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Venue for our Spring Meeting, the famous Montrose Links have a history which dates back to the very origins of the game in Scotland. We show a flavour of where the club has come from and what is lined up for the bi-centennial celebrations. Information was supplied by Brian Ritchie, Royal Montrose Vice Captain. |
Picture shows second hole at Montrose Links venue for the 2010 SSGS Spring Meeting History:
ROYAL MONTROSE BICENTENARY 1810-2010
We at Royal Montrose Golf Club are delighted that the Scottish Seniors are coming to Montrose Links for your Spring Meeting in 2010 and particularly pleased that we will be your host club in our Bicentenary year
I have pleasure in providing you with some background of the fascinating history of Royal Montrose and our celebrations which may help content for your website along with a photo of Montrose Links and our Bicentenary programme.
History We are privileged to play on the fifth oldest golf course, where play has been recorded on the magnificent Montrose Links since 1562. Many of the leading players of their day have played Montrose links including James Braid, Tom Morris and Harry Vardon. History reveals that these players rated Montrose as good as, if not better than St Andrews. We continue to be honoured by the R & A who allowed us to host the Open Championship Final Qualifying in 1999, and 2007 when the Open was held at nearby Carnoustie
Royal Montrose Golf Club was founded as Montrose Golf Club on 1st January 1810. For its first 80 years, the club took responsibility for funding “the green”: the improvements to and redesigns of the golf course which they made available free of charge to generations of local golfers
In 1830 the club devised one of the earliest written rules of golf, sixty years before the unified rules of the R & A. Two of which were innovative, “the defination of a stroke” and “limiting to a partner or caddy the advice give to a player” which are still in the rules today.
In 1845 Willam Gladstone MP, of local Fasque Estate, the future 4 time Prime Minister, persuaded Prince Albert to become our Royal Patron, and our name was changed to the Royal Albert Golf Club, (3rd oldest Royal Club after Royal Perth & the R & A).
In 1857 members of our club were one of eleven clubs invited to play in the Grand National Golf Club Tournament in St Andrews, the first ever event of its kind which preceeded the first Open at Prestwick in 1860
In 1864 nine gentlemen met in the Crown Hotel to form the Montrose Victoria Golf Club. A silver medal was ordered and first competed for on 13th October
In 1866 Royal Albert club organised the only 25 Hole Open Tournamment ever held. The winner was W Doleman of Glasgow GC beating W Park and J Braid with a winning score of 112. This tournament is to be re-enacted as part of our Bicentenary Celebrations
In 1886 Our club was one of the 24 original sponsors of the British Amateur Championship Trophy and we were invited to be involved with its management until the R & A took over in 1921
In 1887 Montrosian Alex Findlay, taught by our professional Robert Dow, emigrated to Nesbraska USA and promoted golf widely becoming known as “the grandfather of golf in USA”
In 1908 Charles Burgess who succeeded Robert Dow as our professional was persudaed by Alex Findlay to emigrate to USA and became professional at Woodland Golf Club where he remained for over thirty years.
His celebrity members included Babe Ruth, Al Jolson, and Bing Crosby, however he is most famously remembered for coaching Woodland member Francis Ouimet to become the first amateur to win the US Open at Broookline in 1913 beating Harry Vardon and Ted Ray by one shot in an 18 hole play off. The ex-caddie’s victory did more than anything to establish golf in USA. Mr Ouimet went on to become the first American to Captain the R & A in 1951 and his story is depicted in the film “The Greatest Game Ever Played”
In 1927 the North Links Ladies Golf club was founded and by 1929 had raised sufficent funds to build their own clubhouse
In 1986, The Royal Albert Golf Club and the Montrose Victoria Golf Club merged, along with the North Links Ladies, to become the Royal Montrose Golf Club, which exists today. Golf Historians generally agree that we are the 9th oldest continuous golf club in the world.
We have strong links with Carnoustie Country and have pleasure in hosting many visitors from the UK and overseas who come to play the historic Montrose golf courses as part of the Open Qualifying course rota.
The Celebrations A full and fascinating programme of events has been scheduled for the whole Bicentenary Year. Launching on Hogmanay with a Party and Flag-Raising Ceremony, continuing immediately on 2nd Jan with a 7 hole hickory shaft competition in period costume. Thereafter the programme develops with a Burns Supper, a Members Bicentenary Ball, and an 1810 Commemorative Golf Competion to celebrate 200 years of golf.
On 30th May we are to re create what we believe to be the only 25 Hole Open ever held in 1866. Later in the year we are to invite all Clubs in Angus to an Invitational Foursomes to celebrate golf in the County.
The highlight of the year will be a whole week of golf and activities from 30th August – 3rd September when representatives of up to 60 “Royal” clubs from around the world will join members to celebrate the Club’s Bicentenary
Royal Patron With the support of the Lord Lieutenant, our current patron HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York will be invited, to attend one of our special golfing, or social events.
High profile golfing events in 2010 With Scotland having a number of golfing events in 2010 we are looking to attract high profile golfers, and media personalities, to Montrose during the year as St Andrews will host the 150th Open in July, and nearby Carnoustie the British Seniors Open soon afterwards
Other activities planned throughout our Bicentenary year:We have a number of other activites planned which include a primary schools history project comparing life in 1810 to 2010 and a junior recruitment drive, along with a bicentenary calendar, and a new History of Royal Montrose Golf Club book being written. Yours sincerely Brian Ritchie Vice Captain Royal Montrose Golf Club
ROYAL MONTROSE BICENTENARY 2010
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