Peter’s Bridge is opened on course

Family and friends of the late Peter Doyle gathered at Braehead GC for the official opening of Peter’s Bridge last week.

Crossing the burn at the 16th hole, it replaces the old condemned bridge and as club captain Andy Macdonald said: “Peter’s Bridge is a fantastic addition to our wonderful course.”

Peter’s son Derek welcomed everyone and gave his thanks to Gillian Brydie, representing Hamilton and Brydie Aggregates, for their donation of materials and as sponsors of the 16th hole. Also in attendance were many of Peter’s pals from Braehead’s senior golf section, who kindly donated £1000 towards the project.

Derek spoke of how the idea of the bridge came while standing on the famous

Swilken Bridge at St Andrews and proposed building something similar to the committee in memory of his father. However, he had no idea of the size of the task and the amount of time and materials that would be required.

Luckily Braehead’s head greenkeeper of 40 years, Harvey Harrower, was able to recall where stonework from the old clubhouse had been buried on the course and set his staff to dig it out. Two stones from Canmore Cottage in Easter Sheardale – home of Peter’s granddaughter Laurie – were also incorporated into the construction.

Two of the club’s senior members, Grant Gillespie and recently retired master stonemason Lawrence Begg, began to clean and dress the tonnes of stone over the winter months before the actual build was suspended due to lockdown restrictions.

Once able to resume, the pair could be seen on most days by passing golfers as the structure slowly began to rise from its foundations.

Their names have been engraved on one of the two plaques on the bridge to acknowledge their skill and endeavour.

Peter’s wife Angeline cut the ribbon with Captain Andy Macdonald before the socially distanced gathering crossed Peter’s Bridge for the first time.

On each plaque there are quotes from Robert Burns, Peter’s great passion – from Tam O’shanter:“when chapman billies leave the street and drouthy neibors, neibors meet”and from A Man’s a Man For A’that:“that man to man, the world o’er. Shall brothers be for a’that.”