Blairgowrie and Rattray

Blairgowrie and Rattray (Scottish Gaelic Blàr Ghobharaidh and Raitear) is a burgh (old scottish term for town) in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, lying to the south of the ski centre at Glenshee. The twin burgh lies on the River Ericht, which drains into the River Tay, Rattray being on the east bank and Blairgowrie on the west. The town expanded greatly in the 19th century around the many jute mills on the river. It is the market town for the surrounding area and a centre for holidaymakers. Blairgowrie is well known as a passing point for tourists and ski-ers.

Much of the expanding population works in the nearby cities of Dundee and Perth. Soft fruits such as raspberries and strawberries are grown locally.

John Rattray and the First Rules of Golf

There is no doubt, whatsoever, that the year 1744 marked an important event in the history of golf when the first-ever written Rules Of Golf were penned and remained, essentially, undiscovered until 1937 when one C.B. Clapcott, during his examination of the Minute Book of the Company Of Gentlemen Golfers at Edinburgh, Scotland, found the Rules reordered on the last two pages. The pages contained both the original Rules Of Golf, thirteen Articles in all, and the signature of John Rattray, Captain Of The Golf.*

Today, the Club is located at Muirfield, East Lothian, Scotland. The Rules, as presented, are a copy of those contained in the Minute book and thus reflect the phonetic spelling and grammar of the day, 07 - March - 1744. Rattray, a surgeon, won the coveted Silver Club, which had been presented to the Gentlemen Golfers by the Edinburgh Town Council for annual competition in both 1744 and 1745. Today, two and one half centuries later, there are five such Silver Clubs, as each Captain attaches an inscribed silver ball to the club. In 1980, the fifth Silver Club was presented to Jack Nicklaus, at Muirfield Village, in Ohio, USA.

In 1746, John Rattray's older brother, James Rattray, the Laird of Craighall Rattray, as a token of support to the Jacobite cause, (supporters of the exiled Scottish King's claim to the British throne), suggested that John Rattray offer his medical services to Bonnie Prince Charlie (the king-in-exile's eldest son) as his personal physician during the Uprising. On 16 - April - 1746, after the battle of Culloden (the last battle fought on British soil, to try and reinstate the Scottish Kings to the throne of Britain), Rattray was captured by the English - led forces and sentenced to be executed. Fortunately for Rattray, his good friend and golfing companion, Lord President Forbes, who chose not to take sides during the Uprising, had considerable influence and intervened on behalf of Rattray and his life was spared. Eventually, Rattray was able to return to his golfing and was, again, Captain Of The Golf, in 1751.

It is with much pleasure that the Clan Rattray Society, formed in 1993 and based in Perthshire, Scotland, where Rattrays have been known to have lived since the year 1044, presents the Rules Of Golf in this form for the enjoyment and display by golfers around the world.