Western Gailes Historic Research Study

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - Friday 09 September 1898
WESTERN GOLF CLUB AT GAILES. OPENING OF NEW CLUB-HOUSE.
An important and auspicious event in the annals of this newly-formed club took place
on Saturday in the opening of the new clubhouse. The weather during the day was dull
and overcast, but in spite of the unpleasant atmospherical conditions a large number of
members and guests were present. The Western Club was formed in October of last
year. and since then a staff of six men have been employed in laying out the course. The
course and greens, which were on Saturday in excellent condition, have been fully
described elsewhere, so that it is unnecessary to say anything regarding them. The club
has now about 450 members, and those who were present and played over the greens
expressed the utmost satisfaction with all the arrangements. The Duke of Portland is
honorary president, and Mr J. Harling Turner LP., honorary vice-president. Mr Wm.
Johnston, writer, Glasgow ably fills the position of captain. The new clubhouse is
constructed after the model of the early English houses of wood and brick, but is
constructed of iron as well as wood and brick. It is a two-storey edifice, and having a
balcony on the upper storey in the front facing the sea, it looks from the outside both
beautiful and picturesque. The inside also is tastefully laid off as a clubhouse. On the
ground floor is the main room and dining room, and the walls are honey-combed with
boxes for the reception of golf sticks. There is also ample kitchen accommodation on the
ground floor, and a lavatory and cloak-room. On the upper storey there are dressing
rooms, smoking-room, committee room, and servants' room. From the balcony in front
can be had a complete view of the course, and also a delightful view of the coast, sea,
and surrounding country, and on a clear day the coast of Ireland, Jura Point etc. can be
seen. The clubhouse cost £700 to erect, and this money is being raised by a debenture
among the members of the club. The work of construction was carried out by Messrs
Speirs & Coy, West Regent Street, Glasgow. In view of the opening ceremony by Mr J.
H. Turner, J.P., honorary vice-president, a beautiful key was designed, which bore, "
Western Golf Club, 1898. Opened by J. Harling Turner, Esq." The head of the key bore
the coat of arms of Glasgow. Among the guests expected were Dr Dougan, captain of
the Glasgow Club; Bailie Murray, Glasgow; Mr J. B. Morton, ex-captain of the Glasgow
Club; Mr Dickie. town-clerk, Irvine; Mr J. Norval Murray. deputy town-clerk, Irvine;
Mr Fullarton, captain of the Troon club; Mr W. Melville, engineer, Glasgow & South
Western Railway Company. etc. A large attendance of guests arrived from Glasgow,
among whom there was a large complement of ladies to grace the proceedings. Mr
William Johnston, captain of the Western Club, presided, and, on behalf of the
committee, thanked the members and guests for their presence. The club, he said, started
only last October, and it now had a house of its own, while it also had the satisfaction of
knowing that they were in the process of making a first-class golf course. (Hear. hear.)
The club had its origin in the members of Glasgow and Paisley clubs feeling the need of
having a seaside golf course, a course on which they could enjoy a holiday, and where
they could play proper golf—the real golf. (Laughter.) The club was very fortunate in
having got such a splendid place for a course, and they were greatly indebted to Mr
Caldwell, the farmer, for his action towards them in the matter, and for acting as a gobetween
with them and the Duke of Portland. His Grace, the Duke, held a high place
among the nobility, and he (Mr Johnston) believed that the Duke was the only proprietor
in the kingdom who had five full-sized golf courses on one estate, and he hoped the
Western Club would not be behind the others in his Grace's favour. He called upon Mr
Turner to open the new house. Mr J. Harling Turner thanked the Western Club for the
honour they had done him in asking him to perform the opening ceremony. It gave him
very great pleasure as a representative of the Duke of Portland, and he hoped they would
go on being successful. He congratulated them on the success of their club which was so
lately started. It was the most thriving baby for its age he had ever anything to do with.
(Laughter.) As Mr. Johnston had said, there were five golf courses on that one estate of
the Duke of Portland's, and these courses lay between Irvine and Monkton. They would
be a splendid source of revenue to the Duke when some of their leases expired. (Ltr.) He
had not the slightest doubt but that the Duke would do all in his power to foster golf, and
he was also sure they would always be treated fairly. He congratulated them most
heartily on their club-house, which seemed to be, from the inside, both snug and cosy,
and would well fulfil the wants of the club: He formally declared the Western
Clubhouse open, and wished, on behalf of the Duke of Portland, continued success to
the club. (Applause.) Bailie Murray, senior magistrate of Glasgow, said he had been
asked to perform a very pleasing duty, and one which would not take him long to
accomplish. It was one of the important duties they had to discharge, and that was a vote
of thanks to Mr Turner for the service he had rendered to the club. He did not feel
himself very qualified to speak on the subject of golf, but it seemed to him to be a game
which suited all ages, and all classes and conditions of men, and he might say—Women.
For business men who were engrossed in the cares of city life it was a recreation, and
for those who were wealthy and their money it was healthful employment as well as
recreation, Bill Murray thought golf was for those troubled with bad temper. (Mr.) On
the whole, he thought it had a salutory effect on people, alike on their health, temper,
and disposition. He congratulated the members on the fine clubhouse, and wished them
all success. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Turner, which was heartily responded
to. Mr Johnston then presented Mr Turner with the beautifully designed key of the
clubhouse as a memento of the occasion. Mr Turner thanked the club for the memento,
and said he would always value it. While Mr Murray had been speaking of golf being
good for the temper, he had remembered the story of a caddie who was called as a
witness at a sheriff court. The sheriff asked him "did he know the nature of an oath?"
"Aye," said the boy, "for I carried far you for two years! " (Ltr.) Mr Fullarton, captain of
the Troon club, made a few congratulatory remarks. He said Mr Turner, he thought,
would never make a golfer. A real golfer when he missed a shot said something strong,
but Mr Turner only said, "tut, tut." (Laughter.) Dr Dougan, captain of the Glasgow Club,
and Mr Lindsay, also spoke, and the proceedings terminated by the company being
photographed, and afterwards taking tea in the new clubhouse.