Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club. (1880 - 1894)

The club was founded in 1880.

The 9-hole course was laid out at Kingholm by a Mr Fergusson.

Following the tragic death of 12 year old David McKay, who was struck by a golf ball on the course in 1894, the committee decided to move to Summerhill, where a 9-hole course was laid out by Willie Fernie. The club remains at this location, although the course has been greatly altered and extended over the years.

Below is a report on the new club in November 1880.

 

Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club. Report on the new club in November 1880.

Annandale Observer and Advertiser Friday 5 November 1880. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

The professional at Dumfries from 1882 to 1884 was Willie Fernie. In 1883 Willie Fernie won The Open at Musselburgh with a score of 159.

From 1884 to 1894 the professional at Dumfries was R Wright.

Below is the entry for the Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club from the Golfing Annual 1888/89.

 

Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club. Entry from the 1888/89 Golfing Annual.

 

Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club. Entry from the 1888/89 Golfing Annual.

 

Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club. Entry from the 1888/89 Golfing Annual.

From the Golfing Annual 1888/89.

 

Below is the result of a one sided match played on Saturday 24 March 1888 at Prestwick against the St Nicholas Club.

Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club   Dumfries Golf Club  
John Hunter 2 G Fernie 0
W Hunter 3 W M Blake 0
J Wallace 5 R Wright 0
J Andrew 3 J Leitch 0
James Gibson 1 Dr Rowand 0
John Gibson 9 R Steele 0
John Ferguson 8 J Morrison 0
Captain Meikle 3 Captain J Reid 0
W T Morton 2 J Dickie 0
M Smith 5 J Todd 0
Ex Preceptor Wilson 6 R P Murray 0
T McLaren 8 J Cumming 0
A M Turner 2 L Starkey 0
D Ferguson 8 C W Thomson 0
  66   0

A series of foursome games followed which included a match between the famous Willie Fernie of Troon and W M Blake against Percy Wilson and W Hunter (3), the latter pair winning by 2 up.

The earlier Dumfries Club put up a much better show when the return match was played against Prestwick St Nicholas on Wednesday 23 May 1888 at Dumfries, result below. The weather was fine and the greens were in excellent condition for the match. 

Dumfries Golf Club   Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club  
W M Blake 0 John Hunter 6
H A Timms 1 James Andrew 0
Dr Rowand 3 John Wallace 0
W Le G Dudgeon 0 W Norton 6
R Wright 0 W T Morton 0
J Leitch 2 D Guthrie 0
Robert Steele 5 Andrew Turnbull 0
T Morrison 9 James Howat 0
F Reid (captain) 0 Jas Meikle (captain) 2
J Dickie 0 T McLaren 0
D Dickie 0 A M Turner 1
J Todd 0 M Smith 1
James Macdonald 0 A Hutchison 5
C Lindsay 0 J Bowden 6
Law Starkey 0 W Hamilton 9
  20   36

Below is the result of a one sided match against Prestwick St Nicholas played over the new course at Prestwick on Thursday 18 May 1893. 

Prestwick St Nicholas   Dumfries & Galloway  
J H Andrew 5 W M Blake 0
W R Baxter 0 H Cowan 7
James Howat 3 Captain Stott 0
John Gibson 4 Robert A Morrison 0
William Hunter 7 F Reid 0
W A Kennedy 6 T Russell 0
C L Highet 13 L Starkey 0
W J Templeton 3 R Wright 0
John Davidson 5 Geo Thomson 0
H M Giles 3 R Campbell 0
David Templeton 2 H Graves 0
David Ferguson 6 W Moodie 0
John Hamilton 3 Sheriff Campion 0
M Smith 3 P Robb 0
J H Rodger 0 J McKenzie 3
  63   10

Result of a match against Queen of the South Golf Club (who also played on the Kingholm course) in March 1894

 

Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club, Kingholm Course. Result of a match played in March 1894.

"Golf" Friday 16 March 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 

Result of a match against Thornhill Golf Club played in April 1894 at Kingholm.

 

Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club, Kingholm Course. Result of a match against Thornhill GC played in April 1894.

Dumfries and Galloway Standard Saturday 28 April 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.