Tuesday 20th May 2014
AN HISTORIC SCOTTISH GOLF COMPETITION
This little article might interest golfers, the world over, and not
just those who live and play their golf in Scotland. This is a very
prestigious trophy, with a lineage that beats most golf outfits.
You will see that I wrote the piece in 2006, but it is still being played for - and the rivalry is just as keen as it ever was. May it see its bi-centenary in 2097.
INTER-CITY GOLF COMPETITION
FOR
THE NATIONAL GUARDIAN TROPHY
1897-2006
The instigator of the competition, in 1897, was J. Colin Campbell, the Captain of Edinburgh and Leith Licensed Victualers Golf Club, which had been in existence from 1890. [See Centenary Booklet 1990]
It was laid down that the contest could only involve four teams: Edinburgh and Leith Licensed Victuallers; Glasgow St. Mungo; Perth Licensed Trade; Dundee Licensed Trade.
[These were the original participants, However, licensed golf clubs from five Scottish cities have actually competed for the trophy since it began in 1897. For a short period (1911-1929) Kirkcaldy (Fife) Licensed trade was included. This was because from 1911 to 1925 Dundee could not raise a team and of course were not allowed to re-join for a further four years. Then in early 1930 it was adjudged that Kirkcaldy had broken the rules and Dundee came in again. See entry for 1930 below].
Since 1897, and apart from eleven years covering the two World Wars and one year when it was rained off, the clubs from Scotland's major cities have competed annually for the truly splendid (and now priceless) National Guardian trophy.
It
was presented by Mr. Kettuck, from Glasgow, of the ‘National Guardian’
trade paper. In the beginning the games were to take place ‘in July on
four different greens’. The winners were to get badges.
A precedent for the competition was set by Perth in 1891, who offered to play a friendly against Edinburgh each year, alternating between a green at Perth and one at Musselburgh. This was agreed and (incorporated in the Inter-City competition) they continued to play against each other from that year onwards. These early games against Perth were all played in February or March.
When Edinburgh hosts the event it is invariably played at the Royal Burgess Golf Club, Barnton, Edinburgh.
Kirkcaldy have played many games at Balwearie, Fife, but also at other venues, such as Dodhead and Burntisland in 1920 and 1925.
Glasgow has generally hosted the competition at Irvine Bogside, but also at Killermont Golf Club, Glasgow in 1924 and 1932, and the Dalhousie Club in 1933.
In 1906 Dundee held the competition at Monifeith, in 1956 at Barry, also at Downfield and elsewhere.
Among other places, Perth has played for the cup at Craigiehill (on 20 June 1922 and again in 1927, where they won).
The record of success in the competition (1897-2006) is that Edinburgh has won thirty-six times, Glasgow thirty-three, Dundee fifteen, Perth twelve, Kirkcaldy one.
(The Fife club won in 1911, in their first year playing in the competition. Comment was that "they had players who came from all over Fife and Edinburgh too)."
The Edinburgh and Glasgow clubs have dominated the Inter-City from its inception, with both enjoying periods of sustained domination.
Before the 1st World War Edinburgh won ten out of eighteen meetings. It was the first club to win the trophy in 1897, played at the Royal Burgess Golf Club, Barnton; and won it three times in a row between 1902 and 1904.
Between the wars, Glasgow just shaded Edinburgh, with ten successes to eight; with an exceptional run of seven wins in a row from 1932-1938. However, Edinburgh did have a three in a row spell in these years, from 1928 to 1930.
Post war honours have been just about even between these two: until 1990 Glasgow had eighteen wins, Edinburgh seventeen.
In fact, from the end of the 2nd World War to 1964, only Edinburgh and Glasgow won the trophy; with Edinburgh enjoying five wins in a row between 1947 and 1951. However, Glasgow hit back with five in a row from 1952 to 1956.
And so it continued: Edinburgh won in 1957 and 1958; Glasgow responded with three in a row from 1957 to 1961.
Edinburgh was dominant with four wins between 1962 and 1967. Between 1968 and 1978 Glasgow had seven successes.
