In the early days of golf, around 1895, (when Downfield was a village separate to Dundee) play was over the 9 hole 'Baldovan' course and history states that the clubhouse was an old horse drawn tramcar. During the First World War, the course was returned to agricultural use and it was in 1932 before moves were put in hand to reform the club.
Once again, it was a nine hole course, laid out in three fields which were rented from the Camperdown Estate at a cost of £150. At a meeting in 1932, the course was formally handed over to the newly formed Committee and the new Downfield Golf Club came into existence, 37 years after the original.
Such was the demand for membership that a decision was made to extend the course to 18 holes. The 1932 Downfield course was designed by the one and only James Braid. As Dundee grew, the requirement for land became paramount, and after lengthy negotiations the course was revamped, retaining five original holes and laid out in 1964 in the form it is today. The alterations that were done, were mainly the work of two members, Jack Scrimgeour and Les Wright (the long serving Greens Convenor), and between them they did an incredible job. Downfield Golf Club will be forever in-debt to both of them for their tremendous ideas and hard work.
Fred Walker was appointed as the Club Professional and stayed with the club for 39 years until he retired. He was voted 'Club Professional of the Year' in 1969 and his son, Bobby, at the tender age of 14 reduced the course record to an incredible 63, a reduction of six strokes over the previous best. Bobby Walker went on to win the Scottish professional Championship on two occasions and represented Scotland in the Canada Cup. Fred Walker was followed by Graham Hume who was pro between 1973 and 1976. Colin Waddell then became pro and was with us until 1994, when Kenny Hutton was appointed.
