A Potted History

The Eastwood Golf Club was founded in 1893.  Our first site was in Orchard Park, Giffnock, but due to housing development on the original site we relocated to Muirshield in 1937. The original course at Muirshield was designed by Theodore Moone (who also designed the reconstructed Barassie). The most recent development of new holes and remodelled greens have been designed by Graeme Webster and constructed by Geddes Contractors (Arbroath).

Shortly after the official opening, by British and Scottish Ladies champion Mrs A M Holm, Henry Cotton played Eastwood in a major Exhibition match. John Panton and Bobby Locke played Exhibitions in the fifties.

For much of the 20th Century the name of Bertie Brand (1891-1972, pictured left) was synonymous with Eastwood. A distinguished golfer, Captain, Secretary and Honorary President, he made a significant contribution to the game by his tireless and innovative involvement in all aspects of golf administration, and by his part in founding in 1947 the Brand Putter League, a competition for nine Clubs on the south side of Glasgow, which thrives to the present day.
In more recent times the reputation of the Club has been enhanced by the achievements of Shirley Lawson (Huggan) (Curtis Cup, Scottish Girls and Scottish Ladies Champion), Grant Thomson (Scottish Youth cap), and Caroline Agnew (Scottish Girls Champion and Ladies runner-up). In 2001 Peter McLachlin won the Scottish under-14 Boys Strokeplay at Edzell. Wendy Cameron recently served for three years as President of the SLGA, and was consequently made an Honorary Member of the Club.

The Story of The Eastwood Golf Club from 1891 - c.1960 by J G ('Jack') Malcolm (Match Secretary and Committee Member 1929-1952) is available in Adobe Acrobat: history.pdf or MS Word: history.doc format.

A Few Historical Snippets

[… from J G Malcolm's manuscript History of the Club……]

…The First Three-ball in the History of Golf Competitions!……
'In 1932, the Club introduced an innovation to Golf by playing Competitions in partnerships of Three Players, and as far as one could gather, this had never been the practice in any other Club or Country. One fine Saturday afternoon at the old Course, (in these days there was no five-day week, and consequently few Saturday forenoon players) there were about forty couples playing and about the same number sitting in the Clubhouse waiting to play off. The idea originated that if the playing members were increased to three-ball partnerships, it would load the course, probably increase the playing time, but it would reduce the long waiting period. At the following Committee Meeting there was some strong objection to the proposal mainly on the fear that the playing time would be prolonged and that it was breaking the 'Rules of Golf' (but which Rule was not forthcoming). It was agreed to have one trial in the following Monthly Medal Competition and a report to be submitted.
The trial competition met with general approval, and, to the surprise of all, there was little difference in the playing time.
The Finals of Medals excepted, the Club thereafter played all competitions in three-ball partnerships and the success of the innovation quickly spread and became general practice in many Clubs, even to national tournaments.'

…1950……
…Subscriptions in the News……
' In an effort to reduce the membership from 475 to 450 a suggested increase of subscription from £4 to £5 and 5 shillings was lost at the AGM.'

…1951……
…Damn the Greens Convener!……
'In a Report from the Greenkeeping Research it was recommended that the Greens should not be cut less than the height of three pennies. One member of Committee, complaining of the long grass, remarked that the pennies were supposed to be lying flat, and not placed vertically.'

…1958……
…The Ryder Cup at Eastwood!……
The image from J G Malcolm's History shows Eric Brown at Eastwood in 1958 with the Ryder Cup. The legend reads: 'Each Member of the British winning Team was allowed to hold the Cup for a period. Playing in the West of Scotland Professional Championship [at Eastwood] Eric Brown had the Cup on display.'