A History of the Golf Course
Professionals
Pitlochry Golf Course can boast of having had only four Golf Course
Professionals since the opening day in its present location. There has
been one professional with over forty years of service, one professional
with over thirty years service to his name and another with twelve years
under his belt. The present pro completed his first year in post in 2003
and who knows how long his love affair with this eye-catching and breathtaking
area will last.
John Murray - was the first professional and was to
stay for just over thirty-three years until his untimely death in 1949.
He died in post and meant so much to the people of the course and town that
a special memorial fund was organised. Members past and present of that
time sent in donations from all corners of the world. As a product of
that fund an oil painting of him was commissioned in his honour and still
hangs in a prime position in the clubhouse today. There is still a John
Murray Memorial trophy played for annually by the Pitlochry Golf
Club.
Jimmy Wilson - in 1950 became the next professional
and became a scholar and a gentleman to all who knew him in his forty
years of exemplary service. However it may have been totally different
had Jimmy been persuaded by offers from other more prominent Scottish
golf courses, which wanted him to be their resident golf shop retailer and
teacher of golf. During a fine amateur career that included wins in the
Perthshire County Championship, Blairgowrie Club Championship and the Craw’s
Nest Tassie at Carnoustie, he also had trials for the Walker Cup team
in 1949. Jimmy then turned to Pitlochry Golf Course to make a living and
after serving his time of forty years up to and including 1990, he moved
into a nursing home in Scone near Perth, but unfortunately passed away
in 2000. He was afforded honorary membership of the golf course after 30
years of service in 1980. The members of the Pitlochry GC still
compete for the Jimmy Wilson Memorial Cup on a yearly basis.
Both of these gentlemen were great servants to both the Golf Course and
town of Pitlochry and are sadly missed by all who knew them.
George Hampton - a native of Burntisland and a well
travelled character followed. After spells in Stornoway, where he continued
the good work being done for the development of golf in Scotland’s northerly
islands, and also in Fortrose and Rosemarkie, as a dual role green keeper
and professional, he started in 1991. He, and his wife Mary who helped
George enormously in his time at Pitlochry, looked after everyone who
passed through their door. A fine player in his own right, George took
the Scottish PGA Seniors Golf Championship title in 1993 at Dalmahoy GC.
Upon retiring in 2003 after twelve seasons at the helm, he and Mary decided
to stay in their house on the course until November 2006 when they moved
to Inverness.
These three gentlemen mentioned are unfortunately part of a dying breed
of characters, not only in golfing circles but also indeed in many walks
of life. Once met, they all left a lasting impression.
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