Edinburgh had the upper hand from 1979 to 1990 with six successes, incorporating three in a row from 1982 to 1984.
However, between 1990 and 2006 Dundee has been in the driving seat, having won eleven times: a single in 1991, a treble (1993 to 1995); a double in 1997-98; yet another in 2001-02; and rounded it off with three in a row from 2004 to 2006.
By winning in 1997 Dundee won the trophy exactly a hundred years after it had been presented. Still, 2009 will be the actual year when it will have been played for 100 times.
Snapshots and points of interest
1897 – Members (not clubs) were to bear the cost of entertainment during the competition. Green fees and rail fares were paid for.
1905 - The National Guardian competition had its own secretary pre- 1st World War: A Mr. Stewart Murray, Secretary in 1905.
Coincidence or what: the Edinburgh Secretary in the 1980s and 1990s, another Stewart Murray, also fulfilled the duties of Secretary for the Guardian competition.
1907 – Perth’s first win.
1911 – Change from match-play to stroke-play.
'From the start there was great rivalry'.
1912 – For the first time - a photograph was taken at Balwearie; regularly since then. The first film was taken in 1959.
1913 – 'No assistants allowed to play in the competition' (Edinburgh club rule).
- National Guardian was held at the Royal Burgess, Barnton and the first example of Edinburgh being big-headed appeared, other instances would follow:
“The Fair City had to confess itself well beaten by the chiels frae Auld Reekie.” Also, to give the other teams a chance (as he put it) Captain Cairns of Edinburgh said "he would not play next year".
1914 – Won by Glasgow. The last before war.
1919 – To Irvine Bogside – first after the war. The one year that it was rained off.
“Thunder, lightning and a perfect deluge.” The trophy was retained by
Glasgow.
1922 – There was a move to give the Captain of the winning team a gold pendant. (Did not come into effect).
- Games were “To be played at Gleneagles henceforth.”
1923 – To Gleneagles for the competition. A move to make this permanent fell through – back to each city.
1924 – Edinburgh would pay expenses for members to attend the competition.
1925 – Dundee want back into the competition – but only four clubs allowed to compete.
1926 – Noted that many members of the clubs travelled in support. Rivalry becoming very keen: composition of teams questioned.
1926 – It is decided that the competition will be held in May not June.
- Edinburgh had a Captain who (for the first time) won two years in a row.
1929 – Played at Balwearie, Edinburgh won; costs were now 10/- annual sub, plus £1 “to purchase a charm for the Captain of the winning club.”
Kirkcaldy made a proposal to change the rules of the National Guardian – Edinburgh said no.
Captain Kelman of Edinburgh was presented with a gold charm and miniature cup to commemorate the wins in his years playing/captaining Edinburgh in the competition.
1930 – J. C. Caven (a selector for the Walker Cup) was playing for Glasgow.
- Edinburgh AGM: “The meeting was informed that owing to the Kirkcaldy club having made an alteration to their club’s membership, it had been (determined) that their entry to this competition (National Guardian) could not be accepted under the rules as laid down. In consequence the Dundee club has been offered and has accepted the vacant place in the competition.”
- Edinburgh won – presentation by a J. M. Munro of the ‘National Guardian’
newspaper.
1934 - Glasgow won. Edinburgh Secretary said “it was nerves that our team broke under.”
1936 – Edinburgh had a “discussion over composition of other teams.”
1939 – Edinburgh won at Perth. Edinburgh Secretary said “The return journey (by train) must be left to the imagination – the trophy duly deposited in the strong room.”
1947 – Edinburgh won playing at Gleneagles “After 7 years of war. W. Strathie McLaren received it; Mr. Jas. Dunn of Glasgow St. Mungo presented it.” [Edinburgh still has newspaper photos of the event].
The trophy was valued for insurance purposes at £200.
1948 – Edinburgh “won thanks to our tail.”
1949 – “Teams using players 'with no active interest in the trade.'”
