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Scotscraig Golf Club, Fife. (1817- 1834)

The original club was founded in 1817 by several members of the St Andrews Society of Golfers who wished to play more golf than the Society allowed them. William Dalglish, a member of the Society, and the first captain of the Scotscraig club, was the landowner at Garpit. Part of the land he owned included a racecourse and it was within this area that a six-hole course was played. Competitions were played over three rounds of the six-hole course.

At a meeting in 1817 the Scotscraig Golf Club came in to being. It was arranged to have two golf meetings annually, one in Spring and the other in Autumn, a Gold Medal was played for at the Autumn meeting. Captain Playfair, with a score of 105, was the first winner of the Gold Medal played in September 1818.

This first club continued at this location until 1834 when the land at Garpit was ploughed up by the landowner.

Report on the new club in October 1818.

Caledonian Mercury Monday 5 October 1818. Public domain.

Spring meeting in May 1819.

Caledonian Mercury Monday 17 May 1819. Public domain.

In October 1820 the gold medal of the Scotscrsig club was won by Henry M Low. He also won the gold medal in April 1821.

In October 1821 the gold medal was won by Robert Dalgleish, younger, of Scotscraig.

In May 1822 the prize balls given by the club were won by Chas. Shaw, wine merchant, Leith.

Caledonian Mercury Saturday 12 October 1822. Public domain.

The prize balls were played for at the spring meeting in May 1823. After a close contest the winner was Samuel Messieux, St Andrews.

Caledonian Mercury Saturday 1 November 1823. Public domain.

Fife Herald Thursday 29 April 1824. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The prize balls at the spring meeting in May 1824 were won by Charles Shaw, Leith.

The prize balls at the spring meeting in May 1825 were won by William Ward, merchant Leith.

At the annual spring meeting in April 1828 the gold medal was won by Charles M Christie, Durie.

Edinburgh Evening Courant Thursday 14 May 1829. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Fife Herald Thursday 20 May 1830. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Fife Herald Thursday 19 April 1832. Content provided by THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The club met on the 1 May 1832 to play for the medals. Seven competitors started and after a keen contest the gold medal was won by Robert Haig, Seggie, with 100 strokes. The silver medal was won by David Aytoun Lindsay, Lochton, 105 strokes.

Caledonian Mercury Thursday 16 May 1833. Public domain.

The course was turned over for agriculture in 1834. After the ploughing up of the course the club played at “away” courses for a short while

In October 1834 the Scotscraig medals were played for at St Andrews.

Caledonian Mercury Thursday 2 October 1834. Public domain.

The current club was established in 1887. The following report appeared in the Dundee Courier on Friday the 6May. “GOLF CLUB FOR TAYPORT - A number of gentlemen met in the ante-room of the Temperance Hall, Tayport, last night for the purpose of forming a Golf Club. Admiral Maitland Dougall was called to the chair. In the course of his remarks, he said he would be very glad to be of any assistance to them should they decide in forming a club. He gave an account of what had already been done, and he had no doubt that they could make further improvements, and they would have a very good course. He also intimated that he had in his possession two medals (one gold and one silver) that he would give to be competed for by the members, and would do all he could by way of instructing new members. The reverend Mr Halliday said they were indebted to Admiral Dougall for the manner in which he had come forward to assist them, and also what he had already done. It was agreed to form a club, and to call it Scotscraig Golfing Club and Admiral Dougall was elected Patron. A committee of five was appointed to draw up rules and submit them to another meeting; Rev C Halliday, J Simpson, G B Black and Doctors Orr and Hood. A vote of thanks to the Admiral bought the meeting to a close”

The new course was officially opened in April 1888.

Ordnance Survey Map from the 1850s showing Garpit.

O.S. Map Revised 1854; © Crown Copyright (year of publication 1855).