Golf club to celebrate 120th anniversary with party for members and community
FORT Augustus Golf Club is marking its 120th birthday by opening its doors to members and the community for an evening of celebrations and fundraising.
The club will be hosting a dinner dance on Saturday, August 31 to celebrate its anniversary, as well as recognising 100 years of the course itself.
The golf course trails 20 years behind the club’s anniversary because the course was moved from Auchterawe to its current position in 1924.
The club is using the celebrations as an opportunity to thank members and community for their ongoing support. To highlight this occasion, an invitation to join the festivities has been extended not only to the 70 existing golf club members but also to the entire community.
Throughout the year, the golf club has been marking the 120 milestone with a range of celebratory activities, including a Centenary Open Championship and Open Days for other local golf clubs including those from Spean Bridge Golf Club, Kings Golf Club and Sconser Golf Club.
David MacKay, club manager and volunteer at Fort Augustus Golf Club said: “It’s a remarkable achievement for any golf course to reach 120 years these days, but especially a small rural course in the Highlands. It’s testament to the hard work the various committee members, volunteers and members have put into the club and the progressive vision for our club house and course.
“We have hosted various celebrations to celebrate the centenary of the course and 120 years of the club this year and the fundraising dinner dance is the pinnacle of our efforts. We’re hoping to share the occasion with our members and the extended community where we can show off the club, our vision for the course and the club in the future and hopefully convince a couple of novice golfers to give it a go!”
Fort Augustus Golf Club is fundraising for various new projects around the club and for new equipment to keep the course in the best condition possible.
Glendoe Estate in Inverness-shire is supporting the club to the tune of £12,000. It has also pledged to match any donations made on the evening of the fundraising event.
Jonathan Carslaw, Managing Director, Glendoe Estates said: “Fort Augustus Golf Club is a valued and important institution in the Highlands which is highlighted this year by the fact it is celebrating its 120th birthday.
“The club is more than just a place people go to golf, it acts as a social space for locals and offers exercise and wellbeing to the community because of that we are pleased to support it through a donation and by matching the donations on the night.
“It’s important to support local businesses but it’s even more important to support local people. When I saw first-hand the commitment of the three volunteers that single-handedly keep the club running, I was mightily impressed, so this donation is testament to their hard work and commitment.”