King James VI golfers tee off for club’s 150th anniversary

May 23 2008 by Gordon Bannerman

KING James VI members and guests celebrated the club’s 150th anniversary with a milestone dinner at Perth’s Salutation Hotel.

Guest speakers Donald Findlay and John McKelvie entertained the audience, while Provost John Hulbert was delighted to host a council reception to mark the occasion.

And the civic leader admitted much more could be done to promote and exploit Perth’s rich golfing heritage.

He said: “I was brought up in St Andrews, and used to play quite a lot of golf, and so I know a thing or two about the game – or at least I thought I did.

“If you were to ask St Andreans where it was that golf was first played, I expect that 99 per cent would say St Andrews. Not one would give a thought to Perth.

“And yet, as I expect all of you know, it was here in Perth, which was at that time the capital of Scotland, that King James IV first bought clubs and golf balls in 1502 – making him the first named golf player, and Perth the first place in the world to be identified with golf.

“And it was here too, that James VI learned to play on the South Inch.

“I don’t think we make enough of these historical connections when promoting Perth for golf tours, especially with Americans. Most important of all, we do not make enough of the unique King James VI course.

“There is no other course in the UK situated entirely on an island, nor any as close to the city centre. I have walked round the island on many occasions. I have watched the river from the north end, inspected the banks, spoken to allotment holders and walked the course. It’s obvious to me the club has a unique golfing niche to exploit and for overseas golfers, King James VI should be one of those iconic, “must play” Scottish courses.”

The provost observed that in 1858, when the club was created, Perth was expanding rapidly in the heyday of rail travel.

He noted that tourism was more important than ever to the economy and with the Year of the Homecoming in 2009, Perth’s 800th anniversary in 2010, a 2012 application for official City Status, and in 2014 the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, it was shaping-up as an exciting time for the Fair City.

Club captain Ray Smethurst commented: “"I am absolutely determined to make sure that King James VI Golf Club is at the heart of all efforts to promote the city of Perth and Perth and Kinross at all times.

“The committee and club members of King James VI are very grateful for the recognition of our club by Perth and Kinross Council on the occasion of our 150th anniversary year.”