The picture postcard shown above was published by Young, Stationer & Newsagent, Lundin Links. It features Victoria House, which was built by local contractor Walter Horne around 1907 as a boarding establishment. This photograph likely dates to the late 1920s (when the business was known as Swan's Victoria) or the early 1930s when Agnes Peebles Watters (nee Greig) ran the 'private hotel'. By the time that this image was captured, the open verandas originally at ground and first floor level on the right hand side had been closed in to form bay windows.

During Mrs Watters time, the advert further below for the hotel appeared in the tourist guide for Largo area. Within the grounds of the hotel itself, visitors had access to a 9-hole putting course, clock golf and a quoit tennis court. Notice that in the photograph detail below, there is a well-dressed chap with a golf club. He is either having a go at the putting course or a game of clock golf. A tall flag pole can also been seen behind the man, by the fence.

​Clock golf or clock putting, was a Victorian garden game that involved a circular arrangement of twelve cast iron numbered markers, resembling the numbers on a clock face. The game was set up with the numbers (often Roman numerals) placed in a circle, to represent each hour of the clock. A hole (target) is placed a few feet off centre, in order to vary the distance from each figure to the hole. 

​Players take turns putting from each of the twelve positions, starting at 1 o’clock and moving sequentially around the circle (which would ideally measure around 40 feet in diameter). The objective was to get the ball into the hole with the fewest strokes possible from each position. After completing a full round, the player with the fewest total strokes wins. Clock golf was popular as it required minimal space and could be enjoyed by people of all ages. ​
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Quoit tennis was another garden game for 2 or 4 players (singles or doubles) where a court is marked out on the grass and a net put up in the centre. The rules of the game were similar to those of tennis but a rope quoit replaced the tennis ball and hands were used rather than racquets. Quoits were served and returned across the net and points lost for quoits hitting the net or going out of the court.
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When guests at the Victoria were not enjoying such garden-based games, they were only a stone's throw away from the beach (with access to the boarding house's private bathing boxes) and from Lundin golf course. In the evening there might be a dance, a whist drive or indoor sports. Entertainment for all the family - happy days!
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The previous post covered the early career of Largo-born golf professional and club maker Hamish Ballingall. Having taken up his first post as a professional in 1935 at Balmore Golf Club at the age of 22, he subsequently had spells at Buchanan Castle and Northumberland, before arriving at Old Ranfurly Golf Club in Bridge of Weir in May 1955.

During what would be seven years at Old Ranfurly, Hamish continued to enjoy success in his playing career. For example, in July 1957 he faced "Scotland's Big Two" John Panton and Eric Brown in the Cowal Championship at Dunoon. In the semi-final a run of five birdies saw him beat Brown before taking Panton to a 19th hole in the final, narrowly missing out on victory. The following month he went one better, beating the entire field, Panton and Brown included, to win the Glasgow Professional Championship.
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By the middle of 1962, Ballingall was on the move once again - this time leaving Old Ranfurly for Kingsknowe Golf Club to the south west of Edinburgh. The 12 June 1962 Scotsman above tells of his appointment as the club's first full professional. At this time, Hamish was noted as holding course records at Rothesay (62), Brodick (62) and Luffness New (64).

The 11 June Edinburgh Evening News included the photograph of Hamish shown at the top of this post and made mention that he also played badminton, table tennis and billiards. He was to be encouraged to play in the major tournaments for his new club, who were to provide him with "suitable accommodation alongside the clubhouse for a spacious professional shop, together with a new supply of caddy cars for hire." The piece concluded by stating that "Ballingall is of course one of the best teachers in his profession." Playing success did continue as the 14 March 1963 Scotsman piece below illustrates.
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After nine years, Hamish left Kingsknowe, having been appointed professional at Bonnyton Golf Club in near Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire (see 15 March 1971 Courier above). He was replaced at Kingsknowe by 26 year old Alastair Morrison who had been senior assistant at Gleneagles Hotel golf course. A year into his spell at Bonnyton, Hamish won a pro-am tournament at Dunbar as the ​9 March 1972 Scotsman below notes.
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Three years on Hamish made a "happy return" to his native Lundin Links to win the Usher Winter League round. This success came 37 years after he had won the Scottish Professional Golf Championship on the same course and demonstrates his longevity as a top-ranking player.  The 26 November 1975 Scotsman below tells us more.
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It was from his role at Bonnyton that Hamish Ballingall retired as a club professional in 1977. However, retirement did not mean that Hamish stopped playing golf competitively. In 1993 at the age of 80, he was preparing for the Tartan Special Professional Championship Seniors tournament at Dalmahoy (see 13 May 1993 Scotsman above). This 36-hole round saw 24 elder statesmen from the world of golf take to the course. Long-time rival John Panton was among those competing at the age of 77 years but as the press put it - Ballingall was "riper" a the age of 80. Panton proved victorious on this occasion. 