1950 – Ballingall spoon presented on 23 March by Ballingall firm, of Dundee.
1951 – Edinburgh had a “supper” at the Royal British hotel – with invites to Glasgow, Perth and Dundee.
- Trophy retained by Edinburgh at Rosemount Golf Club.
1952 – Second example of Edinburgh conceit: Edinburgh Secretary “To the astonishment of the usual band of supporters we were beaten in the National Guardian.”
1953 - Further evidence of a swollen head by the Edinburgh Secretary: “Dundee, I repeat, Dundee, beat us in the morning.” Edinburgh had the wooden spoon.
1955 – Glasgow won, but Edinburgh discovered “a vocalist in the bus who could render the ‘Pastor’s Daughter’ in a first class manner.”
1959 – Edinburgh entertained by a film of the ‘National Guardian Competition’, taken at Barnton by a Mr. Curran.
1961 - Edinburgh again querying composition of teams and asking for clarification. The Secretary “don’t like the set up.”
1965 – Competition to be played at Forfar. Perth won.
1971 – Dundee won.
1976 – Edinburgh players picked for the team “would get an old tie” [?]
1977 – It was determined that National handicaps rather than club ones would apply for the National Guardian competition.
1978 – A golf ball was given to each of Edinburgh team by the club. Losers, Edinburgh, “retained the Ballingall spoon.”
1980 – Edinburgh won – the first time since 1967.
1987 – Complaints over the high cost of entering the National Guardian competition. Members now had to pay for green fees and catering.
Summary and Conclusion
And so this fine competition has proceeded over the years, and continues to prosper. It inspires, it provides controversy, creates friendships – and sometimes there is even some very good golf!!
There have been stalwarts galore from all participating clubs, men who have graced this competition in one way or another. However, I will end by mentioning only two in illustration.
George Grier of the Glasgow club has been immense throughout the decades, and can still see off most challengers. The other is the late, and much lamented Sandy Latto of Dundee, who put fire in the belly of his club in the modern era. Already, he is missed.
By (Dr.) George K. McGilvary, sometime of Edinburgh & Leith Licensed Victuallers Golf Club.
[Material used has all come from the records of Edinburgh and Leith Licensed Victuallers and the National Library of Scotland].
10 August 2006
You will see that I wrote the piece in 2006, but it is still being played for - and the rivalry is just as keen as it ever was. May it see its bi-centenary in 2097.
INTER-CITY GOLF COMPETITION
FOR
THE NATIONAL GUARDIAN TROPHY
1897-2006
The instigator of the competition, in 1897, was J. Colin Campbell, the Captain of Edinburgh and Leith Licensed Victualers Golf Club, which had been in existence from 1890. [See Centenary Booklet 1990]
It was laid down that the contest could only involve four teams: Edinburgh and Leith Licensed Victuallers; Glasgow St. Mungo; Perth Licensed Trade; Dundee Licensed Trade.
[These were the original participants, However, licensed golf clubs from five Scottish cities have actually competed for the trophy since it began in 1897. For a short period (1911-1929) Kirkcaldy (Fife) Licensed trade was included. This was because from 1911 to 1925 Dundee could not raise a team and of course were not allowed to re-join for a further four years. Then in early 1930 it was adjudged that Kirkcaldy had broken the rules and Dundee came in again. See entry for 1930 below].
Since 1897, and apart from eleven years covering the two World Wars and one year when it was rained off, the clubs from Scotland's major cities have competed annually for the truly splendid (and now priceless) National Guardian trophy.
A precedent for the competition was set by Perth in 1891, who offered to play a friendly against Edinburgh each year, alternating between a green at Perth and one at Musselburgh. This was agreed and (incorporated in the Inter-City competition) they continued to play against each other from that year onwards. These early games against Perth were all played in February or March.
When Edinburgh hosts the event it is invariably played at the Royal Burgess Golf Club, Barnton, Edinburgh.
Kirkcaldy have played many games at Balwearie, Fife, but also at other venues, such as Dodhead and Burntisland in 1920 and 1925.
