The aim of the society is to increase the recognition of Leith Links as the home of the earliest recorded Issue 7 rules of golf and one of the game’s prominent early locations. November 2011 The Gowffer’s Tattle LEITH RU L ES GO L F SOCIETY NEWS L ETTE R www.leith-rules-golf.co.uk In this Issue The John Rattray Statu e Olive Geddes: A Swing Through Time Highlights of 2011 ‘The Heritage of Golf’ Museum Golf on Leith Links in Days Gone By The World Hickory Golf Competition 2012 Events “…Make You Bals Flee Whistling in the Aire“ From the poem by HenryPeruse Adamson’s the ancient The Muses collection Threnodie, of or poems, Mirthfull written Mournings documents, on the Death ofpaintings Master Gall. and Edinburgh diaries 1638. that show evidence of the earliest days of golf, in Olive Geddes (see photograph) book “A receivedSwing Through exhibition Time”. at theThe National book offers Library a beautiful of Scotland collection that ended of the in writtenMarch orrecords to hear of golf from 1457 – 1744. Hopefully you had the chance to see all objects in her well- ments mentioned are available for consultation at the National Library of Scotland about it in her speech at the 2011 AGM. We are fortunate in that many of the docu Notesalternatively by Kristin – keep Goldbach, them in CICL your from pocket an Interviewwith the paperback with Olive whichGeddes is on sale. Golf in Days Gone By I have been reading part of a famous book the house of Straiton, who then - kept a tavern at the head of the inson. Much of it is about golf in Scotland in the Kirkgate. They were wont to close verywritten early first days in 1890of the on eighteenth “Golf” by centuryHorace Hutchand its the day with copious libations of beginnings on Leith Links. pure and unadulterated claret, it Two points struck me. One is the statement in the says. The second point is from the same A classical piece gay and convivial. In the last century the great- about the history chapter of the book and surprised estbook and - ‘Leith wisest golfing of the wasland not were dour to beand seen solemn on the but me: it is about the playing activities Links of Leith, mingling freely with the hum- of womenof Golf in those far-off days. It says - ‘As they blest mechanics in pursuit of their common and do the work of men their manners are masculine beloved amusement. All distinctions of rank were and their strength and activity is equal to their levelled by the joyous spirit of the game. Lords work. On holidays they frequently play at golf; of Sessions and cobblers, knights, baronets and and on Shrove Tuesday there is a standing match tailors might all be seen earnestly contesting for at football between the married and unmarried the palms of superior dexterity and vehemently women in which the former are always victors.’ but good-humoredly discussing moot points of the game.’ Is this a forerunner of what is to be? Let us cheer up. the merry golf-players of Leith used to frequent Douglas Foulis, President Before the present golf-house was built in 1786, 1 The Year so Far! A Visit to Archie Baird’s Musselburgh. Our thanks to all at Museum Musselburgh Old for a great day The Open Winners for the second out. the Open and Handicap. anniversaryOur first event of theof the signing year wasof the was against Musselburgh Old be- year were Gifford Golf Club who held on the 7th March to mark the At the Hickory Golf our first match beat AlandAl in the final. This is year we had a day at the seaside congratulationsthe fifth time Steven to him. Doyle has first recorded rules of golf. This ing the return fixture following our won the Open Competition so unfortunatelyhammering on they the Olddid notCourse. last We Team of Robin Morris and Pat forwhen the we pilgrimage visited Gullane was to and visit had the set off with very good intentions In the Handicap Final the PAR- golflunch museum at the Clubhouse. which is run The by reason our vantage over Brothers In Arms lifetime member Archie Baird. A thevery playing long and front. we lost the match 3 whichDenzler proved had a tofour be stroke too much ad of an great afternoon out. Thegames following to 1. So eveningno improvement we hosted on advantage. We were delighted to welcome Matches Leith Links just to keep things in Kenny Macskill, MSP to present Bruntsfield Short Hole Club on - against our friends from Mussel- tion. burghOur first Old. match If I say of itthe is yearthe taking was areline consistent. we managed to lose this one 3 our prizes at the end on competi part which is important it will tell games to 1 as well. If nothing LRGS Match v Bruntsfield