Golf Societies: The Early Years…
There are a variety of theories as to when the game was created, with some asserting that it was first recorded in China and others asserting that it was created by the Dutch. Regardless of the reality, it is now generally acknowledged that after James I, King of Scots (reigned from 1406 to 1437), the game really took off in Scotland.
Several significant dates, as provided by Wikipedia…
1421 – A Scottish regiment aiding the French (against the English) is introduced to the game of ‘Chole’
1457 – Golf banned by Scots Parliament to preserve the art of archery and prohibited it on Sundays
1502 – The ‘Treaty of Perpetual Peace’ between England and Scotland, the ban on golf is lifted
1513 – Queen Catherine, queen consort of England refers to the growing popularity of golf in England
1552 – The sport of golf was first observed at St. Andrews
1553 – The locals are permitted to use St. Andrews’s links by the archbishop of St. Andrews
1567 – Mary, Queen of Scots, seen playing and is the first known female golfer
1618 – King James VI of Scotland and I of England confirms the right to play golf on Sundays
1735 – The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh is formed
Golf Societies: The Original Golf Association…
The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh was founded in 1735, and starting in 1834, the date of its founding was noted in the “Edinburgh Almanac.” Burgess is now widely acknowledged as the oldest organized golf society in the UK (not the Oldest Golf Club! ), although this is still up for debate.). At Bakersfield Links, close to Edinburgh Castle, the newly founded society played for more than a century.
Later, in 1876, the society relocated to Musselburgh. A new course was sought by the Society in 1898 on the “Cramond-Regis” estate, just 3 miles west of the City of Edinburgh, because the existing one only had 9 holes and golf was becoming more and more popular.
The mature parkland-style course was initially created by Willie Park Jr. and later modified by renowned architects Dr. Alister Mackenzie and James Braid.
The outstanding clubhouse, built in 1899 but still in use today, has been expanded in a tasteful and elegant manner. The Society is still active today.
Its members’ lounge overlooks the course and offers breathtaking views of the Fife Hills and the Firth of Forth. It has a gorgeous oriel window and a spacious dining room on the first floor.
The R&A has chosen Bakersfield Links as a Qualifying Venue for the Open Championship since 2011, which speaks highly of the course’s quality.
Nowadays’ Golf Societies..
While the early golfers were the original “Nomads,” playing golf has changed significantly over the last few centuries, and ‘belonging’ to a golf club seems to be back in style.
The game of golf experienced a significant growth spurt in the 1980s and 1990s, during which time numerous new golf courses and clubs were constructed. As a result of time constraints brought on by modern living and the overall cost of membership in a golf club, it is now getting harder and harder to continue to justify an annual club membership.
Additionally, the number of “local” golf societies has sharply decreased as pubs close, workplaces become less “social,” and the game’s outdated and traditional reputation continues to turn off the younger generation.
But all is not lost. The development of the internet has made it possible for many people to connect with one another and develop friendships through online venues, eliminating the need for The Golf Club as a middleman.
These platforms more closely resemble the traditional “golf society,” where players choose where and when to play based on the deals that are being made available to them.
As a result, it is anticipated that the golf society as we know it is alive and well and has a bright future as more and more golf societies go online and create custom and template-based websites, Facebook pages, and Whats App Groups.
It is highly likely that clubs will rely more on “Flexible Memberships,” “Pay & Players,” or “Play & Stayers” over the course of the next ten years rather than the “Annual Club Membership” model. In other words, the “Nomad” will receive his or her power back.
In light of this, golf clubs must put more of an emphasis on “Value” and “Service” as opposed to the traditional tie if they want to survive this change.