HISTORY

FORT AUGUSTUS GOLF CLUB ESTABLISHED 1904

Fort Augustus golf course was originally on the opposite bank of the river Oich in Auchterawe. Mr Alexander McHardy the former Chief Constable of Inverness gave advise and assistance in forming the course, he was a keen golfer and instrumental in forming the Royal Dornoch Golf Club 2 years later and also Culcabock golf club in Inverness.

Lord Lovat was patron of the club and gave a good donation to the course. However some time later it was decided that the Auchterawe land would be used for forestry therefor the course had to move. Fortunately Lord Lovat continued his valuable support and allowed the course to be build on the current site in 1924.

The Lord Abbott of Fort Augustus Abbey new Mr Harry Shapland Colt a golf Course Architect and Expert in Landscape work, he wrote to him asking if he would be able to design a course for them. On 22nd February 1924 Father Curwen received a letter from Mr Colt stating his firm would be delighted to design the course. Following many years of hard work removing stones and raising money the course was finally built.

During the war the course was used by the forces and it wasn’t until 1950 that it was decided to return the course to its former glory. At this time the heather stood about 2 feet high on the fairways and the greens were almost non existent One of the major contributors to reinstating the course was Mr J. B. Nelson who could be found most afternoons when time and family permitted, clearing or burning heather. Without the tremendous support of these people and many volenteers we wouldn’t have this lovely course today.

Pictured above is Father Curwen helping to clear the area for a green.

You can see the large quantity of stones that had to be removed from

the course.