Noticeable Points of History

The 18th Hole - Fiery Hillock – A fine finishing hole where the gorse bushes lining the fairway destroy many a fine round. The centre bunker short of the green was once a mound where fires were lit in the olden days to send news of a disaster along the Moray coast.

Famous Visitors – In the 1940’s during the 2nd World War, King Haakon of Norway visited the course to survey the scene as his troops trained alongside other allied forces in preparation for the D-Day landings at Normandy. In the 1920’s Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith visited the course. The Prime Minister often ventured onto a golf course in the South of England with bodyguards to ward off the attentions of the suffragette movement during his time in office.

Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club also played an instrumental part in the composition of the famous ‘Colonel Bogey’ march shortly before the 1st World War. Officers stationed across the water at Fort George were also honorary members of the Club at this time and frequently made the boat crossing to play on the course. Bandmaster Ricketts of the 93rd Highlanders often partnered his Colonel to the Links at a time when ‘Bogey’ was regarded as ‘Par’ for each hole. Whilst playing one day, their attention was drawn by another golfer who whistled from a distance away to attract their attention. The two notes whistled became imprinted in the Bandmaster’s mind and came to form the opening bar of the famous tune he was inspired to write and which he entitled ‘Colonel Bogey’.

In 2010, Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club (for the first time) hosted two National Competitions in one season. From the 28th June 2010 to the 2nd July 2010, the Club played host to the Scottish Senior Ladies Championship which was won by Fiona De Vries of St Rule after she beat Heather Anderson of Alyth in the final. On Sunday, 26th September 2010, Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club played host to the Scottish Golf Union’s, Scottish Club Championship Final. The event was won by Carrickvale Golf Club who went on to represent Scotland in Portugal at the European Final.

The 2013 season saw the Club celebrating it's 125th Anniversary on the links and once again the Club played host to the Scottish Boys & Girls U-14’s Open Amateur Stoke Play Championship from the 10-12 August 2013. The winner of the boys event was won by Charlie Strickland from Ham Manor Golf Club in England with a level par aggregate of 142 (70 & 72). Second place went to Leopold Benze from Germany. In the girls event the winning aggregate score was returned by Shannon McWilliam from Aboyne Golf Club on 154 (75 & 79) with second place going to Katharina Steffl from Austria on 157 (82 & 75).

The Club then went on to host the Scottish Ladies Golf Association's Commonwealth Spoons on Wednesday, 4th September 2013 and this foursomes format of competition was eventually won by the final pairing to come off the course in Ingrid Elgsaas and Georgene Parsons East Lothian with a nett score of 74.5. To finish off a terrific season at the Club the Scottish Alliance Championship was played from the 8-10 October 2013 (co-hosted with Nairn Dunbar) and this tournament was won by Chris Currie (a PGA Professional from Glasgow) with a three round aggregate score of four under par in very testing conditions.

2015 once again saw Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Links play host to the Scottish Club Championship Final on Sunday, 20th September 2015. The Scottish Club Championship Final was played between the best club in each area of Scotland (16 areas). Each of the 16 Area Associations of the Scottish Golf Union have a qualifying process to determine their leading Club. Haggs Castle savoured success in the Highlands today, winning the TSG Scottish Club Championship in fine style.

The trio of Barry Hume, the Scotland internationalist, Paul Gault and Craig Morrison came out on top at Fortrose & Rosemarkie, as clubs from each of the SGU Area Associations chased glory. The winning team went onto represent Scotland at the European Men’s Club Trophy at Minthis Hills in Cyprus from 22–24 October 2016.

Haggs Castle posted a winning total of six-under par, five strokes clear of Hamilton with Nairn in third spot.

For the two-round strokeplay event, with the best two scores from three counting to the overall team score, conditions were good in the morning, before more testing weather arrived in the afternoon, especially as the wind picked up. Gault was the leading individual player with rounds of 69 and 70, with Hume posting scores of 72 and 70 to aid their cause. Indeed, Morrison added rounds of 69 and 74 to show the consistency of the winning side.

“We were very strong as a team,” said Hume. “The most pleasing thing was that we all contributed, which was the case in our Area qualifier. While nobody was spectacular, we did what we had to do. I think that was part of our strategy as well, as Fortrose & Rosemarkie is quite a tricky golf course. There is no need to try and overpower it, it’s about trying to minimize mistakes. I think that is how it played out for us.

“We look forward to the trip to Cyprus now. It’s a great opportunity. I think the strength of our team is that we are always around about par, so if we can do what we did in the Highlands then we will have a great shout.”

Press Release - Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club will be the venue for the Scottish Senior Ladies (close) Championship. This tournament which is effectively played over five days will take place at the end of June 2016 and the beginning of July 2016.

Press Release - Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club will be the venue for the Scottish Boys U-16's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 2018. The Scottish Boys Under-16s Open Amateur Stroke-Play Championship was first staged in 1983 and has become a key event in the Scottish junior golf circuit. Now attracting some of the best young players from countries all over the world, some prominent amateurs have won the event in the past, including GB&I Walker Cup stars David Patrick (1991) and David Inglis (1997 & 1998).

Fifer Peter Whiteford, now playing his trade on the European Tour, won the title in 1996, while Grant Forrest, the 2009 winner, later went onto win both the Scottish Boys and Scottish Amateur titles. Recent overseas winners have included Switzerland's Remo Fueg and Sweden's Oskar Bergqvist. The handicap limit for the event is 6.4 and players competing are likely to come from countries including France, New Zealand, Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Finland, Norway, Ghana, Belgium, USA, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Malaysia, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands.

The format of the competition is 72 holes of stroke play over three days. 18 holes shall be played on each of the first two days. The 40 competitors returning the lowest scores over the first 36 holes and those tying for 40th place shall play a final 36 holes. 144 players are expected to play in 2018.