Later in 1993 - on 3 September - Hamish Ballingall died in Renfrewshire aged 80 years. Notice of his death appeared in the 10 September 1993 Scotsman below. His wife Anna died in 2011 aged 90 years in Midlothian. 

Pictured below is a Ballingall-made wood. Note that the club head has a lead weight to the rear and a full brass sole plate. The head is stamped Ballingall Lundin Links. However, other wood clubs by Hamish Ballingall are known to exist marked J H Ballingall 'Own Model'. If you own, or have knowledge of, Ballingall-made clubs, or think you can date the club pictured, please leave a comment or get in touch. 
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Once declared the "premier professional golfer of Scotland", Largo-born Hamish Ballingall, pictured above in the 14 April 1948 Aberdeen Press and Journal, was a golf club maker and golf professional who had a successful career spanning several decades. He was born James Ewen Graham Ballingall on 19 February 1913 on Lower Largo's Main Street to fisherman-turned-railway surfaceman John Ballingall and his wife Mary Maclean.

By the time of the 1921 census, the family had moved from Lower Largo to Hillhead Street in Lundin Links. The household comprised parents Mary and John (who was working as a railway platelayer), plus five children: John (13), Roderick (11), David (10), James (9) and one year old Marion. Young James developed an interest in golf and became an apprentice golf club maker with Patrick of Leven. He was a member at both Lundin Golf Club and Leven Thistle and was variously referred to as James Ballingall, J.H. Ballingall, J.E.G. Ballingall and Hamish Ballingall in the local press.

By his late teens, Ballingall was recognised as one of Fife's best golfers. In 1932 he won the Innerleven amateur championship gold medal, closely followed by becoming champion of Leven Thistle Club two years in a row. In 1934 he was club champion at Lundin Golf Club and in March 1935 he became a professional. He took up his first professional post at Balmore Golf Club near Glasgow (see 26 March 1935 Leven Advertiser piece below). 
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Once at Balmore, Hamish saw continued success with his playing career. He qualified for the last stages of the British Open Championship in 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938 when he finished a respectable 14th, as highlighted below in the 12 July Leven Advertiser. At this high spot in his career, Hamish held the course records at Deeside (67), East Renfrewshire (71) and Bonhill (65). He had two holes in one to his name - at the 15th at Leven and the 14th at Lundin Links. His favourite links were Lundin and Muirfield and his favourite clubs the 2 and 7 iron.
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Seen above on the right, chatting with Don Sutherland in Nairn at the 1939 Northern Open (27 April Aberdeen Press and Journal), Ballingall remained at Balmore until joining the Second World War effort, serving in the Royal Air Force. He was a Corporal in the R.A.F. when in 1944, he married Paisley-born Annastatia (Anna) Galletly in Glasgow. Both of them were engaged in active war service at the time. Hamish was a Corporal in the Royal Air Force and Anna was a Lance Corporal in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Hamish's usual address was given as 8 Station Park in Lower Largo and usual occupation was "professional golfer". The pair would go on to have four children.

In 1950 Hamish took the title at the Glasgow and District Professional Golf Championship with two record-breaking rounds of 68 and 66, finishing six strokes ahead of the field. The following year he took the West of Scotland PGA Championship. In 1953 he competed in the British Open at Carnoustie, finishing joint 34th in a tournament that featured names such as Dai Rees, Peter Alliss, Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson and Christy O-Connor Senior. It was won by American Ben Hogan in his only appearance at The Open. Considered the greatest golfer of his generation, Hogan had almost died in a car crash in 1949 but returned to golf and continued his pre-accident success.

He left Buchanan Castle in December 1952 to move across the border to Northumberland Golf Club. After two years at Northumberland, Hamish resigned from his post in December 1954. He spent a few months playing in England before taking up a position at Old Ranfurly Golf Club in Bridge of Weir in May 1955. 

The next post will look at the second half of Hamish Ballingall's professional career, his days playing as a senior and his golf club making. If you know anything about his career or the golf clubs that he made under his own name - please comment.
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The above annotated photograph of the golf links looking east towards Lundin Links was taken by Adam Diston, a Leven-based photographer. The picture was included in the publication British Golf Links: A Short Account of the Leading Golf Links of the United Kingdom by Horace Hutchinson published in 1897. The snapshot must have been captured around 1895/96, as Westhall is visible but is standing alone. This was the first villa built on the "new feus" at the time. The 8 December 1894 St Andrews Citizen reported the construction of this house as "a handsome villa, built for Mr Masterton, Largo, at Lundin Links, is approaching completion. This is the first house erected on the new feus." It was followed within months by the house and shop built on Golf Road for golf club maker David Patrick.
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Looking a little more closely, above, at the buildings in the scene, you can see Lundin Links railway station on the far left, then Haworth in the centre perched prominently on higher ground framed by the right slope of Largo Law. To the right of that, it is possible to make out the newly completed houses in front of the dark trees of Fir Park. These are The Chestnuts, Rowan Cottage and Beechwood. Note that none of the houses on Leven Road east of Woodielea Road have yet been constructed. They would follow in 1898. On the extreme right of the above cropped image is the partially-completed row of shops, which included Miss Bremner's Post Office (and her home Parkside above it), George W. Douglas the Butcher (with his home Whitelea above) and Andrew Somerville, Grocer.

Continuing along the line of buildings, to the right of the shops is the house then named Braemar (later named Dundarroch) which was built for George Clark, stonemason. This feu was on a corner plot behind the row of shops, in the area marked '2' on the map below. Further right is the semi-detached pair of Fir Park and Braddan and then Elphinstone (all seen in the image at the foot of this post).

We can then see Melville Cottage (now Old Calabar) before Westhall in the foreground (located at '3' on the map below) which obscures school and schoolhouse. To the right of Westhall is Bayview Cottage (now Oldfield), Murree Lodge (now Glenairlie) before an extension was added to it, followed by Bourtree Brae and Sea Cliff and West Cliff. Note the absence at this early stage in the growth of Lundin Links of Lindisfarne or St Margaret's, Mount Vernon, Aird Bank and St Catherine's. There is a suggestion of some building activity in the photograph, however, indicating that these dwellings would soon become part of this scene. The map below also marks the approximate spot at '1' from which Adam Diston took this photograph. If anyone has seen a clearer version of this image, or has other photographs from this era - please leave a comment.

Recent blog posts have covered the pioneering Leven golf club maker John Patrick (1820-1866), and two of his sons - Alex Patrick (1845-1932) and David Patrick (1858-1948). To continue the family story into a third generation, this post will begin with John Patrick (1851-1916) and his sons who continued in the business and took the family expertise overseas. 
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John Malcolm Patrick was born in Leven in 1851, six years after elder brother Alex and seven years before younger brother David. John was a teenager when his father John, a pioneering maker of golf clubs, died of cholera in 1866. The 1871 census records John in Govan, Glasgow, working as a blacksmith. On 27 December 1872 John married Margaret Steedman in Colinton, Edinburgh. On the marriage record, John's usual address was given as Campbeltown, Argyll and his occupation was practical engineer. The couple's first son, John, was born in Campbeltown on 20 January 1875, where John was employed as an 'engine fitter'.

However, by 1876, the family were back in Leven where John switched his occupation to golf club making like his older brother Alex. In the 1881 census, John, Margaret and family were recorded as living at Parkhill Place in Leven. Between 1876 and 1883 six further children were born to the pair in Leven. Then around 1884 the family moved to Dunbar in East Lothian, then known as Haddingtonshire.
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The advert above from the 5 December 1894 Haddingtonshire Advertiser, shows that John was a golf club and ball maker in Dunbar. However, that phase of his life was short-lived, as the 1891 census finds John and Margaret back in Leven, residing at North Street, with seven children in the household. John was recorded as a golf club maker and his eldest son, John, was an apprentice golf club maker, aged 16. The latter became the third generation golf club maker with the name John Patrick in Leven. His younger brother, Alexander, born in 1878, also followed the golf club making path.​

As young John and Alex moved into golf club making, their father returned to his roots as a blacksmith for a time. The 1901 census finds him in that occupation living in Edinburgh, with wife Margaret and three of their daughters, Mabel, Agnes and Margaret. By then the young John and Alex had emigrated to USA and settled in New York (from around 1895). A passenger list below shows them travelling together from Glasgow to New York in 1896, although this may not have been their first voyage.
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In the USA, young John was employed as instructor and golf club maker at the Tuxedo Club in New York, presumably assisted by younger brother Alex. The demand for quality golf clubs was huge as the sport boomed over there. After a few years at the Tuxedo Club, the brothers became trailblazers in the brand new trend of indoor golf tuition. 

The history of indoor golf appears to date back to 1896, when Willie Dunn began an golf school on New York's 42nd Street. Dunn's enterprise was replicated by the Patrick brothers, who had their indoor golf school on 58th Street, By the turn of the century many major cities had several indoor golf schools, which were particularly popular in winter. Indoor golf venues provided greens made of carpet and high nets to catch the specially adapted balls. Practising of swings and putting were well suited to the format. 

On 26 January 1899, the Leven Advertiser carried an interesting news story from New York City. The piece begins "We have been favoured by a correspondent in New York with a cutting from a paper published in that city, which will be of much interest to local golfers and Leven folks in general". That cutting discusses how there is no longer any need for the golf enthusiast from New York to venture out of the city to play golf. Now there was a place where one could learn "how to shoot the wily ball through space with an accompaniment of most "burr-y" Scotch". Down a narrow alley was a building with a sign displaying the Patrick name and a pendant reading "Golf School". 

As a final footnote, there were two other sons (brothers of the young John and Alex) - Richard born in 1880 and David born in 1883. Both also emigrated to the USA for roles as golf professionals and golf club makers. These younger brothers remained in the USA for their whole lives. Richard Steedman Patrick is pictured below, as a teenager in the 23 July 1897 Dundee Courier and later in life further below. ​He initially emigrated in 1897 and went on to marry widow Alice Gray Silvey (nee Munger) - a survivor of the Titanic in New York in 1918. He became involved in the diamond mining industry and remained in the USA until his death on 19 March 1949 in Minnesota.

David Murdoch Patrick (born 1883) reportedly emigrated to the USA aged just 15 years and pursued a career as a golf professional. He began at the Century Club in Westchester, New York and later had spells at prestigious clubs in New York, New Jersey and Mexico. He was an active member of the National Association of Greenkeepers of America and at the time of his death in Tennessee in 1932 he was owner and manager of St Andrews Golf Club on the Mississippi.  The Patrick family continues to fascinate to this day and no doubt there is more to find out about this extended family of adventurous innovators. If you have information to share about any member of the Patrick family, please do get in touch or leave a comment.
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Meanwhile back in Fife, the sport of golf continued to grow and the courses around Leven and Lundin Links were particularly popular. So in 1895 David made plans to return home and had plans drawn up for a new dwelling, with connected shop premises (shown above). The sasine register (land register) entry dated 2 March 1896 below describes the feu which owner of the Lundin estate John Gilmour granted to David Patrick, then of Wimbledon Common. 
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The plot was on what would become Golf Road - described then as "street to the Links by the under Railway Bridge". The railway bridge can clearly be seen in the 1899 photograph below. The year 1896, when David arrived in Lundin Links, is significant because it was the same year as the opening of the new clubhouse at Lundin Golf Club and the opening of the outlet of Alex Patrick's business at Lundin Links.

