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Ladybank Golf Club
The
Course - History
Ladybank
Golf Club was established in 1879. The architect of the
original 6-hole course, Old Tom Morris, played in the
Autumn Meeting that year as a ‘stranger’ and won despite
his handicap of +3 strokes. In 1910 a circular 9 holes was
formed with the holes varying in length from 330 to 400
yards with ‘two short sporting’ holes at the fourth and
seventh. A further 9 holes were laid down in 1958 and
incorporated within the existing course in 1961 to form an
18 hole course.
A new
Clubhouse was built in 1971 with the existing building
becoming the present-day Proshop. The year 1978 was a
landmark year for Ladybank with nomination as a venue for
Open Championship Final Qualifying. The course of today is
still a severe examination of the professional’s course
management skills. For lesser mortals this is a challenge
to relish with accuracy off the tee more important than
length.
During
the past twenty five years a galaxy of stars has graced
the turf including, Darren Clarke, Justin Leonard, Bernard
Langer, Sam Torrance, Ian Woosnam and the late Payne
Stewart. The Club proudly displays pictures of two
honorary members, Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros,
playing in an exhibition match over the course in 1983.
The present Professional record holder is Paul Affleck
having scored a 65, on the altered course, to equal the
score set by Mark Brooks in 1995 Local heroes include
George Will, a Ryder Cup player, and Dale Reid, O.B.E., a
leading lady golfer and now forever remembered as Captain
of the victorious European Solheim Cup team at Loch Lomond
in 2000.
The
Course - Description
A
heathland course of Championship status (Par 71) set
amongst heather, pine trees and silver birch. The
Championship course (6754 yards) has two loops of nine
holes - visitors generally use the blue course (6299
yards).
But woe be unto the Man with the exaggerated slice or
pull! He may not again see his ball, and the only
consolation will be that probably nobody else will find
it!
(Extract from the Dundee Evening Post - 9th June 1903)The
course definition may have changed dramatically in the
intervening one hundred years but its character remains
intact. If you stray off line expect to be punished for
your sins.
The drive at the dogleg 3rd and 9th holes requires extreme
care, as do the 15th and 16th on the back nine. The greens
are compact and your approach shot requires precision to
find the putting surface. The fairways are predominantly
flat leaving you invigorated from the exercise with a
surfeit of energy to meet the excesses of the 19th hole.
Tournaments
• Host to
The Scottish Open Amateur Seniors Championship 1998
• Host to The British Boys 1998
• Host to The Ladies British Open Amateur Championship
2001
• Host to the final qualifying for The Open Championship
1978, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005
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