Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland: Clubmakers

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Clubmakers

W B Winton
Brora/Milngavie/Peterhead
A good old yarn can be spun around William Buick Winton, born in Arbroath in August 1866, whose movements, ironically, are easier to track down now than they were for poor Clara at the time.

Winton was a lance-corporal in the Royal Scots Fusiliers stationed in Ayr when he met Clara Wheeler, from Wiltshire, a domestic servant to a colonel sent north from Devizes. The colonel spoke to William and was reassured ‘his intentions were honourable’ and that he intended to marry the girl. He did indeed propose and they were engaged. Clara found out soon afterwards she was pregnant and William said they would get married at once. During the preparations for the wedding he, diplomatically or otherwise, I know not, ‘took ill’ and the child was born in July 1892.

The month before he said he would marry her ‘in the Scottish fashion’ and, although she wanted it to be ‘done right’ acquiesced. He ‘put a ring on her finger , and said he would always be true to her and he would never desert her’ and they lived as man and wife thereafter. After his military service they moved to Carnoustie where he became caddymaster to the Dalhousie club. When the links were taken over by the town he was appointed caddymaster for the town but a better offer came from Brora and he took up the post of professional to that club. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Milngavie as head greenkeeper. Clara stated in court hearings in Edinburgh in 1921 that a change had come over William in 1915, ‘that he started to keep late hours and took to drink’. When drinking, he became threatening to her and she had to leave him in 1920. A subsequent attempted reconciliation lasted only a couple of weeks.

Clara said she did not know where her husband was now and Lord Anderson had to decide whether she was indeed married. He concluded that a marriage was in effect ‘by habit and repute’ but was not going to award aliment immediately suggesting that William first be given opportunity either to ‘adhere to her’ or ‘provide a home by alimenting her’.

At the time of the court hearing, Winton had been professional at Peterhead Golf Club for two months. I do not know if he and Clara were reunited or if he paid her aliment. He supervised the laying out of the then new Craigewan course at Peterhead. He died suddenly in post in August 1931 and his death certificate showed him as married to Clara. The Dundee Evening Telegraph reported

‘He was of a quiet and retiring disposition and was held in much respect by all with whom he came in contact..

Clara lived to the age of 91 and her death certificate in 1962 recorded her as ‘widow of _____ Winton, golf professional’.

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