at you that we lost!! The score was a Foulis Medal Bruntsfield Links The Foulis Medal once again Our one success of the year a proved a popular event. The win- convincing 5 to 1 win for the third time since the competi- company,win 21/2 toexcellent 11/2 but hospitality, it must be golf tionners started.were South Leith Church for said with an 8 hole start!!!! Good players Hickory Open at it’s best. Well done to the LRGS As usual we had two competitions Brian Graham, Secretary A Rule too Many on Leith Links? conveniences, police boxes and buildings for housing apparatus for the supply of electricity or gas to be built on LeithWe continue Links. A to very by stymiedrestrictive by lista Rule doubtless within setthe up Confirmation with good intentions Act of 1991 but which now allowsrestricting only a Bandstands, number of worth Public- parkwhile as developments we believe Leith of Leith Links, Links the historicto transform location it from of golf Fair in to Leith, “Premier is the Park” only appropriatestatus. place for a Rattray memorial.We have continued with our efforts to gain clear planning consent for a statue of John Rattray to be sited in the Presentations of our plans for the Statue have been well received locally at Leith Links Steering Group meetings and at the August meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council when Councillor Rob Munn put forward details of our plans. He has now obtained a clear report for the most recent Council meeting and followed this up with an Amendment. This to enable him to take forward the issue of our Statue as a “one-off” case to meet our July 2013 proposed unveiling when the Open returns to Muirfield . Park’sWe are appeal indebted for toresidents Cllr. Munn and and tourists. the City for their support and will continue to work with them to bring John Rattray home to Leith and hope with this to help raise the Park’s status from Fair to “Premier” and enhance the Pat Denzler, Chair Editors Note - des,We Archiehope you Baird will and enjoy Lionel this, Freedman the 7th edition for their of the contributions LRGS Newsletter. and the It mostprovides helpful an historic cooperation backdrop given and to Fionnuala indicates theand significance of Leith Links and other early Scottish courses in the evolution of the game. We are indebted to Olive Ged Kristin. As you will see LRGS is making considerable progress and we are highly encouraged by the support given to us by City of Edinburgh Council. We give special thanks to Councillor Rob Munn. 2 William Cairns, Editor A Walk Through Time “In the Garden of Eden lay Adam - Lasciviously gazing at Madam ureOn a trove blustery in which autumn we daydiscover we find the ourselves ancient roots comfortably of golf. A collec- And he chuckled with mirth squeezed into Archie Baird’s Heritage of Golf Museum – a treas Because he knew on the Earth the museum’s room. A lively tour unfolds, personally guided by There were only two balls he had ‘em!” thetion collector of golf artefacts and historian and paintings Archie Baird. meets our gaze as we step into - Our journey starts in Holland, where golf was played on ice in that1300. the It cameScots introducedto Scotland innovativearound 150 design, years latermethods through and tradskilled craftsmening activities to developwith the theDutch. clubs In and our balls, expedition, thereby we the discovered game evolved. In the early days of golf, mainly rich people only could Societies were formed by those gentlemen. The Scottish interven- tionafford with to cheaperplay as it more was durableexpensive materials to buy the lead handmade to the spread gear. ofGolf the popularity and joy of golf worldwide. To remember the first See,15 Golf touch, Clubs smell of Scotland and hear could the story be the of objectivegolf with Archieof one’s Baird visit toand hisArchie personal Baird’s collection museum. of He artefacts knows themand paintings, all, do you? and history For viewing by appointment only, con- comes alive. Step into the ‘The Heritage of Golf Museum” next to tact Archie Baird on 01875 870 277. Wethe wishProfessional’s to express Shop our atappreciation Gullane Golf and Club the (East pleasure Lothian). we derived Fionnualahttp://www.heritageofgolf.org/ Collins and Kristin Golbach, from our kind host Archie who was marvellous. CICL 3 An Open Mind Thoughts on the World factor again. Freedman tries to - Hickory Open Championship explain what a Steading might by New Yorker Tom Gibson be. It’s something to do with “There were one or two com being shaped like a row of small plaints.” The man said it was bright.