Our Heritage

The Blairgowrie Golf Club was formed following a meeting held in the Victoria Hotel, Blairgowrie on Tuesday, 26th February 1889.

The Chairman of the meeting said a suitable piece of ground for golf had been found close to the Black Loch belonging to the Dowager Marchioness of Lansdowne, from whom the course took its name, Lansdowne, which was later to become the Wee Course.

Old Tom Morris played with the Captain, Sir Alexander MacKenzie of Delvine, against the Secretary, Mr Henry-Anderson and Major Peter Chalmers.  The Match was very close, with Tom Morris sinking a long putt on the last green to win. When leaving, Tom Morris said "I think this is the most beautiful inland green I have ever seen" - a very favourable comment from the most famous of golfers who had laid out courses in all parts of Great Britain and Ireland.

The original Lansdowne course (later to become Rosemount) was designed by Dr. Alister Mackenzie, the renowned golf course architect who also designed Cypress Point, Augusta National and many others. His first inspection and design was carried out in 1914 but, perhaps understandably, the club decided that “this was not a good time to incur such expenditure”. However, following the Great War, Dr. Mackenzie was called back and an extension from 9 to 18 holes was designed and constructed at a cost of £3,000. The new course finally opened for play in 1927.

In 1930 the club decided to expand the facilities yet again and engaged James Braid to add 8 holes to the Mackenzie holes with a few bunkers added, strategically placed to add his influence to the already brilliantly designed Mackenzie holes.

Rosemount is indeed a course designed by the master architects of their time.

Following the James Braid extension, in the continuing search for golfing perfection, several well known course architects and famous golfers were consulted regarding course improvements. In particular, the Rosemount 1st green was a continual source of concern until a new green designed by Donald Steele was eventually constructed in 2000. 

Blairgowrie now has two championship 18 hole courses: Rosemount, designed mainly by James Braid/Alister Mackenzie, Major Chalmers and upgrades by Donald Steele, Peter Alliss and recently Graeme Webster.  Lansdowne, built in the 1970s, designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas.

In recent years both championship courses have hosted many national events, most notably the British Seniors Amateur Stroke Play Championship twice and the British Boys Home Internationals, both run by the Royal & Ancient. The Scottish Amateur 72 hole stroke play event has been played on a number of occasions, as has the Scottish Mid Amateur championship.

Greg Norman won his first European Tour event in 1977 - the Martini tournament held on the Rosemount course.

The maturity and stature of the Club was recognised by the granting of a Coat of Arms by the Lord Lyon at a ceremony on 5th April 1980.