HISTORIC RULES POSTER RETURNS TO ROYAL DORNOCH 

Photo: Retired Canadian businessman Joe Frenette (left) presents the framed “Royal Dornoch Local Rules” to vice-captain Colin Mackay for display in the new clubhouse. 

AN old poster of the “Royal Dornoch Local Rules” will be amongst the memorabilia going on display in the new clubhouse. 

Rescued from a skip, it has spent almost a decade hanging on an office wall in Canada. 

But now it has made the long journey back to Dornoch. 

Retired Canadian businessman Joe Frenette presented the framed document to club vice-captain Colin Mackay during a visit to Scotland. 

Joe’s cousin, Inverness-based surveyor Pat McLellan spotted the discarded rules poster on a local building site. 

Languishing in a broken frame and bound for the dump, Pat, the director with Alder Specialist Building Surveyors, thought it would be a shame to bin it. 

Joe, a keen golfer and member at Royal Colwood in Victoria, British Columbia, explained: “He thought it looked cool and, knowing I was a keen golfer, Pat presented it to me a couple of years later during a visit to Canada. 

“I have had it hanging on my office wall in a spot where no sun could damage it for the last eight years or so. 

“Obviously Royal Dornoch is regarded as one of the most famous links courses in the world and it had always been in my mind to give it back to the club when I was next in Scotland. 

“It has taken a while, but I am so pleased it has completed the full circle,and it is back where it belongs. 

“Pat and I were warmly welcomed at the club and the timing is especially good with the new clubhouse set to open before the end of the year. 

“It already looks amazing, and we are looking forward to seeing it fully finished next year.” 

Vice-captain Colin was thrilled to accept the poster on behalf of the club. 

He said: “It bears the name of long-time secretary John Sutherland and it must be more than 100 years old. 

“It must have been printed sometime after 1906 as that is when the club was granted Royal status by King Edward VII. 

“Given its age the poster is in remarkably good condition, and we are grateful to Joe and Pat for salvaging a little bit of Royal Dornoch’s history and giving it back to the club, where it will be enjoyed by members and visitors alike. 

“If anyone else has items reflecting the history of Royal Dornoch we would be delighted to hear from them. 

“Interestingly, the first rule refers to players putting a ball in the StartingBox to secure the tee.  

“That is very different from today when bookings by visitors are made up to a year in advance in many instances.”