Veteran golfer tees up special anniversary trip

Last remaining original member Frank Cougan, 84, will celebrate his life presidency of 52-year-old group the Tain Stotters despite advanced arthritis

Advanced arthritis will not stop the last original Tain Stotter teeing up a special anniversary trip today.

St Andrews man Frank Cougan, 84, will be celebrating his life presidency of the 52-year-old golfing group.

Golf has been in Frank’s blood since he was a baby.

Born in Carnoustie close to the historic links course that has just hosted the Open, he started playing regularly as a junior and developed into a very proficient player with a handicap of seven.

At 32, he joined the original founders of the Stotters, which was formed by a group of holiday golfers who were visiting Tain Golf Club for the Open golf week.

They challenged local members to a 12 versus 12 greensome match – a game that has been subsequently repeated every year since 1966.

New generations of Stotters, including children and grandchildren of the original 12, continue to keep the tradition going.

A group of 68 will be celebrating the 52nd game this month.

Frank, the last remaining original member, has now hung up his clubs due to restricted mobility but that will not stop him attending today’s event.

Frank, who describes himself as “84 going on 48” played golf all over the UK and Ireland for more than 75 years and counts himself lucky enough to have won a competition or two.

Having lived in St Andrews for three decades, he has experienced a varied career in the RAF and as a commercial traveller, as well as running a guest house with his wife.

“Without these things I would have been on the course or at the 19th hole all the time,” he said.

Now moving around is not so easy but he has kept some independence thanks to a mobility scooter.

“With our 52nd anniversary Stotters event coming up, my daughter will be putting it in her car so we can take it to Tain,” he said.

Frank Cougan from St Andrews is looking forward to the reunion.