SOME History
The Ladies Golf Club, Troon was founded in 1882 and our motto is “QUO RECTIUS EO MELIUS” which means “The Straighter the Better”. The founder members were wives, daughters and sisters of the members of Royal Troon Golf Club.
At first, the Ladies had no course of their own, and played over the Old Course. In 1882 a portion of the links adjacent to Royal Troon’s course were set aside for the exclusive use of the ladies. This course grew larger over time and in 1894 plans were made for the Relief course (now known as the Portland Course) and it opened in 1895.
During the First World War much of the new course (Relief) was taken over by the grenade school.
Around 1890 the Ladies had a wooden clubhouse erected close to Royal Troon’s Clubhouse. This was later moved and became the Portland Golf Club’s clubhouse. The Ladies opened their new Clubhouse in 1897. When the Relief (Portland Course) opened on Saturday 29th June 1895 the Ladies were given the use of that course, and stopped using Royal Troon’s Old Course (except by arrangement).
The Ladies had to share this new course with the members of Royal Troon and Portland Golf Clubs and at a Ladies Committee meeting on 5th February 1919 they decided to ask for a new course. The Duke of Portland granted the Club the use of “the field between Gnaws Burn and Craigend”. The Ladies Clubhouse was greatly improved and the requested 6/9-hole par 3 course was ultimately developed. This became known as the Craigend Course.
Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open
Since 1973, the first two qualifying rounds of the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open have been played over the Portland course on the Friday and Saturday, with the final round played over Royal Troon’s Championship course on the Sunday. This competition draws top class lady amateur golfers from all over the world. The trophy is made from the jigger Helen Holm used in competitions and the medals she won at the Scottish and British Championships. Two of our own members have won this prestigious trophy three times each, Belle Robertson and Wilma Aitken (Leburn).
The 2009 Helen Holm Championship was won by 14 years old Leona McGuire from Northern Ireland. The youngest winner of the Trophy, Leona had rounds of 69, 77 & 73 from the Gents Medal tees on the Portland and the 12th & 18th Gents Medal tees on the Old Course. An amazing display of golf for a young girl! Leona has since gone on to have a successful professional career, playing in the 2021 Solheim Cup.