Ardeer Golf Club

About the club

Ardeer Golf Club can boast quite a respectable degree of seniority amongst the golf clubs of Ayrshire, having been formed in 1880. Indeed only Prestwick, Prestwick St Nicholas and Troon are older. The original course was 9 holes laid out on the links around the Sandyhills area of Stevenston. Although the course has since long gone the original red sandstone clubhouse remains. The club then relocated to the Ardeer area of Stevenston, the new course opening on 8th April 1905. This course was a true seaside links laid out in the stretch of dunes between the town and the sea on land owned by the Imperial Chemicals Industries Ltd (ICI). ICI was where the club drew most of its membership, including Hamilton McInally, the Scottish Amateur champion of 1937, 1939 & 1947. Jackie Cannon was a member prior to winning the Scottish amateur championship in 1969 at the age of 52, the oldest winner ever.Two British open champions were also associated with the club. Jamie Anderson, who died a pauper in a Perth poorhouse in 1912, won the championship in 1877, 78 & 79. Willie Fernie, who also designed many golf courses, won the open in 1883. Both joined Ardeer after winning the Championship.