Member Gordon Moir - Life Before St Andrews
Tue, Feb 2nd 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Reception - Forbes Lockhart,
One of the newer members , Gordon Moir, gave a highly enlightening and interesting talk on “Life before St Andrews.”
Gordon, who retired as director of greenkeeping at St Andrews Links Trust in 2018, took his audience back to his childhood.
Gordon and his mother lived with his grandparents in Cairness house just outside Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire.
A listed country house built in the neo-classical style, Gordon did not describe it as grand as it is now. Acquired by his grandfather after it had been used by the Consolidated Pneumatic tool company of Fraserburgh to provide evacuation premises for the war effort. The house had no heating and only six stayed in the building which had nine bathrooms.
Gordon’s family were farmers and Gordon described as a young teenager having to feed the sheep, gather neeps from frozen ground and driving tractors at the age of 15.
When Gordon left school he was given the chance to work as an apprentice greenkeeper at Fraserburgh Golf Club and studied at Elmwood College in Cupar. He completed his course at Elmwood in 1980 receiving an award for best student.
He the quickly progressed to become head greenkeeper at Fraserburgh and with many new connections in the area greenkeepers’ association, Gordon continued to develop his skills.
By 1990 and having developed Fraserburgh golf course as much as he felt he could, Gordon looked for a change and in 1991 took up position of head greenkeeper of the Eden course in St Andrews.
He went on to become director of greenkeeping at St Andrews and during his 27 years at the links he has witnessed 5 Open championships, 2 Women’s Opens, 26 Dunhill tournaments, a Senior Open, 2 Curtis Cups and Amateur Championship.
Vote of thanks given by Forbes Lockhart.
Gordon, who retired as director of greenkeeping at St Andrews Links Trust in 2018, took his audience back to his childhood.
Gordon and his mother lived with his grandparents in Cairness house just outside Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire.
A listed country house built in the neo-classical style, Gordon did not describe it as grand as it is now. Acquired by his grandfather after it had been used by the Consolidated Pneumatic tool company of Fraserburgh to provide evacuation premises for the war effort. The house had no heating and only six stayed in the building which had nine bathrooms.
Gordon’s family were farmers and Gordon described as a young teenager having to feed the sheep, gather neeps from frozen ground and driving tractors at the age of 15.
When Gordon left school he was given the chance to work as an apprentice greenkeeper at Fraserburgh Golf Club and studied at Elmwood College in Cupar. He completed his course at Elmwood in 1980 receiving an award for best student.
He the quickly progressed to become head greenkeeper at Fraserburgh and with many new connections in the area greenkeepers’ association, Gordon continued to develop his skills.
By 1990 and having developed Fraserburgh golf course as much as he felt he could, Gordon looked for a change and in 1991 took up position of head greenkeeper of the Eden course in St Andrews.
He went on to become director of greenkeeping at St Andrews and during his 27 years at the links he has witnessed 5 Open championships, 2 Women’s Opens, 26 Dunhill tournaments, a Senior Open, 2 Curtis Cups and Amateur Championship.
Vote of thanks given by Forbes Lockhart.
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