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Broughty Ferry Ladies Golf Club, Barnhill Course. (1895 - 1954)

Originally an 18-hole course it was eventually reduced to nine-holes. 

The Barnhill course was used by the Broughty Ferry Ladies' Golf Club. 

Dundee Advertiser Saturday 27 April 1895. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Dundee Courier Saturday 4 May 1895. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The 18-hole course was opened on Saturday 15 June 1895 by Provost Orchar. It was situated on 13 acres of land owned by the Earl of Dalhousie. 

Dundee Evening Telegraph Saturday 15 June 1895. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The above plan of the 18-hole course appeared in the Evening Telegraph. It was stated to have a total length of about three quarters of a mile. It was reported that “The average distance between the holes is about 200 feet, the longest being 270 feet and the shortest 160 feet”.

Opening of the course in June 1895.

Dundee Advertiser Monday 17 June 1895. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Course to be acquired by Broughty Ferry Ladies' Golf Club in October 1895.

Dundee Advertiser Tuesday 1 October 1895. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report on the annual meeting in January 1896.

Dundee Advertiser Saturday 25 January 1896. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

New clubhouse in 1896.

Dundee Evening Telegraph Wednesday 18 November 1896. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Dundee Courier Thursday 19 November 1896. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The course was well used, and the ladies seemed to take special pride in their clubhouse, a small wooden building, around which they planted flower beds. The clubhouse was opened on 8 May 1897 by the very formally attired lady president. Possibly as a result of her floor length skirt, leg o’ mutton sleeves and straw hat, her shot to mark the opening went a little awry, heading straight for the Provost of Broughty Ferry.

Dundee Courier Thursday 12 December 1901. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Despite its proximity to better courses, such as Monifieth and Carnoustie, Barnhill was a popular course with locals in the early part of the twentieth century. The  course lay just metres from the beach in the tiny town, and youngsters, with little else to amuse them, used to flock to the course. Although the cost of a round was very modest, many players used to arrive early to try to get a free game before the starter came on duty.

In 1902 it was purchased by the Burgh of Broughty Ferry for the sum of £500.

From the 1905 Nisbet's Golf Yearbook; Broughty Ferry Ladies' Golf Club; Instituted 1895; Membership 80; Hon. secretary; A S Stratton, 53 South Tay Street, Dundee; Entrance fee, nil. subs, 5 shillings; Eighteen-holes; Amateur record; Mrs Robertson, 63; Terms for visitors, 2s/6d a month.

Competitions played in 1915.

Broughty Ferry Guide and Advertiser Friday 12 March 1915. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Barnhill Golf Clubhouse and course.
Postcard published by A McLeod, Broughty Ferry & Monfieth.

Early picture of the Barnhill Clubhouse and Golf Links.

Barnhill from the Golf Course.

Preparing for the new season in 1925.

Dundee Courier Wednesday 1 April 1925. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Example of competitions played regularly on the Barnhill course.

Dundee Evening Telegraph Friday 24 July 1931. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd (Newspapers). Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Broughty Ferry Guide and Advertiser Friday 9 October 1931. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Broughty Ferry Guide and Advertiser Saturday 13 October 1945. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

With the outbreak of the World War II the course became little used, although Jim Lowden of Perth remembers playing the course with a school friend shortly before 1950. The course was said to be quite testing, with 4 holes on the west side of the road over the railway, and five holes on the east side. Soon after 1950 the course ceased to be used, and remained neglected until 1954 when the local parks superintendent suggested it should be transformed into a rock garden. Barnhill Rock Garden, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004, now occupies the site of the old golf course and is a popular place for picnicking and a stroll, particularly in the spring when the garden seems to be in bloom much earlier than anywhere else in the area. The original clubhouse although rather dilapidated still stands on the site.

The former Barnhill Clubhouse, its best days have long gone. Authors Collection.

Location of the Barnhill course.