Bruntsfield Allied Golf Club
Bruntsfield Allied Golf Club is one of the oldest non course owning clubs in the world.
It was founded in 1856 on the Bruntsfield Links six hole course in Edinburgh (now a 36 hole pitch and putt course). The members comprised mainly Club and Ball makers from around Wright’s houses and Barclay Church beside the starter’s box on the golf course itself where they had workshops to supply other memberships playing on the Links . The famous McEwan family of golf club makers were founding members amongst others. Reference should be made to “The History of Bruntsfield Allied Golf Club” by Phillip Knowles for further information. Today the club has 50 members who compete for trophies from 1856 to 1860 and the Gold , Silver and Warrender Medals with other fine trophies played for in 7 outings per year. The match trophy for the Blackford match is the Lindley, Mitchell Bowl.
Caermount Golf Club
Caermount Golf Club was founded in 1923 for the purpose of friends from different clubs playing competitive golf together over the Braid Hills. The name Caermount is taken from Caerketton Hill in the Pentlands, which dominates the view from the Braid Hills. The maximum handicap permitted was 25 and a later set of rules mentions that members should be under the age of 30 on entry (hardly the case these days!).The Club has a long and proud history off and on the course : two victories in the Dispatch Trophy in 1957 and 2012 and the Walker Trophy in 2003. Caermount has remained a friendly and competitive club since its inception, with six outings each year including one to Muirfield and six matches each year pitted against kindred clubs. The club has a healthy membership of over 50 golfers who continue to uphold the club motto: “Lude Ludem” – Play the Game.
The match trophy is The Foursomes Trophy, presented by former Blackford Captain, Harry G. Lindley.
The New Club
The New Club was formed in 1787 and was originally located in a tavern at the east end of Princes Street; moved to its current site in 1837; enlarged in 1857; and completely re-built in the 1960s. On re-opening in 1969, Members’ wives were allowed into some parts of the Club and now men and women have full equality of membership. It occupies a Grade A listed building, both externally and internally, being one of the finest examples of a ‘Panellist’ building in Scotland. The Club originally primarily attracted landed gentlemen, the law, judiciary and Army and Navy Members. Since then it has broadened its appeal to many professions, academia (as we amalgamated with the University Club in 1953) and medics, albeit it welcomes anyone who is ‘clubbable’ to become a Member. The golf club within The New Club, competes against Blackford for The Stevenson Attic Trophy, presented by past Captain of Blackford (2013-2014), Colin Stevenson.
Murrayfield Golf Club
Murrayfield Golf Club was founded in 1896 and played its first match against Blackford in 1906. The fixture has remained in the club calendars of both ever since. The winners of the annual match receive the Adams Trophy, first presented in 1962. It is the longest standing match trophy currently played for by Blackford. The trophy is named in honour of J.C.(Jock) Adams, an Honorary Member and ex captain of Blackford who made a generous financial gift to the club, “in appreciation of much pleasure and good companionship” that had been his Blackford experience. Over many years, it has not been the result which has been the most important aspect for both clubs, but more the annual renewal of friendships born of both enjoyable golf and excellent hospitality, the latter regarded as legendary in the annals of both clubs.
The Writers To The Signet Golf Club (WSGC)
The Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet is more than 400 years old and originally consisted of lawyers, based in Edinburgh, who were readily available to draw up documents for authentication by “The Signet” on behalf of the King at Holyrood Palace. The golf club was founded in modern times, in 1957, by a few keen golfing members of the Society. In addition to two annual meetings in the Spring and Autumn this club has built up a rota of annual matches against other legal clubs from elsewhere including London, Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen and Ireland. Other annual matches are against the senior branch of the legal profession (the Bench and Bar match), the medical profession (The Royal Colleges match) and the Surveyors (the RICS Match). The inaugural match between Blackford Golf and WSGC took place in 2021 and was arranged by Chris Hardie WS, a former Captain of WSGC and Captain of Blackford Golf Club (2022-2023).
The teams compete annually for “The Hardie Trophy“.
