What is your
favourite hole?

Dear Members,

I would like to thank you all for voting for your favourite hole at Lanark this week.

The results were interesting, and the member's favourite hole, with 20.37%, was the 14th hole. The 11th came in second place on 14.81%, and we have a tie for third place with the 12th and 18th, with 12.96%.

Although I obviously didn’t vote, my choice would have been the 11th. Several of the people who voted for the 14th, said it was their favourite especially when played off the Blue Tee.

The rest of the votes were:
1st, 4th and 7th – 5.57% each
8th, 9th 10th 13th and 16th all with 3.7% each
3rd and 5th had 1.85% each
2nd, 6th, 15th and 17th holes got no votes

This brings me onto this week's poll
What is the toughest hole in Lanark G.C?

Please let me know which hole you think is the most difficult, and we will see how the results compare.

Email us today >

From the Archives

Two years ago, I sent out this email about a piece of Club history that we uncovered during investigations, on behalf of the PGA. Some of you may have missed this the first time around, and some maybe be interested to read it again.

In October 2017, I was contacted by Dr Phil Weaver OBE, Curator of PGA Heritage, to assist with his research into James McKay Anderson who he suspected was at one time a PGA Professional at Lanark Golf Club. Phil, on behalf of the PGA has been compiling a list of Golf Professionals and Assistants who fought for King and Country in the Great War of 1914-1918 and never returned. We have been helping with this research and have uncovered what can only be described as a tragic story relating to James Anderson and have found enough evidence for him to be commemorated by the PGA on its WW1 memorial which they are hoping to have in place for the 100th anniversary of the ending of the Great War in November this year.

I thought you, as a member of the Golf Club, would be interested in hearing James’s story.

According to Lanark Golf Club records, James McKay Anderson was interviewed on Saturday 16th April 1910 for the position of Greenkeeper and was paid his train fare to attend.

Extract from Golf Club Minutes

In 1911, the PGA records show James as being elected to the Scottish Section showing Golf Club House, Lanark as his address.

PGA Membership Records

We have also found an entry in Jacksons Register of British Professional Golfers 1887-1930 which shows that J Anderson was at Lanark until 1914.

This is another extract from the Club Minutes in July 1913 mentioning James Anderson, Professional, and giving him the right to sell golf balls at the Club.

In the National Records of Scotland, we discovered that James’ wife Helen sadly died at the age of 33 during childbirth in the Golf Club House, Lanark on 31st October 1913.

Shortly after that, in 1914, James left Lanark, we think to live in Elie - Fife, perhaps to take care of his 3 children and returned to his former profession of Mason. James then joined the 1st/6th Battalion Black Watch in January 1915.

On 12th August 1916, he went on to marry Elizabeth Paisley in Elie which is where James parents also stayed. From July 1917 he was on active service at the front, and in April 1918 it was reported in The East Fife Observer that he had been taken prisoner.

East Fife Observer 25th April 1918 Missing

Recently Private James Anderson and his brother Private George M Anderson sons of Mr and Mrs Anderson, Glencoe, Elie were officially reported missing. Later news received by the wife of Private Jas. Anderson states that he is now a prisoner of war in Germany. In pre-war days he was a professional golfer in Lanark, while his brother was employed by Mr Garland, joiner Elie.

Almost 8 months later, James’ wife and parent’s hopes were dashed and the East Fife Observer reported the following news on 5th December 1918.

Prisoner of War Victim

Though no official confirmation of the intelligence has yet been received there is too much reason to fear that another local victim has to be added to the prisoners of war who have made a supreme sacrifice. The mother of Private James Anderson 6th Black Watch – Mrs Anderson – and his wife residing in Glencoe Villa were made aware that he had been taken as a prisoner of war near Cambrai some months since and have been regularly sending him parcels which however it appears, he never received. A comrade Private William Stenhouse Northumberland Fusiliers at present in Kirkcaldy has vouchsafed information to the effect that Private Anderson was killed outright by a bomb which dropped from an aircraft fully two months ago and that about ten other soldiers were also killed or wounded at the same time.

His family have been looking forward with eager anticipation to see him coming home soon and this sad information has naturally disconcerted them. Private Anderson joined up in the Black Watch in January 1915 and had been on active service at the front since July last year. Previous to enlistment he was a golf professional at the golf course in Lanark, was 37 years of age and leaves a widow and three young children. What makes it all more distressing is that his brother Lance Corporal George M Anderson also of 6th Black Watch has likewise been taken a prisoner after he had been wounded in action and the family are in dubiety as to his present whereabouts.

On Tuesday Mrs Anderson proceeded to Kirkcaldy to see if she could obtain any further information regarding her husband. Much sympathy is felt for the family in the state in which they now find themselves placed.

On the 19th December, they went onto report that James’s brother, George, returned home.

The following is an entry from The Commonwealth War Graves Commission showing James’s details and confirming that he is commemorated at The Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension at Somme, France.

Private Anderson, James Mckay
Service Number 265884
Died 12/08/1918
Aged 36
1st/6th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Son of Andrew and Flora Anderson, of Glencoe Villa, Elie, Fife; husband of Elizabeth Paisley Anderson.

James is remembered on the war memorial in Elie, click here for more details.

At the moment, there has been over 90 names, including James McKay Anderson, added to the list of brave PGA Professionals who made the ultimate sacrifice. Unfortunately, a sad story, but part of the Golf Club’s history which I thought some, or all of you, would be interested to read.