The Centenary Trophy

To celebrate the occasion, ex-Captain Dr James Ross presented The Centenary Trophy to the Club in 1989. It consists of a bladed, hickory shafted, Nicol putter mounted on a board and has been described, variously, as “striking” or “aesthetic rather than valuable”. Nevertheless, winners are always pleased to receive it, although some have had a tricky journey carrying it back to their seat at the dinner!

The first competition for the trophy was a Stableford foresomes event as part of the day of celebration. The trophy was subsequently awarded to the member who had the highest number of Stableford points over any two outings during the season. From 1990 to 1992, the first three years of club competition, the winner of the Majority Cup, almost by default, also won the Centenary Cup. By 2010, two thirds of all Centenary Cup winners had won the Majority Cup in the same year. A seven year run from 2004 to 2010, during which there was a single winner of both trophies, prompted a change. Since 2011, the Cup has been awarded to the member who has the highest number of stableford points over any two outings during the season and has not won the Majority Cup.

Since the Centenary year, the Trophy has been played for, as a club event, twenty six times. It has generated nineteen winners, including one tie. Sixteen of the nineteen have won just once. Only Graeme Watherston, David Macaulay and Mike Reid-Thomas have won more than once. Up to 2010, under the original regulations, Graeme Watherston won four times and David Macaulay five. Mike Reid-Thomas is, as yet, the only double winner under the new regulations.

The 2014 winner, Neil Straton, won with a solid 78 Stableford points, thanks to an excellent 41 points at Bruntsfield and a solid 37 at Kilspindie. He hadn’t done so well at Dunbar in the first outing, but neither had father Tim, the then Secretary. However, it meant the annual prize giving was a family affair, Centenary Trophy for son, Consolation Cup for dad.

The Centenary Trophy, which consists of a bladed, hickory shafted putter mounted on a board, was presented to the Club in 1989 on the occasion of the centenary of the Club.  It is awarded to the member who has the highest number of stableford points over any two outings during the season and who has not won the Majority Cup.

Winners: