It all started in 1995

Mr. Paul Tory, our President and owner of Etchinghill Golf opened an 18 hole golf course and was advertising for members.

A small number of us including Gordon Keutenius, Doreen Capon and I approached Paul Tory to ask him if we could set up an affiliated club under the umbrella of what was originally Etchinghill Golf, later to be renamed Pentland Golf. Mr. Tory, at the time was not a golfer, but was enthusiastic and said if we were prepared to take on the workload he would support us.

A steering committee was set up with Gordon as our first Chairman, Doreen as our first Lady Captain and Membership Secretary, and I became the first Foxtrotters’ Captain and Treasurer. Doreen had only five ladies with handicaps and now there are over 80 lady members. The Foxtrotters, a name suggested by John Macrostie, a past senior’s Captain, sadly no longer with us, was set up, and a junior section financially supported by the club started to grow in numbers.

To obtain affiliation to the various golf unions certain criteria had to be met. The course had to be measured and the stroke indexes calculated. Annual subscriptions for every member had to be paid to the appropriate Unions. Once this was achieved the Captains from other clubs were invited to play a courtesy round of golf in order for them to meet our captains and arrange inter club matches in the future. At this early stage we had a handicap secretary who manually calculated and adjusted handicaps.

During the early days the golf course was holes 1 to 9 on the hillside and then holes 10 to 18 on the lower course. Some years later Etchinghill Golf developed the additional 9 holes on the hillside and constructed 9 additional tees turning the lower course into a full 18.

Club membership grew steadily and a general committee was elected. Financially the Club progressively strengthened its position and in 2002 was able to invest in a computer and the Club 2000 system.

Etchinghill Golf Club is now well established with golf courses maintained by Pentland to an extremely high standard. It is a happy club with an excellent record of achievements including a very successful junior section.

The Club’s future is in good hands and I am confident the existing committee members who so willingly give their time voluntarily will ensure the Club will continue to prosper.

Bernard Capon Vice President 2012