​Such was the demand for quality locally made golf clubs, that David set up his own club making business, about 100 metres away from his brother's shop and began making clubs in his own name. The photograph below shows two red arrows - the one on the left points to David's premises and the one on the right to Alex's shop (obscured by the club house). 

David and Rebecca named their new home Linksview, and soon other new villas were built in this corner of the village. Note in the image above that a sign stating D.M. Patrick is just visible above shop window and that there is also wording advertising the business under the eave of the gable end. In the 1905 book Rambles in Scoonie and Wemyss by Andrew Storrar Cunningham, the author notes that like his older brother Alex, David Patrick "also has a world-wide reputation" for his clubs. 
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The pair of adverts below both appeared in the 1907 book by A.S. Cunningham, Upper Largo, Lower Largo, Lundin Links and Newburn.

David Patrick remained at Linksview for the remainder of his long life. The 1921 census finds him aged 63 years, still making golf clubs there. In 1923 he laid out the new pitch and putt course at Lundin Golf Club along with Robert Paxton. David's wife Rebecca died in 1933. He remarried in 1935 to Mary Ann McLeod at the Commercial Hotel in Upper Largo. Mary died in 1944 and on 4 August 1948, David passed away at the age of 90 years. His headstone, pictured below, is at Scoonie Cemetery.

The previous post covered the life of John Patrick who was a pioneering maker of golf clubs in Leven from 1847 until his untimely death in 1866. However, John had been training his sons to follow in his footsteps and eldest son Alexander was able to take on the family business at the age of 21. Alexander's younger brothers John, Nicol and David would all follow him into the trade. The photograph above shows the outlet at Lundin Golf Club which was established in the 1890s.

​Initially based at Branch Street by Leven's Shorehead, the club making business moved in the late 1860s to more convenient premises by Leven Links. Matthew Elder, ropemaker, had converted the old washing-house of the bleaching green on the banks of the Scoonie Burn. The Leven and Innerleven Golf Clubs took the upper floors as their clubhouse and Alexander took the ground floor as a shop and workshop. As the business thrived, the premises shown below was built at the corner of Links Road and Balfour Street, around 1892, where a sign above the entrance proudly stated "Established 1847". 
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Alexander married Jemina Kinnell in 1870 in Elie and the following year the 1871 census records the pair at Manse Place in Leven, where Alex is described as "Golf Club and Ball Maker, employing 2 apprentices". A decade later, in 1881 they had moved to a home closer to Leven Golf Links and were at Sweetbank Cottages on Links Road, with Alex's occupation listed as "Master Golf Club Maker employing 1 man". 

Later in the 1880s, Alex and Jemima moved to Surrey. Alex had been appointed professional and green keeper at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club. Notably, the position came with a salary of 30s per week and a free shop, enabling Alex to open a branch of his club and ball making business in the south of England. The notice above from the 2 October 1886 Fifeshire Advertiser tells of a "complimentary supper" held for Alex prior to his leaving Leven.

He would remain at Wimbledon for five years, living on the edge of Wimbledon Common. From his shop there, Patrick clubs were sent all over the world. While down south he also took on a few other projects - for example he laid out the course at Epsom Golf Club. When on a leave of absence in the summer of 1887 for another project, Alex insisted that his brother David Patrick took his place as professional temporarily.  Meanwhile the business back in Leven business continued and in 1891 Alex decided return to Leven. His brother David took his position at Wimbledon permanently.
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The 1890s were a booming era for golf locally and in 1896 when Lundin Golf Club opened a new club house, Alex Patrick established a branch of his club making business adjacent to it. The advert below appeared in the 23 September 1897 Leven Advertiser, when the business was already half a century old, illustrating the range of clubs and balls being produced at that time. By the time of the ​1901 census, Alex and Jemima were in a newly built home on Linksfield Street in Leven which they named Wimbledon Villa.  
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Of course, over time the demand for golf clubs had grown and rival club makers had joined the scene. Different techniques in club making had evolved and naturally there was debate around the merits of different styles of equipment. The 1 June 1899 Leven Advertiser above, describes some of the local club makers of the time. The 16 January 1899 Dundee Advertiser, below, quoted Alexander Patrick from a piece in the publication 'Golfing' on the types of clubs he makes, highlighting his pride in his "wooden putters".

