Golf club's 200th anniversary recognised in Parliament

An historic North East Fife golf club's plans to celebrate its 200th anniversary has been marked by local MP Stephen Gethins.
Scotscraig Golf Club captain John Rankin, Stephen Gethins MP and Scotscraig vice captain George Anderson.Scotscraig Golf Club captain John Rankin, Stephen Gethins MP and Scotscraig vice captain George Anderson.
Scotscraig Golf Club captain John Rankin, Stephen Gethins MP and Scotscraig vice captain George Anderson.

Mr Gethins has submitted an Early Day Motion which puts the anniversary of the world’s 13th oldest golf club on record within the Houses of Parliament.

Events to celebrate the bicentenary include a gala dinner and a Grand Match involving 20 of the oldest clubs in the world.

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In addition to these events, Scotscraig is part of the ‘Links with History’ stable, a collection of leading Scottish golf clubs including Crail Golfing Society, Ladybank Golf Club and Lundin Golf Club which all share a golfing legacy stretching back over 700 years.

The group provides a link to the beginnings of golf, and sharing this through the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology will celebrate Scotland’s reputation for world-class golf and history in 2017.

Over the last few years Scotscraig has seen enormous investment in the championship course and is now focusing its attention on attracting more members especially women and children from the local community.

Innovative approaches include a package for women players which includes lessons and the free use of a golf bag with all the clubs needed for the first two years of membership.

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Congratulating the club on its 200th anniversary, Stephen Gethins MP, who is co-chairperson of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Golf, said:

“Scotscraig is a great example of a community club which has a rich history but is looking to the future and wants to give golfers the opportunity to enjoy golf and the social side of the club.

“I wish them every success with their celebrations.”

With a year of celebrations planned, the club has said it’s delighted to be recognised in this way.

Current Scotscraig captain, John Rankin, said the MP’s gesture was welcome to the local club.

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Mr Rankin said: “We were very pleased to welcome our local MP, Stephen Gethins, to the club recently and to hear that Mr Gethins proposed to put down a motion in the House of Commons congratulating the club on its 200th anniversary.

“Scotscraig is the 13th oldest golf club in the world and is rightly proud of its history and traditions.

“The club will be holding a number of events this year to celebrate this significant milestone.

“Events tee off with a Gala Dinner at the Apex Hotel in Dundee in April and then include matches against the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, whose forefathers founded Scotscraig Golf Club in 1817, and a Grand Match involving the 20 of the oldest golf clubs in the world.”