Inverallochy Golf Club, Fraserburgh. (1884 – 1938) 

The home course of the famous “Fishermen Golfers” of Inverallochy. 

A club is formed in November 1884 at Inverallochy, report below.

 

 

The article below is from the Golfing Annual 1888/89. It states that golf has been played on the links for generations but play had ceased in 1888/89.

 

 

Entry from the 1891/92 Golfing Annual – Inverallochy Golf Club; Captain, Lieut. Col. F Mackenzie Fraser, Inverallochy. As this club is made up of fisherman, and there is no regular play, it is difficult to obtain any accurate information. 

The annual meeting was held in November 1896, D C Dundas presided. The following office bearers for the season were elected; Captain, Col. F M Fraser; Vice-President, David Cumming Dundas; Secretary and treasurer, Alexander Whyte; Council – W and R Stephen, A Ritchie, H Hammond, James Whyte. “The Whitelinks course, which is one of 18-holes, and is confined to members of the club only, adapts itself to the most critical golfer, abounding as it does with hazards such as bents, cart-ruts, the Allachy Burn, hilly ground, etc.The turf is excellent and the “greens,” which have lately undergone dressing, will soon be in the pink of condition.” 

Below competition played in April 1902.

 

 

Report on the famous Fishermen in April 1903.

 

 

 

 

The Fishermen take on a Parliamentary Team at Sandwich in 1905.

 

 

 

 

The following report accompanies the above pictures. “The Golfing Fishermen – Immense interest is being taken in the golf match to be played on April 1st between the fishermen from Inverallochy, Aberdeenshire, and a parliamentary team. The fishermen are magnificent players although they cannot practise except between December and April; the rest of the year they are away at the herring fishing. They wear their blue jerseys and enormously thick clothes, and they are sure to create a sensation when they come to town. I only hope they will not be spoiled. The match is to be played at Sandwich.

“Facts About the Fishermen – The east-coast fishermen of Scotland are quite a class by themselves. In the first place a great many of them drop their “h’s” which the average Scotsman never by any possibility does. This is belived to be due to their French origin. More curious, however, are their “tee” or knicknames, which are even quoted in legal documents. This is rendered necessary by the fact that a great many men of the same name live in the same village. Thus one of the best-known players, A Ritchie, is known as “Sang” to distinguish from another A Ritchie who is known as “Skeel.” 

Report on the Inverallochy v Westminster match below.

 

 

 

From the Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook 1905; Inverallochy Golf Club; *Instituted 1881*; Number of members 130; Station – Cairnbulg, 500 yards; Hon. secretary – A Ritchie, Merchant, Inverallochy; captain, D Dundas; entrance fee nil, and subs 6 shillings; 18-holes; green-keeper, J Strachan; amateur record – A Ritchie, 72; Terms for visitors, 1s per day. The course is a seaside one. All the greens are natural and the turf excellent. There is a running stream in the centre of the course, and generally speaking the surrounding scenery is picturesque. The club is composed mostly of fishermen, who do not play in the summer, and consequently anything approaching congestion on the links in summer is unknown. Hotel – “Cairnbulg.”

Note above, the club *Instituted 1881.* 

In January 1907 James Murray, M.P., presented a handsome silver cup for competition for the members of the Inverallochy Golf Club. Mr W J Brown presented two medals for the winner and runner-up.

In March 1907 a match was played on the Inverallochy course against Peterhead Golf Club. There were 19 players a side; the home team won 14, lost 4, one match was halved. 

The annual business meeting was held in February 1909, D C Dundas presided. The chairman stated that the club had practically been defunct last year owing to the late date at which the fishermen had returned from English waters and other local restrictive causes. The finances were in a fairly satisfactory condition. The following were office bearers for the coming season; Patroness - Mrs Mackenzie Fraser of Castle Fraser and Inverallochy; hon. presidents - Colonel Byrne, Fyvie and Robert Stephen, Whitelink House; vice-president - Dr C Whyte, Fraserburgh; captain, D C Dundas; secretary and treasurer - John Duthie; committee - James Buchan, Mid Street; James Whyte, Frederick Street; William Stephens, Frederick Street; G Buchan, Charles Street; Gilbert Buchan.

The death was reported in March 1913 of Alexander White who was one of the leading lights in the golf club. He was a scratch player and acted secretary for may years.  

There was hardly any organised golf on the Inveralllochy course between the wars. 

In June 1921 a match was played between the old a new members of the Inveralllochy Golf Club, resulting in a win for the veterans by 13 matches to 12. 

The final of the Fraser Cup was to be played between George C Buchan and Alexander Strachan  in March 1924. This would be the last organised competition to be played on the course until the late 1930s.

 

 

Below hopes of  a revival of the course in April 1929.

 

 

It was reported in April 1938 that efforts were to be made to resuscitate the Inverallochy Golf Club which had been defunct for over 15 years. 

After many years the course re-opens in March 1939.

 

 

The current club was established in 1954.