Alexander was something of an expert on the history of golf clubs and had a collection of old clubs. A 12 June 1909 St Andrews Citizen article explained that the two clubs that Alex had displayed in his shop window at the time were hazel and gutta percha clubs that came from South Africa. The piece also stated that "Mr Patrick has in his shop several very ancient iron headed clubs, one of these a driving iron being over 100 years old". The 1906 advert below suggests that by this time the making of golf balls had ceased and balls were now supplied by a large manufacturer.

In July 1909 Alexander retired from the business. The 21 July Leven Advertiser noted that he was succeeded by David James Sellars who was a native of Surrey, and had been engaged in the sports supplies business around London. He came to Fife around the turn of the century to act as foreman for Alex Patrick. Sellars continued the well-established Patrick name for many more years, until his own death in 1936, when the plant, machinery, tools and stock of the Linkside Works were sold off.

Alex lived out his retirement at Wimbledon Villa on Linksfield Street. Singing was his main leisure pursuit and he was a leading member of Leven Choral Union (later Leven Amateur Musical Association). His wife Jemima died in 1914 and thereafter his sisters (who had played administrative roles in the family business) lived with him. 

Alexander died in 1932 aged 86 at Wimbledon Villa and is buried at Scoonie Cemetery with his parents and wife. His life was a remarkable story of a passion for golf, dedication to the family business and to his younger siblings, master craftmanship, innovation and invention. The name of Alex Patrick lives on through the much sought after his antique golf clubs of varying ages, many of which bear his distinctive horseshoe cleekmark and the appropriate words "well made".

John, who was born on 19 March 1820 in Buckhaven to weaver Alexander Patrick and his wife Christina Malcolm (or Malken). He married Agnes Murdoch in 1840 in Dundee and after a short spell in Glasgow they settled in Leven. John started club making as an add-on to his main business but soon saw the demand for golf club making boom. As this line of business thrived, he began to advertise. The notice from the 1 May 1856 Fifeshire Journal above is an example from the time when John was Captain of the Leven Golf Club.

A couple of years later, in the piece below from the 10 June 1858 Fife Herald, described his clubs as "all the go" with golfers far and wide. John's eldest son Alexander left school in 1857 aged about 12 years to assist his father. It was around this time that the group photograph at the top of this post above was captured. It was taken by pioneering photographer John Patrick, who shared a name with the golf clubmaker, as they were first cousins. 
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In fact, fairly detailed information survives regarding the men in this image, which was taken around 1858. Two different sources do slightly disagree on who is who but most likely interpretation is as follows:

1. John Patrick - Leven's first golf clubmaker
2. Alexander Patrick - golf clubmaker in the making - standing next to his father John
3. Robert Bruce, Leven tailor
4. William Wallace
5. John Davidson, grocer
6. David Malcolm
7. J. Guthrie
8. Dr James Cornfoot, Leven surgeon
9. Robert Smith, Leven draper
10. Peter Keddie, saddler
11. William Henderson, grocer
12. Matthew Elder, rope and twine manufacturer

The identities of those without numbers is unclear. If you have more information about this photograph, please comment.

In a piece in the 15 March 1900 Leven Advertiser, W. Dalrymple writes about the photograph. He notes that it was taken in front of Piper's Knowe on Leven Links. He comments on the hats that were the fashion of the day - ranging from top hats to straw hats. John Patrick appears to be wearing a large straw hat and in fact one of his daughters was a milliner and another a straw hat maker. The young Alexander Patrick apparently had to carry the camera down to the links for his Dad's cousin.

