NORTH BERWICK 1832...

This book is inspired by the little known, but iconic, painting by Sir Francis Grant (and possibly Alexander Nasmyth) in 1832 which has the title of the First Meeting of North Berwick Golf Club, but also historically referred to as the Fathers of North Berwick Golf Club.  This painting has always been in private ownership.

1832 was a very significant year for the formation of The North Berwick Golf Club, coinciding with the near bankruptcy of The Company of Edinburgh Golfers, and its effective suspension until 1836. The book explores the significance of North Berwick for The Society of St Andrews Golfers, and the biographies of the first 50 members of The North Berwick Golf Club.

The significance of North Berwick Golf Club supports the discussion in my first book about why Charles Less structured The Golfers in the way that he did.

These two paintings are very important in the period leading up to the first Open Championship at Prestwick in 1860. Key members of The Society of St Andrews Golfers became members of The North Berwick Golf Club, and then The Company of Edinburgh Golfers, and then Prestwick Golf Club (in that order). A number of these gentlemen then became the organisers of the Grand National Championships in 1857/8 which led to the first Open Championship.