With a new £13.9 million clubhouse taking shape at Royal Dornoch in Scotland, the club is appealing for members and visitors to share memories and old photographs of gatherings in the current one.
General manager Neil Hampton has confirmed that the new building overlooking the first tee and 18th green of the famous Championship Course is in line for a soft opening before the end of the year. While it has been subject to various extensions and modifications down the years, the current clubhouse dates to the early years of the 20th century.
Hampton revealed that the annual prize-giving on Saturday, November 29, will officially bring down the curtain on a building which has served the club since 1909.
“Plans to enable a smooth transition have been in the pipeline for some time, with the keys to the new clubhouse likely to be handed over by Morrisons Construction around the end of August,” he explained. “We are very busy at that time of year, welcoming golfers from around the world, so the Council of Management decided the move should be left until early December, which is one of the quieter months of the year here.
“While the sense of anticipation has been growing as we have watched the new three-storey clubhouse taking shape, members and our many visitors will have fond memories of the current building and countless events which have taken place within its walls over the span of nearly 120 years.”
The current £1,600 clubhouse, which replaced the more modest original, was officially opened on July 3, 1909, with steel magnate and the world’s richest man Andrew Carnegie and his wife Louise in attendance
“While the club is ready to usher in a new era, we are eager to gather these memories – and photographs of events and visits with friends – as part of our permanent historic record, which can be shared with generations to come,” noted Neil.
“Given our links with golfing greats like Donald Ross, Old Tom Morris, honorary members Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson, and many others besides, Royal Dornoch values our rich history and that will be reflected within the new clubhouse.”
Staff are already preparing to carry out the two-week ‘flitting’ from December 1.
“It was felt the annual prize-giving would be the appropriate event to bid a final farewell to the building,” said Neil. “We are aiming to open the doors of the new clubhouse in December, with a grand official opening planned for next year. During the period of the move, it will be business as usual for members as they can still access the locker rooms and toilets.
“Once the transfer to the new clubhouse is complete, and we are comfortable in our new surroundings, we are working towards a February date to begin demolition of the current clubhouse. We will have no physical reminder of the building so gathering photographs and memories to add to our extensive archives will be appreciated by the generations that follow us.”
Memories and photographs of visits to Royal Dornoch can be sent to rdgc@royaldornoch.com.