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Leven Ladies’ Golf Club, Fife. (1872 – WW2)

The first mention of a Ladies’ course was in September 1872, report below.

Fife Advertiser Saturday 29 September 1872. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The Leven Ladies’ Golf Club was Instituted in 1891.

Result of the first competition played in August 1891. Played on a nine –hole course “beside the Scoone Burn.”

Golf Friday 28 August 1891. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the Golfing Annual 1892/93 – “12-holes at the beginning of the year, the course was recently extended to 18.”

Golf Friday 24 August 1894. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Ordnance Survey Map from the 1890s showing the ladies’ course to the north of the railway.

O.S Map Revised 1893; © Crown Copyright (year of publication 1896).

Plan of the ladies’ course in the 1890s.

Miss Marjorie Wilkie in 1899. She would become Mrs Marjorie Kermack an important member and official of the club for 45 years.

Golf Friday 26 May 1899. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Spring Meeting in May 1902.

Dundee Courier Monday 12 May 1902. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From the 1905 Nisbet’s Golf Yearbook; Instituted 1891; Number of Members – 98 and 54 Annual Season Ticket holders; Hon. Sec. – Miss M P Wilkie, 8 Mitchell Street, Leven; President, Mrs Christie; Entrance Fee 5s and Subs 5s; 18-holes; Green-keeper, G Greig; Professional Record; D Kinnell, 54; Lady Amateur Record; Miss M P Wilkie, 61; Terms for visitors; 6d per day, 1s/6d a week, 3s a month. Most of the holes on this course are short, but require exact iron play. The hazards are numerous, and consist of whins, bunkers and marshy ground and the railway. The greens are in fine condition. The course runs parallel with the gentlemen’s links on the other side of the railway. The club house is to be much enlarged and improved this year.

New clubhouse in 1906.

Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette Thursday 19 April 1906. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette Wednesday 21 July 1909. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

New ladies’ course in December 1909.

Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette Wednesday 1 December 1909. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formal opening of the new course in July 1911.

Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette Wednesday 19 July 1911. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Result of the Christie Medal played in August 1913; Miss M R Wilkie, 64+2-66; Miss C Sutie, 71-4-67; Miss N Ovenstone, 73-5-68; Miss Phemister, 81-12-69; Miss M Bruce, 74-4-70; Miss Weir, 80-8-72; Miss Wilkie, 77 scratch.

Ordnance Survey Map from the time of WW1 showing the ladies’ course to the north of the railway.

O.S Map Revised 1913; © Crown Copyright (year of publication 1921).

Re-opening of the clubhouse in June 1921.

Leven Advertiser & Wenyss Gazette Thursday 30 June 1921. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Fife News Saturday 10 February 1917 - "Leven Ladies' Golf Club were asked to give up their course to a farmer, but they declined. They paid heavy compensation for the land and spent a large sum on the course, and think it unfair they should be asked at this stage to make the sacrifice." 

Match played against Dysart in June 1922.

Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette Thursday 22 June 1922. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Competitions played over Christmas 1924.

Fifeshire Advertiser Saturday 3 January 1925. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Report on the annual meeting in 1926.

Fife Free Press Saturday 1 May 1926. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Interesting to note that the report below mentions that the match was not played on the ladies’ nine-hole course but on the Leven Links. The Ladies’ were still using their own clubhouse.

Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette Tuesday 21 June 1932. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The Balfour Salver was played on the ladies’ course in May 1933, leading scores; Miss Frances Cambell, 67+2-69; Miss M Gourlay, 74-4-70. Miss M Roberstson, 76-6-70; Miss Mary Smith, 77-6-71; Mrs Taw, 72 scratch; Miss A L N Wilson, 78-6-72.

At the annual meeting in February 1934 Mrs P M Kermack, hon. secretary, reported an income of £122/10s/2d. They started the year with a deficit of £5/9s/5d, and finished slightly better, £3/13s/4d to the debit.

Members of the Leven Ladies’ club concluded their season in September 1934 with the Balfour Silver monthly competition. Mrs Ness was the winner, 69-2-67

Fifeshire Advertiser Saturday 25 May 1935. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

In the mid 1930s the ladies’ course would become a Municipal course run by the council. The ladies continued to play over the course and were able to keep their clubhouse.

Advert for the new Leven Municipal Golf Course in 1936.

Dundee Courier Thursday 9 April 1936. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd (Newspapers). Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

A fitting tribute and presentation to Mrs M P Kermack who served the club as secretary for 45 years.

In August 1938 the club played a flag competition on the Municipal Course; Ladies; Winner, Miss Anderson; Runner-up, Miss A Bell; Gent’s; R Thomson.

Report on the annual meeting in April 1939.

Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette Tuesday 25 April 1939. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Course to be ploughed to aid the war effort.

St Andrews Citizen 31 January 1942. Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

The current Scoonie Golf Club was formed in 1952.