In this week’s 'Know Your News’, we look back to the origins of Largs Golf Club and how members who fought in the Great War had their fees cancelled.

In September 1927, founder member Mr J.K Boyd received a bookcase in commemoration of his sterling service at the club amounting to 36 years which sparked many recollections of the humble beginnings of the club, serving as Treasurer for three decades.

The 'News’ reported: “In the beginning, four people were interested in the provision of a golf club for the town and went to spy out the land for this prospect. The company of prospectors was made up of Mr McColl of Holmwood, Mr John Orr, Bath Street, Mr Baldie, Royal Bank and himself.

“Their objective was Routenburn, not exactly where the course is now, but starting from the south end of Knock wood and proceeding northwards, eastwards and westwards, completing the nine holes where the third hole of the present course stands.

“Mr Orr and Mr Boyd were only amateurs of the sport, but they had experts in Mr McColl, who contracted the golf fever at Grantown-on-Spey, and Mr Baldie, who was a St. Andrew’s man and had golf in his blood.

“Having made their survey, they returned homewards, had some communication with those in the town who may have been expected to take an interest in golf,

“After a public meeting, a golf club was duly formed, and Major Eckford and Mr Murray were appointed secretaries while Mr Boyd was appointed treasurer.

“Routenburn was a small course, but was a very good one. After two or three years, however, it had to be vacated owing to Routenburn School requiring some of the ground, while the farmer wanted the fields for crops.”

Their next step was to get another place, so they entered into negotiations with Mr Shaw, factor for Lord Glasgow, and they were successful in their efforts.

The stretch of land next to the railway was also considered as part of an extension to the course. The 'News’ reported: “The club had thought of enlarging the course on more than one occasion by taking in the ground between the railway and Lord Glasgow’s policies.”

The first clubhouse was built for a price of between £60 and £70, and Treasurer Boyd was successful in raising funds for the new course.

The 'News’ eloquently reported: “Evidently on the assumption that he was a good beggar, they had commissioned him to raise the money for this expenditure and that he was successful as as such was borne out by the fact that at the start of the new course they were free of debt.”

In its early history, the club experienced some hard times and had only a few pounds of a credit balance for some years, but that was built up to a four figure sum by the time of the First World War.

My Boyd recalled that the club took an admirable form of action during another drop in membership during the War which ultimately provided dividends. We reported: “A great many of the members went to defend King and Country, and they not only cancelled their fees, but at Christmas time they sent generous gifts to each member. At the same time, they managed to pay their way, and when the extension of the clubhouse was entered upon they were able to meet the cost through their reserve.”

Praise was given by Mr Boyd to the first secretary Mr Baldie, for making the club so successful, while a successor in Mr Wood was also given high credit for his endeavours after he passed away.

Mr Boyd said: “He gave himself wholeheartedly to the work of the club. In sunshine and in shadow and in winter and in summer, Mr Wood always gave of his best and ever had the interest of the club at heart.”

Ex-Provost Boyd was called upon to give a speech and praised Mr J.K Boyd for his unstinting service, and that the committee 'were able to bear with each other for so long a period, let alone live in admiration of each other’.

Recalling the old days of the golf course, he said the appearance of golfers in their red jackets and brass buttons was very much becoming to the eye than the plus fours of the present day, which resulted in laughter coming from the floor.

Captain John H Stewart joined the chorus of praise and said it was an indication of his success as treasurer that such a good balance was left on the right side. The club became an 18 hole course in the mid-1950s, and the current clubhouse was completed in the 1960s.