Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Drumpellier sweeping up the silver
Drumpellier golf club
This week’s club of the week is Drumpellier golf club.
Based in Coatbridge, the club offer junior members the chance to hone their skills as well as giving youth and senior members the chance to compete.
We spoke to club member Kenny McLean to find out more.
How did the club get started?
The golf club was formed in 1894 and started as a nine-hole course at Blacklands Farm, near Coltswood.
We were originally called Gartsherrie golf club as we were formed by the Young Men’s Guild of Gartsherrie parish church.
As the membership got bigger the club changed its name to Coatbridge golf club in 1896 before becoming Drumpellier golf club in 1900.
This is when we moved from Blacklands Farm to our current home at Drumpellier.
What kind of success has your club had?
The golf club has been very successful with our gents, ladies. seniors and junior teams all winning numerous league titles.
On an individual basis our most successful players at a national level are Graham Rankin and Clare Queen.
Graham won, among many amateur titles, the Scottish Championship and played for GB & I three times in the Walker Cup against the USA.
Clare won the British Ladies Championship and like Graham represented Scotland on numerous occasions.
Both Graham and Clare turned professional and competed on their respective European tours for a number on years.
Wilson Bryson and Alan Ferguson have also represented Scotland.
Who are your coaches?
Our Head Professional is Ian Taylor and our Teaching Professional is Ross Neil.
As well as being a fine player himself, Ian has reached the top of the game as a golf referee.
He has officiated at many European Tour tournaments but the pinnacle of his refereeing career was officiating at two Ryder Cups and the US PGA, one of golf’s four major tournaments.
During the winter the gents team go to the coast and play on links courses.
They also practice at Scotland’s newest and finest indoor golf facility, The Golf Asylum in Coatbridge.
Our juniors are coached throughout the year by our teaching professional, Ross Neil.
How much work goes into running the club?
Running a golf club is a massive task with staff working tirelessly on the golf course to keep it in top condition.
We also have catering staff working in the office, the bar and also in catering.
The golf shop is open every day and non-members will receive a friendly welcome from Ian and Ross.
The golf club is run by the main committee and there is also a ladies, seniors and junior committee, all of whom give up their time for free.
We also have a large group of volunteers who help out the golf club in many ways.
How does the club benefit the local community?
Our course is used by golfing societies and is popular for work outings.
Visitors can come and play golf then enjoy our fine cuisine in our restaurant overlooking the 18th green.
Tailored packages are available which include prizes supplied by our golf shop.
Our lovely clubhouse is also used for weddings, christenings and birthday parties and our Christmas party nights are also very popular.
We also run a charity dinner and Pro-Am golf tournament which has seen us donate£65,000 to local charities in Monklands such as St Andrew’s Hospice and the Moira Anderson Foundation.
What youth options do you have?
Junior members can join at eight-years-old until they move into the youth category at 18-years-old.
The youths pay 50 per cent of the full subscription, then 60 per cent when they turn 19, 70 per cent when they turn 20, and so on until they become a full member at the age of 23.
People of all ages are most welcome to obtain and then submit an application form to our secretary Alex Stewart (01236 424139 followed by option one) from Monday to Friday between 9am and 2.30pm.
We also have a Monday-to-Friday golf package at a very reasonable price.
What difficulties do you face as a club?
Similar to golf clubs throughout the UK,the main difficulty is attracting and retaining new members, particularly junior and youth members.
The golf club also welcomes non-members to come and play golf and they can take advantage of special rates at certain times.
If they enjoy the course, they can