright {year of publication 1911}.
Competition result from January 1911.
The Scotsman Thursday 5 January 1911. Image © Johnston Press plc.
The death was reported in October 1914 of Robert McWilliam, aged 43, Clubmaster, Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club.
Officers in 1925; Captain, G Paterson; Vice-captain, D Fairburn; Secretary and treasurer, A Groundwater.
Playing in the Captain's prize competition in June 1927 H Wood holed in one at the 105 yard eighth hole.
From the 1928 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 350; Secretary - William McLellan, 8 Carlaverock Avenue, Prestwick; Professional, J R Lathangie; Green-keeper, J McWilliam; Amateur Course Record - Gordon Lockhart, 68; 18-holes; Visitors, 2s a day, 7s/6d a week, 12s 2 weeks, 20s a month, 30s two months; No Sunday play.
The clubhouse in 1928.
From the 1933 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 250; Secretary - William McLellan, 8 Carlaverock Avenue, Prestwick; Professional, J R Lathangie; Green-keeper, J McWilliam; Amateur Course Record - J J Milne, 67; 18-holes; Visitors Gents, 1s/6 a round, 2s a day, 3s Sunday, 7s/6d a week,12s a fortnight, £1 a month, £1/10s, two moths; Ladies, 2s a day, 6s a week, 10s a fortnight, 15s a month.
Result of the Robert Hunter medal played in January 1935; Robert Knox, 69-2-67; W M Keane, 71 scratch; J J Milne, 75-2-73; G Barnard, 79-5-74; J Degens jnr, 76-2-74; Alex Cunningham, 81-5-76; Thomas Burgess, 96-20-76; J Neil, 80-3-77.
No Golf Here - the flooded course in February 1935.
Daily Record Monday 18 February 1935. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
From the 1937 to 1947 Golfer's Handbook; Membership 310; Secretary - William McLellan, 8 Carlaverock Avenue, Prestwick; Green-keeper, J McWilliam; Amateur Course Record - W McKean, 64; 18-holes, SSS 70; Visitors Gents, 1s/6 a round, 2s a day, 3s Sunday, 7s/6d a week,12s a fortnight, £1 a month, £1/10s, two moths; Ladies, 2s a day, 6s a week, 10s a fortnight, 15s a month.
Result from the spring meeting played in April 1938; F G Stephen (4handicap), 68net; D Burgess (3) and R A Johnston (4), 70; J Degens jnr (scratch), J J Milne (1), R McLroy (14), L W Stewart (15) and John Wilson (18), 71.
Postcard - The Closing Day.
Following WW2 the secretary was William McClennan and the greenkeeper J McWilliam. The 18-hole course had a SSS of 70 with a membership of 310. Amateur course record holder was W McKean 64. Visitors’ fees 1/6 a day, 3/- on Sunday, 7/6 a week, 12/6 a fortnight and £1 a month.
The former course can be seen on the 1947 Britain From Above image below.
In the mid 1950s the secretary was H Boyd and the greenkeeper J McWilliam. The 18 hole course now had a SSS of 67 and measured 5,425 yards. Membership of 530. Amateur course record now 68 and held jointly by J G McIntosh, W McKean and W C Gibson. Visitors’ fees 3/6 a day, 25/- a week, 30/- a fortnight. Visitors must be introduced at week-end and after 5pm on weekdays.
Irvine Herald Friday 28 August 1959. Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The Scotsman Thursday 29 December 1960. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Prior to the move to the new location in 1963 the secretary was H Boyd, 18 Broompark Avenue, Prestwick, the greenkeeper was J McWilliam. Club membership of 500. Fees as earlier.
The original St Cuthbert course (above) started as 9-holes and was extended in 1905.
The St Cuthbert map above is of the 18-hole course when it was sited in Kirk Street in Prestwick. The members played over this ground from 1899 until 1963 when the course was compulsory purchased to extend the airport and build the new terminal building. The club then moved to their present site.
The Course on a D & S Ideal Series Postcard no 425 postally used in 1914. Authors Collection.
Location of the St Cuthberts course in 1958, just prior to the airport expansion. Monkton Road, to the north, has been closed to make way for a runway extension.
Grid reference NS35380,26825, co-ordinates 235380,626825.