The game of golf in Insch was first recorded before World War I, with the course being laid around Dunnydeer Hill. It was then moved to its present location around 1923 where it existed until 1940, when the ground was seconded by the War Department for use as a grenade range.
Golf was absent in Insch until a committee was formed in 1977 to provide the village with such a facility. A nine-hole course was built by voluntary labour along Valentine Burn and was reopened for play in 1982. The club expanded further in 1987, when an innovative clubhouse facility – complete with changing rooms, office, bar, cafe and dance floor – was provided from the remnants of temporary accommodation for a local school.
The course was extended by the addition of 12 new holes on the slopes of Dunnydeer. The design intent of the new course was to match that of the old course, in providing a Parkland course for all golfing abilities, designed around the undulating terrain, with innovative use of water and trees, that would mature over time. The course extension started in 1995 and was completed a year later. It was officially opened on 28th June, 1997 and has now fully matured to meet the vision of the original course designers.
In March 2003, with rising membership and rapidly ageing clubhouse, the club members approved a new business plan which included the design and construction of a modern clubhouse to the design outlined below.
The vision of the Golf Club Committee was to provide a modern clubhouse facility that would meet the needs of the modern golfer, funded by a modest increase in annual membership fees and designed to retain the friendly club atmosphere and stunning views over the old course and Dunnideer.
This vision became reality in April 2004, when the new clubhouse opened its doors for the first time.
The clubhouse was officially opened by Paul Lawrie – local Scottish golf legend and past British Open Champion – in June 2004. The highlight of the opening was Pauls hour long coaching session with over 80 budding club junior members, which was watched in awe by all who attended the event.