Robert Bruce, was a native of Anstruther and an uncle of the famous Old Tom Morris and was himself an excellent player in his prime. Bruce carried on his tailor business in Leven for sixty years, passing it onto his son George. William Wallace was reportedly a lawyer, while John Davidson was a grocer and David Malcolm was a shoemaker. Guthrie was the father of Colonel Guthrie. Dr James Cornfoot was a Leven surgeon, who retired to Lundin Mill. Robert Smith had a draper business at Leven Shorehead and was instrumental in the founding of both Leven and Lundin Golf Clubs, having been a long time Honorary Secretary at Innerleven Golf Club. Peter Keddie was not only a saddler but also made golf balls. He was one of the first in the district to do so and "his guttas were favourites far and near" according to Alex Patrick. William Henderson was another grocer while Matthew Elder, the rope and twine manufacturer, was apparently one of the finest golfers of them all. The produce from his ropery at School Lane, Leven supplied the local fishing industry from Buckhaven to Crail. It was he, that gave the use of an old washing-house by Scoonie Burn for use as a clubhouse to the new Leven Golf Club.

By the time of John Patrick's death in 1866, his eldest son Alex had already been working alongside him making golf clubs for almost a decade. In addition, younger sons John, Nicol and David were also following in his footsteps. More on them, and the Patrick golf club making business, in the next blog post. John Patrick is buried at Scoonie Cemetery, where his headstone can still be seen. ​
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Benjamin Connell Cox was born in Clifden, Galway, Ireland in 1854. The son of a surgeon, Benjamin had a twin brother named Joshua John Cox. A couple of years after the birth of the twins, the family moved to Scotland - initially settling in Edinburgh before moving to Innerleithen in the Borders. By 1871, Joshua was studying medicine, while Benjamin had become an apprentice at a woollen mill. A decade later, Benjamin was in Selkirk, employed as a commercial traveller for George Roberts and Co. of Forrest Mill. In 1888 he married Harriet Kate McDowell in Birkenhead, Cheshire and they went on to have four children: Muriel (1890), Elsie (1891), Winifred (1894) and John (1900). 

The family lived at Mauldsheugh in Selkirk and over the years, Benjamin worked his way up within Roberts and Co. to become a director of the firm. He was one of the principal shareholders when the firm became a limited company in 1892. The business went on to prosper, becoming a leader in the Scottish woollen industry by the early 1900s. In 1903, Cox retired as managing director (see Southern Reporter piece below from 5 February 1903).  
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The Cox family relocated to Fife, residing initially at St Andrews. However, by May 1904, they had secured the lease of Largo House, and of the shootings on Largo Law (see St Andrews Citizen of 28 May above). They quickly became prominent in their new community. The piece below from the 17 August 1905 Leven Advertiser describes how a group of Juvenile Templars were entertained by Mr and Mrs Cox. The family appeared to have been supporters of the temperance movement. In a 1907, when seeking a groom to work at Largo House, the advert noted that "abstainer preferred".​
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Benjamin Cox gave talks locally as well, such as the example above on the subject of pond life, illustrated with lantern slides. He had joined the Parish Council by 1908 and held a variety of roles within it over the years that followed. When Largo Miniature Rifle Club was formed on 1 December 1908, Benjamin became Honorary President. The following year, he was elected Captain of Lundin Golf Club (see 18 August Leven Advertiser below). The year 1909 was also when the Cox family collected their new Daimler car.

Cox's tenure as Captain was an eventful one at Lundin Golf Club. The Club's new 18 hole course was completed later in 1909 and on 29 November he had the honour of driving the first ball, using a ‘Dreadnought’ club donated by Sir John Gilmour. Cox presented the Club with a silver cup to mark the occasion (see 1 Dec 1909 Leven Advertiser snippet below). He also presided at opening of Lundin Ladies new course in April 1910. The photograph further below of Cox seated was taken during his spell as Golf Club Captain.

In the census of 1911, which was taken on 2 April, Mr and Mrs Cox and their two eldest children Muriel and Elsie, were away in London - residing at the recently-completed Berner's Hotel on Berners Street just off Oxford Street. Younger daughter Winifred (Freda) was at school in St Andrews, while son John was at Ardvreck boarding school in Crieff. This stay in London likely marked the period between the end of their lease of Largo House and their move to Gilston House. Shortly afterwards it was reported (in 29 April 1911 Fifeshire Advertiser item below) that the family had taken up a lease of Gilston House, between Upper Largo and Largoward.

