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Ardrossan and Saltcoats Golf Club, Ayrshire. (1910 -1950)

Article from the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald Friday 18 March 1910; "ARDROSSAN AND SALTCOATS GOLF COURSE - Our announcement that negotiations are afoot for the acquisition of a stretch of ground for a golf course conveniently situated between both towns, has given general satisfaction. The attractive power of the game is admitted by everybody, and it is confidently anticipated that what the acquisition of links has done for West Kilbride, Troon, Prestwick and many other places, they will do for Ardrossan and Saltcoats. The proposed course has been inspected by Ben Sayers, well known in the professional world of golf, and his verdict is very encouraging. He was particularly pleased with the character of the turf, and at once saw possibilities of a first-rate course. We hope no obstacle will prove to formidable; and that a long 18-hole golf course will be added to the attractions of the district."  

Report on the new club and course in May 1910.

Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald Friday 20 May 1910.Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From The Scotsman Saturday 4 June 1910 - "Ardrossan & Saltcoats Golf Course (Limited.,) to lay out a course on the farm at Leigh Dykes, in the parish of Ardrossan. Capital £2,000, divided into £1 shares -  Subscribers; James B Chrystie, Ardrossan; Alexander James Ritchie, Saltcoats; James Cant, Ardrossan; James Fulton, Saltcoats; James Murchie, Ardrossan; Thomas H Taylor, Saltcoats; John Stewart, Ardrossan; J Napier Myers, Saltcoats." 

Michael Bradie, the professional at Bridge of Allan Golf Club, was appointed professional and green-keeper at Ardrossan & Saltcoats in January 1912. 

Above is a pre-WW1 Ewing Vintage postcard of the clubhouse.

Result of a ladies’ competition played in June 1913, prizes presented by Mr A G McGlashan; Miss Jessie Armour beat Miss Jean Stewart. 

Result of the Chrysalis medal played in July 1913; Miss Keys (14), 90; Miss Wait (7), 91; Miss Kay (7), 98.

Result of the Stewart Medal played in January 1914; T Cartonell (10) 68; T Fulton (8) 91; James Coleman (10) 92; McGregor Medal - William Barclay (18) 86; John Barclay (14) 87; John Baird (18) 88.

Above is a postcard of the clubhouse and course around the time of WW1.

The above plan shows the course layout.

In 1923 the secretary was Jas Campbell, a writer, of Saltcoats who held the position of secretary until the late 1940s. An 18 hole course to the outbreak of WW2; after the war in 1947 the course was reduced to 9 holes. There were stations at Saltcoats Caledonian or Ardrossan South Beach a few minutes away. Local hotels were the Eglinton, Kilmeny and the Ingledene. Sunday play was not allowed.

In 1923 the visitors’ fees were 2/6d a day, 10/- a fortnight and £1 a month.

Result of the Cant Medal played in April 1930; R Nelson (20), 64; J Wilkie (15), 69; D H Russell (7), 73; William Ness (11), 74. Stewart Medal; T Orr (4), 76; T Borland (6), 79; J Cowan (7),80; A McCullum (9), 80. McGregor Medal; J Templeton (17), 70; T Borland jun (14), 72; G M McRae (14), 74; G Brodie (14), 75.

Result of the Cant medal played in June 1935 ended in a tie between Gerald Anderson, 77-11-66 and J B Bell, 88-22-66.

The Kemp Jubilee Trophy was played in June 1935 over the Ardrossan & Saltcoats coure. The trophy was presented by Mr Harry Kemp, “the amusement caterer”, it was an annual open competition for amateur golfers. All the prizes were won by members of the home club, scores for Ardrossan members; Jas Carson (9), 66; R McGilvray (4) and A Small (10), 67; Jas Little (8), 68; Frank Hail (10), 69; A Barclay (7), 70; A Taylor (4) J J Murray (10) J W Martin (6) G Brady (8) H Blythe (8) H B Bennet (10) Jas Cowan (6) A Gray (8), 71.

Leading scores in the Cant Medal Competition played in June 1936; H Blyth, 72-4-68; H B Bennett, 76-8-68; A Cairnie, 80-12-68; F N Rae, 75-6-69; J R Rae, 75-5-70; William Ness, 83-13-70.

Competition results from August 1936 for the "Saltcoats and Ardrossan" club.

Kilmarnock Herald and North Ayrshire Gazette Saturday 15 August 1936.

Kilmarnock Herald and North Ayrshire Gazette Saturday 29 August 1936.

Spring meeting result from April 1938; first class – Alex McCallum (8h’cap), 71; J Morris (8) and A Taylor (1), 72; second class – J Nelson (15) and R N Dickie (22), 68; H Coombs (19), 69.

Result of the Cant medal played in June 1938; H M Bennett (9), 65; James Taylor (19), 67; J Lamont (2), 68; J Merrie (8) and A McAllum (8), 69; Stewart medal – O Andrews (7), 63; J Morris (8), 72; G Marslay? (4), J Paterson (?), H H Bennett (6) and J J Murray (9), 76; MacGregor medal – J Wilson (11), 72; K Wilson (11), 73; J Templeton (13), 74; J Coombs (18), 76; J M Fullerton (16), 77; Club medal – H McMillan (24), 70; J McCallum (21), 74; A Levesley (20), 76.

Result of competitions played in July 1938; Stewart medal – G Beale? (10), 68; G Anderson (4), 69; MacGregor medal – R J Holt (18) and W M Ewing (17), 67; F S Kean (11), 68; Club medal and green-keeper’s medal – J M Short (21), 66.  

Result of the Stewart medal played in September 1938; A McCallum (5) 74; A Gray (4), 75; MacGregor medal - F Dunlop (18?), 69; H Coombs (18) and J M Short (17), 71; J Logan (22), 75.

Competition results from May 1939; Stewart Medal - J Cowan, 76-4-72; McGregor Medal - D F Dunlop, 83-18-65; R Ross, 81-16-65; club medal - A Scott, 87-22-65; J Campbell, 89-24-65.

Result of the June 1939 Stewart Medal; R W McGillivray (3) 71; J J Murray (8) 72; McGregor Medal; H Coombs (15) 67; A G White (15) 70; Club Medal; A V McMillan (19) 71; R Craig (24) 71. 

New course record in June 1939.

Daily Record Monday 26 June 1939. Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

From the 1947 Golfer's Handbook; Membership, 117;  Secretary - Jas Campbell, Writer, Saltcoats; Green-keeper, T A Paterson; 9-holes; Visitors’ fees, 2/6d a day, 7/6d a week, 12/6d a fortnight and £1 a month.

In 1950 the land used by Ardrossan & Saltcoats Golf Club was bought by Ayr County Council - Ardrossan and Saltcoats Burgh Councils at a cost of £6,400. The land was subsequently used to provide recreational facilities on the Laighdykes Playing Fields.

It appears that the Golf Club limped along until the mid 1950s, always aware of its inevitable demise. The secretary during this period was S W Wylie, 105 Argyle Road, Saltcoats, and the greenkeeper T A Paterson. The course had been extended to 11 holes in the early fifties, only to be reduced to 9 holes measuring 2,478yds by 1955. Membership at this time was about 120.

The course closes on Saturday 29 September 1956.

Image courtesy of the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald Friday 28 September 1956.

Map showing the location of the golf course.

A postcard of the clubhouse in the early 1920s.