In the early days of golf at the turn of the century, (when Downfield was a village separate to Dundee) play was over a nine hole ‘Baldovan’ course and history states that the clubhouse was an old horse drawn tramcar. The original Downfield Golf Club was established in 1895 with reports in the Courier & Argus of the Honorary Captain of the Club Sir Reginald Ogilvie, Bart opening the course on the 30th December 1895 but snow brought events to a close!

During the first World War, the course was returned to agricultural use and it was in 1932 before moves were put in hand to re-establish the club. Once again it was a nine hole course, laid out in three fields which were rented from the Camperdown Estate at the cost of £150.00.

At a meeting in 1932, the course was formally handed over to a newly formed committee and Downfield Golf Club continued to establish itself. Such was the demand for the membership that a decision was made to extend the course to a full eighteen holes. Fred Walker was appointed as the club Professional and stayed with the club 39 years until he retired. He was voted ‘Club Professional of the year’ in 1969 and his son Bobby at the tender age of 14 reduced the course record to an incredible 63, a reduction of six strokes over the previous best. Bobby Walker went on to win Scottish Professional Championship and on two occasions and represented Scotland in the Canada Cup.

As Dundee grew, so the requirement for the land became paramount and after lengthy negotiation as the course was revamped. The local council gifted land in the early 1960s in return for some of the course, with five original holes retained the current layout.

Recognised as one of the top parkland courses in Scotland, Downfield Golf Club played host to numerous prestigious competitions. This includes the inaugural Scottish Open in 1972, the World Seniors Matchplay, the Benson and Hedges International event, Scottish PGA Masters, Scottish Boys Stroke Play, Scottish Amateur and qualifying for The Open and the gents Seniors Open.

In 1972, Downfield Golf Club hosted the inaugural Scottish Open Championship sponsored by Sunbeam Electric. The championship and first prize of £2000 was won by Neil Coles after a sudden death play-off with Brian Huggett. Five time The Open champion Peter Thomson also played in the tournament and commented afterwards:
"Downfield is one of the finest inland courses I've played anywhere in the world; it's a tough, demanding test of golf amidst some of the most picturesque scenery - you have to be very long and straight off the tee to succeed here!"

The 1999 Open Qualifying would lead to a significant feather in Downfield's cap, as Paul Lawrie went from qualifying here to go on to win the Open Championship at Carnoustie. This led to him being awarded honorary membership of Downfield Golf Club in 2013.

The following slide-show is the digitised version of an album created by Norma Smith. We are very grateful to Norma for her dedication and hard work.
Click to view