The History of Nairn Golf Club

The Championship board, on the clubhouse stairwell, lists many prestigious events held at Nairn. Notable individual winners include: John Panton, Jessie Valentine, Eric Brown, Ronnie Shade, Charlie Green, Maureen Madill and Colin Montgomerie. The Club has hosted the 1994 & 2021 Amateur, the Walker Cup in 1999, the 1979 Women’s Amateur Championship and the Curtis Cup in 2012, with the stars of the professional game, such as Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Matt Kuchar, Charley Hull and Bronte Law, playing in these competitions.

In 1887, Robert B Finlay became a benefactor and founder member of the Club. He was President from 1911-1929. Finlay was created a Viscount in 1919 following service as Lord Chancellor, latterly in the Lloyd George government. As Viscount Finlay of Nairn he was appointed a Judge at the Permanent Court of International Justice. Viscount Finlay owned a first edition of the Art of Golf by Sir Walter Grindlay Simpson that illustrated golfing technique by the innovative use of instantaneous photography. Finlay’s annotations within his own copy, recently donated to the Club, make it clear that the book enhanced his golfing awareness. The Nairn montage drew readers attention to the quotation on the frontispiece from Robert Louis Stevenson: “Pleasures are more beneficial than duties because, like the quality of mercy, they are not strained, and they are twice blest”.

Horace Gordon Hutchinson, who won back-to-back Amateur Championships at St Andrews and Hoylake in 1886/1887 is long associated with the Club. Hutchinson’s involvement in all aspects of golf was matched by his many business interests. He became a sought-after essayist on natural history and there are now more than 18,000 references to Horace Hutchinson on the British Library website.
The archives at Nairn Golf Club has helped to trace back the details of Hutchinson’s link, which involved various national politicians.

FA (Frank) Fairlie was Captain of the Nairn Golf Club in 1901-1902. Fairlie was fourth son of James Ogilvie Fairlie, the man who enticed Tom Morris from St Andrews to Prestwick in 1851 a crucial factor in the establishment of the Open Championship in 1860.

Jimmy Adams (1910-1986) was born in Troon and came to Nairn in 1927 as assistant to then Club Professional Peter McEwan. He was runner-up to Alf Padgham in the 1936 Open at Royal Liverpool and to Reg Whitcombe at Royal St Georges in 1938. During the 1947 Ryder Cup at Portland Golf Club, USA Adams and his partner Max Faulkner were beaten by Ben Hogan and Jimmy Demaret by 2 holes on the opening day of foursomes. Hogan had been particularly impressed by Adams iron play but sensed his putting was fragile. Hogan gave Adams his putter as a gift signalling encouragement and the start of a friendship which was cemented at two subsequent Ryder Cup matches. The Hogan putter, now resting within the Nairn archives was donated to the Club from Frank Rennie the former Professional at Prestwick Golf Club.

The Nairn heritage has become an expanding source of golfing interest. Nairn Golf Club has a large number of international golfing connections, including the contributions of the various professionals who have served the Club through the years and the few members who progressed to represent GB&I in Walker Cups, or served in high office at The R&A and Scottish Golf Unions. Most recently, a young Sandy Scott played in the 2019 Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool and was selected to play in the 2021 Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club, USA.

It should be noted that five hexagonal teak boards in the Bulmer Room list the club members who fell in both World Wars. An In Memoriam book has been created in recognition of their sacrifice.