Glasgow has generally hosted the competition at Irvine Bogside, but also at Killermont Golf Club, Glasgow in 1924 and 1932, and the Dalhousie Club in 1933.
In 1906 Dundee held the competition at Monifeith, in 1956 at Barry, also at Downfield and elsewhere.
Among other places, Perth has played for the cup at Craigiehill (on 20 June 1922 and again in 1927, where they won).
The record of success in the competition (1897-2006) is that Edinburgh has won thirty-six times, Glasgow thirty-three, Dundee fifteen, Perth twelve, Kirkcaldy one.
(The Fife club won in 1911, in their first year playing in the competition. Comment was that "they had players who came from all over Fife and Edinburgh too)."
The Edinburgh and Glasgow clubs have dominated the Inter-City from its inception, with both enjoying periods of sustained domination.
Before the 1st World War Edinburgh won ten out of eighteen meetings. It was the first club to win the trophy in 1897, played at the Royal Burgess Golf Club, Barnton; and won it three times in a row between 1902 and 1904.
Between the wars, Glasgow just shaded Edinburgh, with ten successes to eight; with an exceptional run of seven wins in a row from 1932-1938. However, Edinburgh did have a three in a row spell in these years, from 1928 to 1930.
Post war honours have been just about even between these two: until 1990 Glasgow had eighteen wins, Edinburgh seventeen.
In fact, from the end of the 2nd World War to 1964, only Edinburgh and Glasgow won the trophy; with Edinburgh enjoying five wins in a row between 1947 and 1951. However, Glasgow hit back with five in a row from 1952 to 1956.
And so it continued: Edinburgh won in 1957 and 1958; Glasgow responded with three in a row from 1957 to 1961.
Edinburgh was dominant with four wins between 1962 and 1967. Between 1968 and 1978 Glasgow had seven successes.
Edinburgh had the upper hand from 1979 to 1990 with six successes, incorporating three in a row from 1982 to 1984.
However, between 1990 and 2006 Dundee has been in the driving seat, having won eleven times: a single in 1991, a treble (1993 to 1995); a double in 1997-98; yet another in 2001-02; and rounded it off with three in a row from 2004 to 2006.
By winning in 1997 Dundee won the trophy exactly a hundred years after it had been presented. Still, 2009 will be the actual year when it will have been played for 100 times.
Snapshots and points of interest
1897 – Members (not clubs) were to bear the cost of entertainment during the competition. Green fees and rail fares were paid for.
1905 - The National Guardian competition had its own secretary pre- 1st World War: A Mr. Stewart Murray, Secretary in 1905.
Coincidence or what: the Edinburgh Secretary in the 1980s and 1990s, another Stewart Murray, also fulfilled the duties of Secretary for the Guardian competition.
1907 – Perth’s first win.
1911 – Change from match-play to stroke-play.
'From the start there was great rivalry'.
1912 – For the first time - a photograph was taken at Balwearie; regularly since then. The first film was taken in 1959.
1913 – 'No assistants allowed to play in the competition' (Edinburgh club rule).
- National Guardian was held at the Royal Burgess, Barnton and the first example of Edinburgh being big-headed appeared, other instances would follow:
“The Fair City had to confess itself well beaten by the chiels frae Auld Reekie.” Also, to give the other teams a chance (as he put it) Captain Cairns of Edinburgh said "he would not play next year".
1914 – Won by Glasgow. The last before war.
1919 – To Irvine Bogside – first after the war. The one year that it was rained off.
“Thunder, lightning and a perfect deluge.” The trophy was retained by
Glasgow.
1922 – There was a move to give the Captain of the winning team a gold pendant. (Did not come into effect).
- Games were “To be played at Gleneagles henceforth.”
1923 – To Gleneagles for the competition. A move to make this permanent fell through – back to each city.
1924 – Edinburgh would pay expenses for members to attend the competition.
1925 – Dundee want back into the competition – but only four clubs allowed to compete.
