The 1457 Society

5 MIN READ

Almost 600 years ago there were people as passionate as you are about a sport where, no matter how hard you seem to practice, you often find yourself screaming at no-one in particular about the end result. Back then though, when reaching your mid-40s was considered quite lucky, expressing any desire to head off to the coastal dunes with your wooden sticks instead of practicing your archery skills would have resulted in some very painful penalty strokes.

This loose society of enthusiastic and committed players laid the early foundations of golf in Scotland, the playing of which was banned on Sundays in 1457 by the King to improve his army’s skills with the bow. It wasn’t about competitions, nor trophy-hunting, for they didn’t exist. It was golf in its purest form: friendship, fun and a fair test of skill by everyone who came to play this bewildering game. It’s what grew the game of golf to such a level that it’s now played by over 60 million people around the world.

The spirit of that early society has now been brought to life in 2022 by a team of four golf obsessives who are not only passionate about golf in Scotland but are responding to a groundswell of desire to share those experiences with the world.

With over 100 years’ experience between them of working in golf and tourism in the birthplace of the game, Jamie Darling, Allan Minto, Malcolm Duck and Neil Hampton, the Society’s founders, felt that creating a golf community centred on where it all began, but with a fresh modern angle that also celebrated its past would be, well, rather cool!

The 1457 Society has evolved from the success enjoyed by Scotland Where Golf Began, a dynamic, digital platform which has increasingly inspired golfers worldwide to take a trip back to golf’s hallowed fairways. The exceptional interest and passion for golf in Scotland needed a fresh concept for a modern golf community. One where like-minded golfers could tee it up together through member-only events, meet-ups and digital hang-outs. For less than £1 a week, Society members will help feed the grass roots of the game, nourishing the growth of new media content, podcasts, member-only incentives and featured merchandise drops which, in turn, support independent Scottish brands.

This is a unique opportunity – it’s almost like becoming a virtual Scot. Anyone, anywhere can join.

The Society will open doors for its members through its virtual Clubhouse using a highly stable online platform called Discord, encouraging conversations and meet-ups with other members. What is different too is that there will be monthly member-only events, listed on the society website in advance with a limited number of slots. They’ll not be your standard events and they’ll not be at the box-ticker courses, rather taking place across some of Scotland’s lesser-known fairways. If you’re in the country on a tour, or planning a visit, these would make an excellent addition to your itinerary. For instance, the opening event at Dundonald Links on Oct 28th is ‘The Inaugural’ and 24 players will be the very first to tee it up with the Founders. Other confirmed dates include December’s meeting at Craigielaw in East Lothian, and the following Spring’s “Half-Set Happiness” at the world’s oldest course in Musselburgh is sure to feature hickories.

It’s all about having fun with friends. Old and new. It is most definitely not about pot-hunting. It is about meeting like-minded people, a valuable and rewarding coming together, both online and at the member-only events. There’s less emphasis on being competitive, and more on being connected. It’s the core of the game and it’s why you love it. It’s your Society and it’s waiting for you to join.

Like the sound of it? Visit - 1457society.com

ArticlesAllan Minto