The advert below from three years earlier in Country Life magazine, describes Gilston House in detail. At the time, the house had 14 bedrooms, 5 public rooms, extensive well-stocked gardens, stables, tennis courts and access to large shooting grounds. The Cox family remained there for around eight years before making a return to Largo House in 1919. During the First World War, Benjamin acted as Chief Special Constable for one of the Fife districts. He was also a member of the Appeal Tribunal for Fife under the Military Service Acts and of the County War Pensions Committee.
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Once the family were back at Largo House, youngest daughter Freda Cox started the 1st Largo Girl Guide Company in October 1920. She acted as the Captain of the Guides until 1924. The 1921 census, records Benjamin, Harriet and Elsie at Largo House along with seven servants (see details below). 
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As well as a stint on the Parish Council, Benjamin became a member of Fife County Council. His involvement lasted for nine years, including a spell as Convener of the County Finance Committee. However, in December 1922 he retired from those duties owing to poor health. Early in 1923, his twin brother Joshua John Cox O.B.E. died on a visit to Largo House (see below from 27 January Fifeshire Advertiser).
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Benjamin himself passed away on 17 March 1924 at Largo House aged 70 years. The 22 March 1924 Dundee Courier piece below details the "large company of mourners" that followed the hearse from the service in Largo House to the cemetery. Further below is an image of the headstone, which is shared with his wife Harriet, who lived until 1956 and to the age of 93 years.
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The Birkmyre Bowl is the trophy played for annually at the Lundin Open - an individual open golf tournament held at Lundin Golf Club. The tournament was inaugurated in 1950, so this year marks its 75th anniversary. The trophy was presented by Ian Tyson Birkmyre in honour of his late father, William George Birkmyre, who had been an enthusiastic member of the club. The piece below from the 21 June 1950 Leven Mail reported that the winner of the first annual Open Tournament, from an entry of 130, was local golfer Robert Oswald.

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Like many Glasgow (or Edinburgh) businessmen, William took a holiday home by the sea. For much of the 1930s he rented part of Rollo Villa at the Temple, Lower Largo. It also appears that his son, Ian Tyson Birkmyre, had settled in Lundin Links. Both William and Ian joined Lundin Golf Club. In 1936, William became a non-resident member of the club's council (see 28 July 1936 extract from the Leven Mail below) while still being primarily Glasgow-based. 

​William George Birkmyre died on 12 June 1946, aged 68, while staying at Westcliffe on Crescent Road, Lundin Links. His main residence was Westbourne House, Glasgow (pictured above). The 19 June 1946 Leven Mail noted the death of this "well known residenter" who was "held in much esteem". His son, Ian Birkmyre continued to be active at Lundin Golf Club, presenting the Birkmyre Bowl in his father's memory in 1950, and becoming Club Captain 1955-57.  
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The annual tournament in memory of William Birkmyre grew in popularity over the years. In 1968 the bowl was lifted by local coal merchant and Lundin member Jack Thomson, when he outplayed a field of 180, which included entries from as far afield as Canada and Kenya. The following year Ian Ness of Earlsferry Thistle took the bowl. In the photo above, Ian Birkmyre is pictured on the far left (11 June 1969 Leven Mail). For many years, Ian Birkmyre was on hand to make the presentation of the bowl, appearing in many photographs in the local newspaper. In 1971 the youngest ever winner was 17-year-old David Smith, pictured below from the 9 June Leven Mail. The George Watson's pupil and son of Dr A.N.W. Smith of Lundin Links won the title with a "best of a lifetime" around of 70.
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In 1972, Alan Campbell of Glenrothes was victorious and he is seen in the image above receiving the bowl from Ian Birkmyre (7 June Leven Mail). Ian Tyson Birkmyre died in 1988 at the age of 75. All four of the Birkmyre family - William, Jane, Ian and Georgie - are buried at Largo Cemetery. On the headstone, pictured below, are the words "All laid to rest in this place. Sleep well." 
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