Muckhart turns back the clock
for golf re-enactment

Muckhart Golf Club turned back the clock last night, celebrating its centenary with a
re-enactment of the first game played on the course.

It was 100 years ago that Muckhart and Fossoway residents approached Miss Christie, of Cowden Castle, a gifted lady, constant traveller and landowner, to see if she would consider giving some land for a nine hole golf development.

Stating it was for the health and recreation of local residents she kindly agreed. The course was commissioned on Wednesday 28th May 1908. Miss Christie, a keen golfer, stuck the first ball. She also presented the Christie Trophy which was won by the ladies team.

Exactly one hundred years on Muckhart maintains the same generous attitude to its local community, especially to its juniors.

It signed up to the national junior golf programme, clubgolf, three years ago. It has eight qualified PGA Level 1 coaches and over 100 junior members. Its junior night, on Fridays, attracts over 50 children.

Marking the centenary this week, Miss Christie’s nephew, Sir Robert Stewart, struck the first ball on what was originally the first green (now the 15th green as the club has a 27 hole course) in a re-enactment ceremony. He and all twelve participants used 100 year old clubs and wore costume of the period

Amongst the 12 players were Muckhart’s Junior Strokeplay Champion and Scottish squad member, Ross Leeds; Junior Matchplay Champion, James Barrett; 13 year olds Ross White and Eilidh Watson, winner of the Central Regional clubgolf competition in March. Accompanying them were six junior caddies.

“This was the first time I’ve ever done anything like this and it was nice to play with Sir Bobby,” said the Club’s Junior Matchplay Champion, James Barrett.

“It was so much harder using a hickory club. The face of the driver is so much higher and it’s so easy to hit it high. I normally drive about 280 and I was hitting it about 210. You’re almost afraid to hit it hard because it’s so whippy and it was weird using the putter. My putting was dreadful but still it was a great experience and a lot of fun.”

Muckhart Golf Club’s centenary year has a packed programme of events:

5 April - Course opening with three competitions, sponsored by Morrisons Garage of Stirling.
31 May - Captain’s night, dinner and celidh
5 July (week of) - Centenary Week competition.
24 Aug - Centenary Family Day, open to people from the surrounding area
19 September - Centenary Ball
28 May – Golf re-enactment, using hickory clubs, followed by a civic reception in the clubhouse.