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​The Royal Perth Golfing Society

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The oldest of the remaining clubs is the Royal Perth Golfing Society which was founded in 1824 at which time the course was on the South Inch rather than the North Inch.  The club was the first ever to be awarded ‘Royal’ status in 1833.  It was believed that when St Andrews was later awarded Royal status that they insisted the words “and Ancient” be added to the title to show that they were the older club – therefore we have the “Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews” to this day (or the R&A as they are known).  The Royal Perth and the Royal and Ancient Club of St Andrews still play each other every year in what is thought to be the oldest continuously held team match in the world!

 

Also important to the history of golf on the North Inch is the King James VI golf club.  Originally founded in 1858 when the North Inch was taking over form the South Inch as the main venue for golf in Perth, The King James VI club was born out of a demand for a second club in Perth.  The two clubs played together on the North Inch for around 40 years before the King James club moved to its present location on Moncrieff Island in 1897.

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