Glasgow Golf Club

Glasgow Golf Club, founded in May 1787, is the ninth oldest golf club in the world. It has changed location several times during its history, but has been based at Killermont in Bearsden since 21 May 1904. The Club is unusual in also having a links course, at Gailes, near Irvine, on the Ayrshire coast, some 35 miles away.

Glasgow Golf Club
Club information
LocationBearsden, East Dunbartonshire
Established1787
TypePrivate
Owned byGlasgow Golf Club
Total holes18
Tournaments hostedScottish PGA Championship, Scottish Amateur Championship
Websitewww.glasgowgolfclub.com
Killermont
Designed byOld Tom Morris, James Braid
Par70
Length5,977
Gailes Links
Designed byWillie Park Jnr
Par71
Length6,903

History
Georgian neoclassical style club house of Glasgow Golf Club, built 1805.

The club was founded in May 1787, the first golf club in the west of Scotland, and now the ninth oldest golf club in the world.[1][2]

It was first established at Glasgow Green by 22 men, wealthy merchants and army officers, who would have obtained a permit for the playing of golf in this public space from the town council. The club met here between 1787 and 1794, at which point, active military service in the Napoleonic Wars reduced the number of available players below practical levels. Golf playing recommenced in 1809 and remained at Glasgow Green until 1835 despite some municipal drainage works making the location somewhat unpleasant for leisure activities.[3][4]

In 1870, the club started to expand, initially at Queen's Park, but moving just four years later to Alexandra Park. There was one further move to Blackhill (in 1895) before the current course at Killermont was secured for private play. It was during this phase of the club's history that the Gailes Links, Irvine, Ayrshire were opened (19 May 1892).[3]

The Killermont course is based in the grounds of the B-listed Georgian neoclassical style Killermont House, built in 1805 by the Campbell-Colquhoun family. It was leased for a 20-year period by Glasgow Golf Club in the autumn of 1903, and a permanent tenancy was agreed in 1922. A similar arrangement with the Colquhoun family is in place with Loch Lomond Golf Club, which has occupied Rossdhu Mansion and the accompanying grounds at Luss since 1993. In 1924 the land on which the Gailes Links course lies was bought from the Duke of Portland.[3][5]

The Killermont course doesn’t encourage visitors (except for member's guests), but it is possible to play as a visitor on the Gailes course.[1]

Course details
Glasgow Gailes golf course. Showing the original part of the club house.

Killermont is a par-70, parkland course of 5,977 yards (5,465 m), designed in 1904 by Old Tom Morris.[1] The course was altered in 1924 by James Braid, lengthening some of the holes by moving tees further back from the greens and by adding and changing bunkers.[5]

Gailes is a par-71, championship golf links of 6,903 yards (6,312 m) with heather-lined fairways. The current layout was designed by Willie Park Jnr in 1912. It is the only Open Championship Final Qualifying course in Scotland to be selected by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews from 2014 to 2017. [6] [7] [8]

Arms
Coat of arms of Glasgow Golf Club
Escutcheon
Per chevron Azure and Argent in chief a barrulet wavy Argent and in base on a mount in base Vert an oak tree Proper the stem at the base thereof surmounted by a salmon on its back also Proper with a signet ring in its mouth Or on the top of the tree a redbreast and in the sinister fess point an ancient hand bell both also Proper on a chief wavy Argent between two pellets in pale two golf clubs heads upwards in saltire Sable.
Motto
Above the shield is placed a helm suitable to a society (videlicet: a salade Proper lined Gules) with a mantling Azure doubled Argent and in an escrol over the same this motto: SEMPER CUM SUPERBIA. [9]

See also

References
  1. "Scottish Golf Courses (Glasgow Golf Club)". Scottish Golf History. VR Associates. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  2. "Glasgow Golf Club Home Page". Home Page. Glasgow Golf Club. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  3. Laird, Neil JB. "Glasgow Golf Club". Scottish Golf History. Edinburgh. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  4. "Glasgow Golf Club History". Club History. Glasgow Golf Club. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  5. "Glasgow Golf Club Killermont". Club History. Glasgow Golf Club. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  6. "Gailes Links - Final Qualifying". The Open Championship website. R&A Championships Limited. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  7. "Gailes Links". Course guide (Gailes). Glasgow Golf Club. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  8. "Gailes Course Guide". Course guide (Gailes). Glasgow Golf Club. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  9. "Glasgow Golf Club". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2 February 2021.

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