Episode Details

Episode 017

Welcome to "Experience in Golf Clubhouse Design", a podcast that delves into the world of golf clubhouse architecture and interior design, uncovering the fascinating intricacies of human interaction and its profound impact on member lifestyles. Let's immerse ourselves in the realm of architecture, exploring the concepts and details that pave the way for a successful golf clubhouse and resort experience, from proshop design to fitness and dining. In today's episode, we'll cover examining the evolution of golf clubhouse design, discussing trends and innovations that have shaped the industry.

Hey there! Today, we're going to take a trip down memory lane and dive into the fascinating world of golf clubhouse design. We'll be exploring how these spaces have evolved over the years and the trends that have shaped the industry. So, grab your clubs and let's get started! Back in the day, golf clubhouses were more than just a place to grab a cold drink after a round. They were often lavish resorts, with grand architecture and stunning views. These historical clubhouses, with their ornate designs and opulent interiors, were symbols of prestige and luxury. I wanted to dive into an interesting article I found on the subject. This article is from scottish golf history. It's called the Oldest 19th hole. The article covers some of the oldest and most prestigious clubs. So let's dive into it.

Club-houses of oldest golf clubs and early golf club-houses.

Part 1

The club-house buildings of the Royal Musselburgh, Royal Blackheath, and Glasgow golf clubs, whose clubhouse buildings are of historic interest in their own right. The club-houses of the other old clubs are covered below in order of the date of the oldest extant club-house at the location.

The concept of a golf club took over a century to develop. Club-house facilities were not initially an essential part of their thinking. What was important was dining (and drinking) afterwards, mostly in local hostelries, of which the notable extant pubs are covered here in Part II Oldest 19th Hole Golf Pubs, Inns and Taverns. (which we will get to later

Almost all the club-houses of the old golf societies date from the middle to the end of the 19th century. Most look like private houses, not just because everything was built as a house in those days, but also to make them easy to sell if the club failed. The significant investment required to build a club-house frequently resulted in heated discussions, especially in the artisan clubs. Sometimes, a 'new' club had to be formed by those willing to contribute to a clubhouse, if the majority of members were disinclined to do so. For this reason, some successor clubs owe their existence, and even their name, to the provision of the club-house facility. So their history is more interesting than just a list of buildings and dates.

Bruntsfield Links The longest serving golf club-house building in the world is the Golf Tavern at Bruntsfield Links. It has been in continuous use as a club-house since Jan 1852, by several clubs including Bruntsfield Links GS, Bruntsfield Allied GC, Edinburgh Thistle and Bruntsfield Short Hole GC. It was never owned by any of them. The Golf Tavern is the overlapping successor to Golfhall, where club golf began. Golfhall, under various names, had been a golf club-house continuously since July 1760 until Sept 1905. These clubhouses are now the subject of a new history published in 2017.

St Andrews

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews didn't build their own club-house until 1854, exactly 100 years after they were formed. It is the oldest club-house in continuous use owned by a golf club. It has subsequently been significantly extended and developed.

For two decades beforehand, they had used a building called the Union Parlour on Golf Place in common with other golfers. It has long since been demolished.

The other golf clubs in St