Fortrose and Rosemarkie Club

about news catering contact email links history

History

If the game of golf was played in the Kingdom of Fife in the late 15th century, it could not have been many years later before it was introduced to the Highlands. However, the first documentary evidence of golf being played over Chanonry (now Fortrose) was not until 1702. A reference in the 1793 Statistical Account of Rosemarkie, confirmed that the game had been introduced many years earlier and had become an established sporting activity of the area.

Sir Robert Finlay

By the latter half of the 19th Century, Fortrose and Rosemarkie had emerged as a favourite place of summer or retirement for men of industry and commerce. In around 1876, the Kennedy family came to live in Fortrose. It was not long before Mr Kennedy, already a member of 5 golf clubs, had cut and clipped 2 holes in the links, one close to where the clubhouse now stands and one by the Witches Stone on the 17th fairway. Before that, others had only knocked a ball haphazardly over rough terrain, in more of a point-to-point rather than tee to green nature. If it was the Kennedys who promoted the idea of a golf club, it was another group of learned and influential men who brought it about and they met to consider the formation of a golf club on 29 September 1888.

(Left: First President - Gen. John Macintyre)

By the end of the year the club had a membership of around 50, but while the formation of the club was relatively simple, acquiring the land was more difficult, and negotiations with landlords were often long and protracted. However sufficient obstacles were overcome for the grand opening of the original 6 hole golf course in June 1889. Competitions were introduced the following year and the first clubhouse was opened in 1895 and extended in 1900.

(Right: Opening of the first clubhouse 1895)

The First World War led to a reduction in numbers and competitions were suspended and club activity virtually ceased until 1919 by which time considerable damage had been done to the clubhouse by men of the Highland Cyclist Battalion who had used the premises as a guardhouse.

Peacetime brought a revival of interest but it was 1922 before the course was restored to a sufficient standard to allow the resumption of competitions. By 1924 the course had been extended to 18 holes, but it was not until 1934 that a new clubhouse could be afforded.

Prizewinners ca. 1932

Back Row - R.F. Taylor,
G.M. Samuel, K. Anderson.
Front Row - G. Fraser,
J. McKeddie, W. Young,
J. Anderson

Club Ladies
CIRCA 1932

In September 1940, the course and clubhouse were requisitioned by the military authorities as a training ground, where sea landing tactics were practised in preparation for the D-Day landings. Now the only remaining signs of wartime activity are the concrete bollards to the left of the 3rd and 4th fairways. Again there was considerable damage done and compensation of £4,000 was awarded by the War Department. By the summer of 1946, 9 holes had been restored and by the following year all 18 holes were returned to an acceptable standard.

Mrs Kennedy plays the opening drive
on the extended course - June 13, 1900

The opening of the course on its extension to 18 holes in 1924

By the mid 1950s the membership had outgrown the facilities of the clubhouse and in 1958 Miss Isa Ross, one of the club's benefactors, offered to lend the money for a new clubhouse at a nominal rate of interest. Plans were drawn up after which Miss Ross astounded the members by revealing that she would meet the entire cost herself and the new clubhouse opened in 1959. By the mid 1970s, however, the new clubhouse was already proving too small for the demands placed on it, and an overdraft was taken out to finance a new extension. One condition of Miss Ross's generosity had been that no alcohol would be sold on the premises.
When a way was found around the legal obstacles, an application was made for a liquor licence and on 14 May 1977 a new extension including a bar was opened. Sunday golf was first allowed in 1965 and in the first year 324 visitors had played a Sunday round. By 1970 membership of the club was close to 200 and by 1978 a ceiling of 500 was placed on membership, raised in 1982 to 535, with a restriction of 100 placed on the number of members resident outwith the Black Isle.

FOREWORD BY MR ALEX MAIN