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Is Kingussie record set for Guinness book?





You could say Billy Ogg has come a fair way since joining Kingussie Golf Club – 83 years ago!

And on Monday, in preparation for the official anniversary next month, he was made an honorary member.

His certificate is his proudest possession now – beyond his golf clubs, of course! It confirms his “outstanding loyalty” and confers “the privileges of such membership”.

Billy Ogg: teeing up for the Guinness Book of Records?
Billy Ogg: teeing up for the Guinness Book of Records?

He received the citation from club representative Keith Hunter, who said moves were now being made to get him into the Guinness Book of Records as Britain’s longest-serving golf club member.

“I’d like that too!” said Billy, who has played his favourite sport since his golf-mad parents signed him up as a wee laddie.

“Victor and Flora were both committee members in their day, he said, “many years before I was too!”

After National Service he trained as a plumber, only retiring from the trade in 1988 to play more golf.

His playing partners were the legendary John Gunn and John Armstrong, and they played almost every Wednesday and Saturday.

Well done, sir! Keith Hunter, recently retired club vice-president, presents Billy Ogg with his certificate this week for a magnificent club membership of 83 years.
Well done, sir! Keith Hunter, recently retired club vice-president, presents Billy Ogg with his certificate this week for a magnificent club membership of 83 years.

Billy also practised when he found the time. Keith said: “Billy had a hole-in-one at the 10th hole at Kingussie in 1985 whilst playing with Dennis Craib. Because the green was elevated they did not see the ball going into the hole, but heard it hit the flagstick.”

He also won the Sunday Post Putter awarded when a Scottish golfer scored six threes in the same round. Keith continued: “He is such a well-liked and respected member of the community, with a reputation of being the perfect gentleman both on and off the course.

“His name appears on several club trophies.

“Due to his advancing years, Billy no longer plays as much as he did but still comes to the course from time to time and walks and plays three holes. He can’t hit it as far as he once did, but it still goes straight down the middle.

“On being awarded his honorary membership he is now very much a part of Kingussie Golf Club’s history.”

The Strathy has joined Mr Hunter in researching the question of the country’s longest-serving golf club member.

He said: “Willie Cuthbert, a member of Kirkintilloch Golf Club back in 2016, was aged 102 and held the position with 91 years’ continuous membership but he may now have passed away, leaving Billy as a contender for the title. I have spoken with Kirkintilloch Golf Club but information is sketchy and hard to obtain.

“I am still working on this and I will contact the Guinness Book of Records to see if they can assist,” he added.


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