MONDAY MEMORIES: JIM SEATTAR

Jim Seattar, former Royal Dornoch captain and four times club champion 

IN July 1981 Jim took a call from the secretary at Royal Dornoch enquiring if he could caddy for a hush hush VIP visit. 

In the latest of our “Monday Memories” series, the ex-captain and four times club champion recalls an unforgettable weekend as he and Dennis Bethune, father of current captain Gary, took to the links with the mystery guests. 

Reigning Open champion Tom Watson, en route to Royal St George’s with the Claret Jug tucked away in his luggage, was joined by former USGA president Sandy Tatum for a visit destined to boost the profile of Royal Dornoch on both sides of the Atlantic. 

As they waited for the helicopter to ferry the pair south after enjoying three rounds over the Championship Course, Jim recalls Sandy saying they had been privileged to watch one of the world’s greatest golfers close-up, to which Jim cheekily responded: “And Tom Watson isn’t bad either!” 

Jim, who in 2014 captained the club during celebrations to mark “400 Years of Golf in Dornoch,” was also asked to accompany Tom and Sandy for an impromptu afternoon round. 

“As we were going to the third tee Tom said, ‘this is the most fun I’ve had on a golf course for years.’ No one was watching and he could just enjoy it. 

“On the Sunday there must have been 300 waiting on the first tee and he put on an exhibition for them. He was marvellous. Later Tom gave an impromptu pitch and putt coaching for the kids.” 

Watson’s two visits to Royal Dornoch, along with another by fellow honorary member Ben Crenshaw, are credited with encouraging fellow Americans to follow in their footsteps, transforming the fortunes of a club where eight guineas had secured membership for Jim in 1966, with another guinea to play on Sundays. 

“We have strong US ties now but when I joined there were hardly any visitors. There was no starter. You put a ball in the chute at the first tee,” said Jim.