1926 – Noted that many members of the clubs travelled in support. Rivalry becoming very keen: composition of teams questioned.
1926 – It is decided that the competition will be held in May not June.
- Edinburgh had a Captain who (for the first time) won two years in a row.
1929 – Played at Balwearie, Edinburgh won; costs were now 10/- annual sub, plus £1 “to purchase a charm for the Captain of the winning club.”
Kirkcaldy made a proposal to change the rules of the National Guardian – Edinburgh said no.
Captain Kelman of Edinburgh was presented with a gold charm and miniature cup to commemorate the wins in his years playing/captaining Edinburgh in the competition.
1930 – J. C. Caven (a selector for the Walker Cup) was playing for Glasgow.
- Edinburgh AGM: “The meeting was informed that owing to the Kirkcaldy club having made an alteration to their club’s membership, it had been (determined) that their entry to this competition (National Guardian) could not be accepted under the rules as laid down. In consequence the Dundee club has been offered and has accepted the vacant place in the competition.”
- Edinburgh won – presentation by a J. M. Munro of the ‘National Guardian’
newspaper.
1934 - Glasgow won. Edinburgh Secretary said “it was nerves that our team broke under.”
1936 – Edinburgh had a “discussion over composition of other teams.”
1939 – Edinburgh won at Perth. Edinburgh Secretary said “The return journey (by train) must be left to the imagination – the trophy duly deposited in the strong room.”
1947 – Edinburgh won playing at Gleneagles “After 7 years of war. W. Strathie McLaren received it; Mr. Jas. Dunn of Glasgow St. Mungo presented it.” [Edinburgh still has newspaper photos of the event].
The trophy was valued for insurance purposes at £200.
1948 – Edinburgh “won thanks to our tail.”
1949 – “Teams using players 'with no active interest in the trade.'”
1950 – Ballingall spoon presented on 23 March by Ballingall firm, of Dundee.
1951 – Edinburgh had a “supper” at the Royal British hotel – with invites to Glasgow, Perth and Dundee.
- Trophy retained by Edinburgh at Rosemount Golf Club.
1952 – Second example of Edinburgh conceit: Edinburgh Secretary “To the astonishment of the usual band of supporters we were beaten in the National Guardian.”
1953 - Further evidence of a swollen head by the Edinburgh Secretary: “Dundee, I repeat, Dundee, beat us in the morning.” Edinburgh had the wooden spoon.
1955 – Glasgow won, but Edinburgh discovered “a vocalist in the bus who could render the ‘Pastor’s Daughter’ in a first class manner.”
1959 – Edinburgh entertained by a film of the ‘National Guardian Competition’, taken at Barnton by a Mr. Curran.
1961 - Edinburgh again querying composition of teams and asking for clarification. The Secretary “don’t like the set up.”
1965 – Competition to be played at Forfar. Perth won.
1971 – Dundee won.
1976 – Edinburgh players picked for the team “would get an old tie” [?]
1977 – It was determined that National handicaps rather than club ones would apply for the National Guardian competition.
1978 – A golf ball was given to each of Edinburgh team by the club. Losers, Edinburgh, “retained the Ballingall spoon.”
1980 – Edinburgh won – the first time since 1967.
1987 – Complaints over the high cost of entering the National Guardian competition. Members now had to pay for green fees and catering.
Summary and Conclusion
And so this fine competition has proceeded over the years, and continues to prosper. It inspires, it provides controversy, creates friendships – and sometimes there is even some very good golf!!
There have been stalwarts galore from all participating clubs, men who have graced this competition in one way or another. However, I will end by mentioning only two in illustration.
George Grier of the Glasgow club has been immense throughout the decades, and can still see off most challengers. The other is the late, and much lamented Sandy Latto of Dundee, who put fire in the belly of his club in the modern era. Already, he is missed.
By (Dr.) George K. McGilvary, sometime of Edinburgh & Leith Licensed Victuallers Golf Club.
[Material used has all come from the records of Edinburgh and Leith Licensed Victuallers and the National Library of Scotland].
10 August 2006
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