It is 100 years ago this week since the official opening of the Routenburn Golf Course in Largs.

Largs Town Council purchased 139 acres of land at Routenburn in 1913 for a knockdown price of £4,000 and decided to take advantage of the growing popularity of golf by building a golf course which, according to the Provost of the day, “will be one of the best assets Largs will possess”.

The Council’s view was that a new 18 hole course would “draw a considerable revenue to Largs over the years” as the only alternative course in the area, Largs Golf Club, possessed only 9 holes.

Employing renowned golf course designer James Braid to “lay out the course” for a sum of £1,000, Braid, a designer of many golf courses, commented that, “the golf course is one of the best I have ever been over and the different panoramic views unfolded to the eye as hole after hole is reached are not to be surpassed even in Bonnie Scotland”.

The ‘News’ reported: “Ther was a large and most representative company gathered at and about the commodious temproary pavilion to take part in the event, including golfers, the members of the council, and other townspeople.

“Quite a large number of fully packed transport cars left the town for the course between 2.30-3pm. At the opening hour, several hundreds of people were assembled on the course, and the scene was quite a brilliant one in the bright sunshine. There was no tedium in the waiting process to those who came early, as the panorama provided from the first tee is enough to entrance the eye and keep it engaged for any length of time. As this is also true of the whole course, and as the scene varies with every turn, the scenic attractions of the course are not excelled by any in the neighbourhood.” Provost Boyd, who was received with cheers at the opening of proceedings, said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, this function which brings us here is somewhat new in the history of Largs. Although there has been a 9 hole golf course in Largs for about 20 years, yet the land did not belong to the town or the golfers.

He said: “I feel glad that the love of progress enters strongly into the conduct of affairs of the present Town Council.

“One hears of a health resort as a go-ahead place. Hence after providing water, gas, drainage, and cleansing, the Largs Town Council turned its attention to improving and beautifying the foreshores and now today we are putting on the copestone which seemed to be awanting in the general scheme of completures as an up-to-date and pleaure resort - that copestone behing this beautiful 18 hole golf course.” The Provost went on to say that a great deal of hard work had taken place behind the scenes in making the the new golf course a reality.

He said that the committee had “the welfare and the prosperity of the town at heart” in pressing ahead with the project. Continuing the tributes, the Provost said: “Much of the work devolved upon the convenor, Bailie Paton, who had been zealous in the extreme, most indefatigable and painstaking, far more anxious for the success of the golf course than for that for his own business.

“I think if he had been as anxious for his own business as he has been for the golf course he would be almost a multi-millionaire by this time!” added the Provost.

With Bailie Paton, the Provost stated that the town clerk Peter Morris also deserved a special word of thanks as he had thrown his heart and soul into the business, and his practical golfing experience had been a great help to the committee.

The Provost also gave his great thanks to Mr MacAndrew of Knock for consenting to lease 30 acres of the Knock ground to put into the course, therefore making it ‘doubly attractive’.

“We have had many red letter days in the hsitory of Largs, but I venture to say this is not only a red letter day but a golden day - golden in the brilliant sunshine, and I hope and believe golden in the promise of a great success”, the Provost enthused.

Bailie Paton was given a silver golf cleek (an iron club with a very narrow face) as a thank you for his endeavours, and was then given the honour of driving off the first ball.

The silver cleek that Bailie Paton was given included the inscription: “Presented to Bailie Paton, convenor of the Routenburn Golf Course Committee on the occasion of the opening of the course -27 May 1914.” Bailie Paton, in acknowledging the gift said: “Provost Boyd, ladies and gentlemen, I need hardly tell you how much I appreicate the great honour the Town Council have conferred on me in asking me to open this municipal golf course In accepting this magnificent gift, I beg to most sincerely thank my colleagues for so kindly presenting me with such a beautiful silver cleek to drive off the first ball. This cleek I will prize most highly. It will be one of my most coveted treasures, and I trust it may be handed down to future generations as a gift that money cound not buy” “Although I had the privilege of proposing that ground be acquired by the Town Council for the making of an 18 hole golf course this suggestion originally came from the members of Largs Golf Club, who had been trying for a number of years back to procure ground, but had not been successful. The new Routenburn Club that has been successful formed to play over the course has now a membership of over a hundred, composed of a very desirable class of peple, and I trust the good feeling that exists between the Town Council and the club may continue, as certainly in my opinion, the course cannot exist without the club, and the club would be of no use without the course.

“Mr Adam, in whose hands the Town Council left the laying out and the formation of the course, deserves great praise for the efficient and workmanlike manner in which he has completed his work.

A loud cheer beckoned as Bailie Paton proceeded to the first tee and drove off a ball with his silver cleek, declarieing thereafter that the new course was open amid great applause.

A mixed foursome was arranged, and the course was ‘generally eulogised for its merits’ according to the ‘News’.