They
were clearly a meticulous group of gentlemen for in
1783 they became the first to introduce the five
minute limit on searching for golf balls. A
sensible idea, you may think, but one that has
caused the modern day Aberdeen golfer much
distress.
Admission to
membership was by ballot and all applications for
admission had to be three months on the table, one
dissent being sufficient to reject any candidate.
In the clubhouse there is still preserved the
original ballot box in which members voted on
admission of new members. Inlaid in brass is the
date 1780 and the words 'Yea' and 'Nay' over the
holes into which the coloured balls for or against
membership were dropped.
ounded in 1780,
Royal Aberdeen is the sixth oldest golf club in
existence. For the first thirty five years the club
was known as The Society of Golfers at Aberdeen,
with membership of the Society being determined by
ballot.
The Aberdeen Golf Club was formed in 1815 on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo and its members continued to play on the Queen's Links (a strip of common land between the Rivers Don and Dee) until 1888 when they picked up their hickory clubs and gutty balls and migrated to the magnificent links at Balgownie.
It was Captain H V Brooke in 1886 who moved that 'considering the way that the links was being cut up by cricket and football players, a private course at Balgownie should be procured for golfing purposes'. Less than two years later, with very little ado the Aberdeen Golfers "folded their tents and silently stole away" to the peaceful seclusion of Balgownie Links bringing with them the old ballot box bearing the 1780 date and the Captain's Chair dated three years earlier. Both can still be viewed within the clubhouse.
The Aberdeen Golf Club was formed in 1815 on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo and its members continued to play on the Queen's Links (a strip of common land between the Rivers Don and Dee) until 1888 when they picked up their hickory clubs and gutty balls and migrated to the magnificent links at Balgownie.
It was Captain H V Brooke in 1886 who moved that 'considering the way that the links was being cut up by cricket and football players, a private course at Balgownie should be procured for golfing purposes'. Less than two years later, with very little ado the Aberdeen Golfers "folded their tents and silently stole away" to the peaceful seclusion of Balgownie Links bringing with them the old ballot box bearing the 1780 date and the Captain's Chair dated three years earlier. Both can still be viewed within the clubhouse.
The
early Aberdeen Golfers decided in 1827 to have a
uniform coat to be worn by members when at the
game. A 'committee of taste' was appointed to
determine the cut of the coat, description of check
etc., and a light-coloured lincoln green coat was
selected and probably worn at the competition for
the first Gold Medal on 31 March 1827. The 'wearin'
o' the green' did not prove popular and in 1828 the
committee decided on a scarlet coat with gilt metal
buttons with the inscription 'Aberdeen Golf Club'
and a Scottish thistle. The head-gear worn with the
scarlet cut-away coat with tails was a tall 'lum'
hat but no doubt because of the Aberdeen breezes
this was discarded and replaced by a black velvet
cap. An original red jacket is on display in the
entrance foyer of the Club.
In
1872 the club received the patronage of Prince
Leopold. However the Royal title was not applied
for until 1903 and conferred on the club by His
Majesty King Edward VII.
1888 was the year that The Aberdeen Golf Club
migrated to Balgownie Links. Many changes occurred
in the first 15 years at Balgownie under the
experienced care of Archie Simpson of Carnoustie,
the club's popular Professional with assistance
from his brother Robert. The renowned architect Tom
Simpson made further adjustments while in 1925
James Braid's ‘cosmetic refinements’ improved the
greens and bunkers.
Hawtree & Company were also engaged as the Club's architects to ensure this classic links keeps pace with the modern game.
Since its earliest beginnings Royal Aberdeen Golf Club has promoted the game in the Granite City by bringing major players to the club. Morris, Hagen, Cotton, Lema, Jacklin, Norman, Watson and Brooks to name but a few. In recent years major national and international events have been contested over the classic Balgownie Links, by both professional and amateur. As with many great courses the policy of the club is to keep pace with the modern game and to that end subtle changes are regularly introduced to keep the course interesting and challenging for all categories of golfer. Maintaining and combining tradition and quality is reflected on and off the courses. Extensive renovation within and around the clubhouse in the late 90's has attracted much praise and enhanced the pleasure and comfort of members and visitors alike.
Royal Aberdeen has been a venue over the years for championships at every level. It has hosted the Scottish Amateur Championship at regular intervals from 1924, the Scottish Stoke Play, the Scottish Boys, the Boys Amateur, the Scottish Ladies’ Amateur and most recently, in 2005, the Senior British Open Championship, one of the five senior majors. In 2011 Royal Aberdeen will play host to The Walker Cup.
There is now a second, shorter 18 hole course, the Silverburn.
Hawtree & Company were also engaged as the Club's architects to ensure this classic links keeps pace with the modern game.
Since its earliest beginnings Royal Aberdeen Golf Club has promoted the game in the Granite City by bringing major players to the club. Morris, Hagen, Cotton, Lema, Jacklin, Norman, Watson and Brooks to name but a few. In recent years major national and international events have been contested over the classic Balgownie Links, by both professional and amateur. As with many great courses the policy of the club is to keep pace with the modern game and to that end subtle changes are regularly introduced to keep the course interesting and challenging for all categories of golfer. Maintaining and combining tradition and quality is reflected on and off the courses. Extensive renovation within and around the clubhouse in the late 90's has attracted much praise and enhanced the pleasure and comfort of members and visitors alike.
Royal Aberdeen has been a venue over the years for championships at every level. It has hosted the Scottish Amateur Championship at regular intervals from 1924, the Scottish Stoke Play, the Scottish Boys, the Boys Amateur, the Scottish Ladies’ Amateur and most recently, in 2005, the Senior British Open Championship, one of the five senior majors. In 2011 Royal Aberdeen will play host to The Walker Cup.
There is now a second, shorter 18 hole course, the Silverburn.
The oldest Junior golf medal in the world (1839) which pre-dates The Open Championship