It would appear that in the heady days of rampant Presbyterianism in Scotland, Sunday Golf was a real Hot Chestnut of a topic. Pitreavie was evidently not immune from the debate…
This from an article by ‘Onlooker’ in the Dunfermline Journal of 10th Feb, 1923
The Sabbatarian…
“Pitreavie’s hills, Pitreavie’s dales,
To me seem dear on Monday,
On Tuesday, Wednesday and the rest,
But I’ll hae nae gowf on Sunday!”
My clubs and balls and a’ my gear,
I’ll maybe leave for one day,
But no’ for twae and no’ for three,
If you play gowf on Sunday.”
The Modern Sportsman…
“I’m in the office a’ the week;
I canna play on Monday,
On Tuesday, Wednesday and the rest,
And I’m gaun tae play on Sunday!”
“They dae in the north and south,
Frae Cromarty tae Lundy,
I’ll have to leave Pitreavie club,
If you’ll no’ play gowf on Sunday.”
The Greenkeeper…
“You hack my course up a’ the week,
On Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday,
If you don’t need to rest at a’,
Well – the greens need rest on Sunday.”
It would be two more years before Sunday Golf was actually approved by the Committee, and this only after a written protest from four of the local ‘Meenisters’! Luckily, there appears to have been plenty of ‘Heathens’ in the Club as the decision was eventually approved 50-18.
Hurrah for Sunday Golf! What a fine legacy for the rest of us!
FBD.