A Brief History of Dalbeattie Golf Club

Whilst Dalbeattie Golf Club cannot claim to be the oldest in Dumfries and Galloway it comes fairly close. Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club was formed in 1890 and Kirkcudbrightshire Golf Club was formed in 1893. The Dalbeattie Golf Club was inaugurated at a public meeting held in the town hall on the 29th January 1894. The chairman on this occasion was a Mr William Smith, the headmaster of Dalbeattie Public School, a gentleman who took a keen and active interest in the formation of the club.

The first course was laid out in the fields of Meikle Dalbeattie Farm and Park Farm. In 1901 the club secured a lease of the fields on which part of the present course is situated, but unfortunately it never possessed the funds to put the course into first class condition. In 1902 a small clubhouse was erected, but with the popularity of the game and the consequent increase in the membership it became inadequate and most inconvenient. Several extensions and alterations were made, and in the fullness of time and with a lot of fundraising and hard graft a brand new clubhouse was built.

The book of Dalbeattie Golf Club in 1912 describes the course as follows:- " The course is a nine hole one situated on the slopes of Dalmun. The view to be had from it, is of a most charming and extensive character. The beautiful valley of the Urr, encircled by hills and beautifully wooded uplands, opens out to the south, and the Cumberland hills can be discerned in the distance beyond the glittering waters of the Solway Firth. No matter which way the observer turns, a scene of surpassing beauty meets the eye." The same can be said today in the year 2002. In the same book a local bard describes the situation in the following lines.

"A bonnie wee peep o' Da'beattie toon
Frae the club-house alang the brae face.
The views from our golf course, as everyone knows,
Are unequalled for beauty and grace.
When the ba's fairly lost, and ye're liken to swear,
Just stan up and gaze doon the vale,
And mark the calm scene, bathed in sweet sunny sheen,
and your trouble flees off in the gale"

It is quite strange how history repeats itself because the following paragraph could so very easily have been written today instead of nearly a hundred years ago.

"So fascinating has the game of golf now become that a holiday district without a good golf course labours under great disadvantages. A first class golf course is almost a necessity as a means of attracting visitors and, with this object in view it is desirable to have a course worthy of Dalbeattie. In these circumstances it has been resolved to appeal for support to the friends of the club and others interested in the town's welfare , and in the hope that they may see their way to assist members in effecting such improvements as will tend to attract people to the place as a holiday resort, the surrounding district being one of great historic interest and natural beauty".

Back to the Course Details