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SHORT HISTORY OF FORFAR GOLF CLUB
| FORFAR | ANGUS |
Although the history of golf in Forfar is obscure, the game was practised in the late 18th century, for Rev Andrew Aedie (ordained in 1798) played on an area to the north of the town.
In 1871 James Brodie persuaded Colonel Dempster of Dunnichen to permit the playing of golf over fifty acres of ground to the east and under Brodie‚s impetus, Forfar Golf Club was formed with the 18 hole course laid out by Tom Morris of St Andrews. After negotiating the whins and broom and the characteristic undulations of the "rig and furrow", the players would return to a rented room at Lochhead Farm for rest and refreshment. In 1889 improved prosperity of the Club funded the building of a clubhouse. Ladies were admitted to the Club in 1895.
Most of the inter club matches were played with the neighbouring clubs of Montrose Mercantile, Grange and Carnoustie Caledonia in the golfing season though the Club did have a Winter League from 1926.
Members came from beyond Forfar and during the First World War (1914-1918) many garrison soldiers became Honorary Members.
In 1920 the club was able to purchase the course for £700 when its membership stood at 541.
Course alterations recommended by James Braid were implemented in 1926.
Suffering the usual constraints during World War II (1939 - 1945), activity resumed after the war and in the 1960's membership began to increase rapidly. During the 1970's the figure had doubled to its present 850.
Among the club's more celebrated personalities is Sandy Saddler, who after being champion here seven times, went on to represent Scotland no less than ten times, and Britain fourteen times, between 1959 and 1967. In the last year he was the only player to win two singles in the Walker Cup.
Among the Club's oldest trophies are the Dunnichen Medal which is presented to the Handicap Match Play Champion. It was presented to the Club by Lady Demster- Metcalf in 1890, the Lowson Challenge Cup, received from Agnes Lowson in 1901, the Brodie Younger Shield, presented by Dr James A. Lowson in 1898, the Coronation Commemorative Quaich given by Mrs A. Wright in 1902 and the Bruce Medal presented by Robert Bruce in 1869.
The Club Championship trophy was presented by Mrs Violet Callander , wife of the late Bill Callander who in addition to being a Life member at Forfar, was representative on the SGU for 14 years, Captain of the Scottish team and a member of the R & A. , He served there from 1962 until the mid eighties and was for many years Convenor of the Rules Committee.
Mrs Callander also donated the drinking fountain between the 5th and 16th Greens in memory of her husband.
More recently Stuart Wilson has represented Forfar on the National scene. In 2003 he played at Ganton Yorkshire, in the winning Great Britain and Ireland team, which defeated the USA team in the Walker Cup. In June 2004 Stuart won the Amateur Championship at St Andrews on the occasion of the 250th Anniversary of the R & A.