Carnoustie Caledonia - Forfar Connection

In the Caley's early days, inter-club matches were very popular. As many as 12 of the fixtures were played each year, against clubs as far apart as King James VI in Perth and Murcar in Aberdeen. Today's crowded programme of generously prize-funded open amateur competitions, inter-club matches, county tournaments and home club competitions has resulted in a decline of these inter-club fixtures. But two still survive on the Caley's annual fixture list.

These are the Caledonia Select against the Shetlanders [link to web page], and the long established encounter with Forfar Golf Club. First played in 1911, the Forfar match has seen many teethy battles, one of which is graphically described by the following extract from the Forfar Club's Centenary Magazine.

'Carnoustie Caley were our guests and one Willie Malcolm, a member of Forfar's team. Having squared his match at the 17th, Willie was rebuked by a team-mate saying to him, 'Foo the hell did ye manage tae loss the echteenth?'

'Foo?' said Willie, 'Man, yon Caley chield staed up on the tee wi' ees baffie and hookit intee whins, efter I'd pappit een doon the clippit bittie. But 'e gaed in ower the whins, laid doon 'ees poke, teen oot a thing like a clat and geened sic a yark that 'e wheekit 'ees ba' oot ee roch fornent the green and sank 'ees putt for a three. That's foo!'

Recorded in the Forfar Club's minutes are the arrangements for the 1921 matches. To mark the Caley's Centenary in 1987, Forfar presented the club with a framed photocopy of the extract from the minutes.

The Forfar Connection