£5 jackpots, family high teas and trophy triumph - why I'm sad to see end of era at Dunbar Golf Club

“I think we all recognise the mixed emotions at this time in terms of what this building has meant to us and all the stories that have been heard inside it,” said Jacky Montgomery, the East Lothian club’s director of golf, of one of the many iconic clubhouses all around Scotland.

Replacing an original clubhouse that was provided by The Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe in 1871 following the birth of Dunbar Golf Club in 1856, the current clubhouse was developed and extended over the years as the East Links layout grew in reputation.

Using the term in an endearing way, Montgomery described it as “a bit of carbuncle” due to the central part, which was the first part to be built, having been added on to over the years, including a main lounge, which currently overlooks the third green and, past that, the 1st tee and 18th green.

Over the years, the historic clubhouse has been host to both players and spectators at events such as The Open Final Qualifying, the Scottish Boys Championship, Tartan Pro Tour 72-holers and many more tournaments.

It’s where this correspondent - a junior member at the time - spent enjoyable Sunday mornings with his dad and others in a group from Coldingham, Ayton and Eyemouth in what was called the ‘Back Bar’ at the time after a weekly hit on one of the best courses in the country.

We’d always go in for a bite to eat and something to drink and sit round the big table at the window before all putting in some money to play the Tic-Tac-Toe one-armed bandit and celebrate as though we were rich when landing a £5 jackpot that spilled out in 5p coins.

‘Wee dram on house this weekend’

It’s also where I will cherish high teas on a Sunday afternoon in the dining room as a family, as well as being where I enjoyed one of my finest hours in the game when picking up the trophy for winning the Dunbar Boys’ Open with a net 60 playing off 36.

“This is the final weekend in the old clubhouse and I know that many members are planning to come down for lunch or a drink to say their own farewells with their friends and family. These old walls have heard golfing stories for over a century. Many special times have been spent with fellow members, like yourself as a junior golfer,” said Montgomery, who has been at the club since 1999.

“We hope that members will enjoy a wee dram on the house this weekend and raise a glass to the ‘old clubhouse’ as we look out of the lounge window and toast our future home overlooking the course from above the ‘old 2nd tee/new 1st tee.

“I think the key thing behind all of this is that we are very much an old club moving into a new clubhouse. The club was founded in 1856, and it’s been fascinating as we make the move and the discoveries of the original heritage that we’ve got intact and we’ve kept safely in fire safe cupboards for a long time.

“We have original handwritten minutes from 1856 long before our current ‘old’ clubhouse was built. There is much to share that we hope will be enjoyed by members, their guests, and our visitors who come to play our wonderful links.

‘Temporary world’ commences on 30 March

“There are iconic artefacts and medals, and stories of distinguished past Captains and members. We are going to arrive with our long and proud history and very much take it with us into our new home and clubhouse where we will be able to display things very well. I think that’s incredibly important.”

With Cala set to build houses on the site of the old one and what was a practice area, that new clubhouse has been established on an elevated site close to what is currently the second tee but will become the first tee when a rerouting is implemented.

“Things moved a little quicker than we expected, so we are moving into temporary accommodation for a wee while until the new clubhouse is ready,” said Montgomery. “The temporary world commences on 30 March and the new clubhouse designed by G1, who have designed the likes of Castle Stuart, Dumbarnie and Kingsbarns, is set to open in October.

“A covered driving range and golf academy will be ready later in the year, and our extensive short game area and 9-hole Par 3 course designed by well-known golf course architect DJ Russell are all set to be in place soon thereafter.

“Our temporary accommodation, which is going to be on the new site, is a bespoke portacabin set up, which will still deliver food and beverage, toilets and changing facility, pro shop and office space. We’ll be able to deliver what we call our ‘Dunbar Experience’ from that facility. Our tour operators are familiar with a set up like this, whether it’s been at Dundonald or Dumbarnie or anyone doing a renovation. I think folks understand that is part of the journey to get to where we are going.”

As far as the golf course is concerned, that journey is very straightforward. The holes from the second onwards will simply be pushed back by one and what is currently the first will be the 18th. “There will be minimal disruption to the golf course and we are very fortunate in that respect,” declared Montgomery. "So many golf clubs undertaking a development like this have maybe lost some golf course ground and have had to create a new hole or two.

“Splitting the two par 5s - the current first and second holes – creates a new 18th hole with a little more risk and reward final hole due to the burn that now runs across the front of the green, which was introduced around 15 years ago. The elevated clubhouse, meanwhile, will bring in all the views that we currently enjoy and more. And indeed the view from the new clubhouse will certainly be able to tell tales of the latest ‘risk and reward’ attempt at our new 18th hole!”

‘Members make the club’

Dunbar is looking to the future for the next generations of members and golfers with its new facilities alongside its historic and renowned links. It is, indeed, the end of an era and the odd tear may even be shed by long-time members.

“It’s fair to say that we have all benefitted hugely from our visionary members in 1902 who arranged the building of the club’s second-ever clubhouse,” said Montgomery. “We are now doing this again almost 125 years later. Members make the club and I’m sure we will enjoy the future facility immensely as it, too, becomes part of the fabric and history of Dunbar Golf Club.”