US TABLE DONORS THRILLED WITH HIGHLAND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Photo: Past captain Gary Bethune (left), Alvin Wood and George Farrell of Treecraft Woodwork reveal the Donald Ross boardroom table to Ralph Ronalter (second left), one of the generous donors from the Country Club of North Carolina
WHEN Royal Dornoch’s new clubhouse was taking shape two years ago, around 20 members of the Country Club of North Carolina were eager to mark the milestone.
A casual conversation with past captain Gary Bethune paved the way to generous private donations which funded a stunning, locally crafted table for the Donald Ross Room.
During his latest visit to the Highland club he joined a decade ago, current CCNC team captain Ralph Ronalter enjoyed an opportunity to view the table and chat with Treecraft Woodwork owner Alvin Wood and lead craftsman George Farrell.
Ralph said: “It is a beautiful piece of work, made locally, which will be used for generations to come at Royal Dornoch.
“It was a lovely surprise to discover that American Black Walnut had been used to create the table, and the detail in the Highland Tiger coat of arms is amazing.
“After that initial chat with Gary, a few of us who are members of both clubs got together and decided to make a gift to mark the opening of the new clubhouse.
“The Country Club of North Carolina was founded in the 1960s by a Scot, Dick Urquhart, and our close links with Dornoch are reflected in the name of the lake, main driveway and clubhouse grillroom, as well as our biennial matches.”
Past Royal Dornoch captain Gary admitted he had been “blown away” by the gift to the club.
“It truly is an extraordinarily generous gesture by our friends at the North Carolina Country Club and the table is perfect for the boardroom named after the son of Dornoch and legendary golf course architect Donald Ross.
“It’s wonderful that we could call upon the skills of a locally based company rather than look further afield and Alvin and George have done us proud.”
Alvin, a former Golspie High pupil who grew up in Brora, admits the table was one of the firm’s more challenging commissions.
“It certainly wasn’t a run of the mill commission and measuring 4.8m by 1.8m, it’s the biggest boardroom table we have been asked to design for a client.
“But we’re used to working where precision matters, so we were confident we could rise to the challenge.”
Treecraft, founded in 1983, specialises in bespoke sash and case windows and doors for listed and historic buildings.
“The base was relatively straightforward,” said Alvin. “The real engineering was the top – a solid walnut surface 4.8m long had to be built to allow for seasonal movement, so we routed steel stabiliser bars on the underside to keep it flat without restricting the timber.
“The design then centred on the club coat of arms.
“We inlaid African ebony, Namibian rosewood and maple – it’s not printed or painted on.
“Each timber has a different density and movement, so getting the tolerances right with a natural product is a complicated process.
“I’d say up to 40% of the commission involved the coat of arms. We had to get that right because it transforms a nice-looking table into something unique for the clubhouse.”
Dornoch-based Alvin, who completed an apprenticeship after leaving school 28 years ago – and took over the business eight years ago – admitted the Station Square team felt the pressure with this project.
“Everything we make is to a high standard but there is an added pressure when the piece is going into a building at the heart of your own town – people know who made it,” he admitted.
“So we are delighted the golf club is so pleased with our craftsmanship.
“We knew we were being asked to create a proper piece of furniture than will last generations.”