...the committee decided to lease ground at Summerhill and an amicable arrangement was reached with the owner Mr J W Whitelaw for renting 36 acres of land at £110 per year to provide a nine hole course which was laid out by Willie Fernie.

In 1895 a 6 hole golf course was condescendingly provided for the women and juniors between the present first fairway and the wall of nearby Jessiefield Prison.

The golfing talent was certainly to be found in the Fernie blood, all five of Willie Fernie’s sons became golf professionals, two of them taking up appointments in America.

Willie Fernie was undoubtedly the D&G’s greatest golfer.

Via D&G GC