|
 Dunbar
East Links, situated on the estuary of the Firth of Forth, is
a combination of links and inland turf, laid out on a narrow stretch
of land which follows the natural contours of the coastline.
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...the
Old Deer Park wall running the length of the course, Barns Ness
lighthouse at the 9th and the ruined building known as 'The Vaults'
at the 14th green. The 9th through 12th are the most testing holes
but the closing stretch with the rocky beach ready to accept the
mildest of slices can also ruin a good score. |
By Douglas
Seaton, Local Correspondent
THE DUNBAR GOLF COURSE
is laid out on the land where Oliver Cromwell's army camped prior to the
Battle of Dunbar in 1650. It is known that golf was played in the Dunbar
area at least as early as the beginning of the 17th century.
Records reveal that
a hundred years before Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated at Culloden,
the Assistant Minister at Dunbar was disgraced for playing at gouff.
It is also documented a quarter of a century earlier that two men from
the neighbouring parish of Tyninghame were censured by the Kirk Session
for playing gouff on the Lord's Day in 1616.
In 1794, a group
of gentlemen with strong masonic ties formed Dunbar Golfing Society
which played at Westbarns but support declined over the years. The only
remaining documents from that Society are the Rules and Regulations
dated 14th May of that year. In 1856, following a meeting in the Town
Hall, Dunbar Golf Club was founded and started to play over the present
course, part of the Duke of Roxburghe's estate.
The original 15
holes were designed by Old Tom Morris. with an additional 3 holes added
in 1880. During this period Morris was in great demand, not only playing
in Challenge Matches, but as a house guest of the East Lothian gentry.
He was considered
to be the first golf architect, charging one pound sterling per day
plus travelling expenses. Many of our great courses were laid out by
Tom Morris, including the scene of his Open triumphs at Prestwick and
Muirfield.
An extract from
the Dunbar Golf Club minutes of 1859 gives an insight into the duties
of the greenkeeper at that time. 'The green must be swept and cleaned
every Wednesday and Saturday. All molehills kept flat where possible.
He must be on duty during all Medal days and when the tent has to be
erected he must be out.' One interesting Bye-Law from the turn of the
century reads. 'The official at the burn is authorised by the Committee
to charge all players one penny for each ball recovered from the water.'
The Dunbar Ladies
Golf Club was instituted in the Mason's Hall in 1894. Originally the
ladies competitions were played over 12 holes, using the first six and
last six of the 18 hole course. The original clubhouse was the cottage
now known as Beachcote and the existing clubhouse was constructed in
1900 with oil lighting.
Prior to the formation,
ladies had for many years played golf over the East Links. In 1871,
there was an article in the local newspaper from a bachelor offering
himself as a prize for the winner of the Ladies Competition ' provided
she be young and pretty.'
This was followed by a letter from a young Edinburgh lady, coming to
Dunbar for a holiday, intimating she would be a competitor and hoped
that she might be considered. Over the years the Dunbar Ladies Golf
Club has hosted the Scottish Ladies Championship, British Girls and
Scottish Girls Tournament.
The course measures
6426 yards S.S.S. 71 and has hosted many tournaments including the Scottish
Amateur Championship, Scottish Professional and the Scottish Boys' Championship.
Among the previous winners of the Scottish Boys' was Ewan Murray (1971)
and Andrew Coltart (1987).
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