Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland: Clubmakers

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Clubmakers

S B Wallace
Turnberry / Cardross

Simpson Buglass Wallace was born in Ratho, Midlothian in 1886 to James and Maggie Wallace née Buglass but by 1891 the family was living in Glasgow at 7 Marlborough Terrace Lane in Hyndland. The main house at 7 Marlborough Terrace (now Devonshire Terrace) was occupied by Sir James Bell of shipping line Bell Brothers & McLelland. James Wallace was a domestic coachman so presumably the accommodation came with the job.

Simpson, referred to throughout his golfing career as S B served an apprenticeship as a clubmaker under Willie Fernie at Troon. He then became assistant and first clubmaker to Willie’s son, Tom when he took over at Turnberry in 1911. He played in the Scottish Professional Championship in 1913 and entered the Open Championship in 1914 but, despite an excellent first round, did not get through qualifying at Troon Municipal.

In 1915 he became professional at Cardross, taking over from George Daniel another Fernie protegé. He married Grace Dobie in October of that year at The Lodge at the Turnberry Hotel.

I do not know how good a tournament player he was, he played in the Scottish Professional Championship at Monifieth in 1919 and the following year at Gleneagles, but he was an outstanding clubmaker. The quality and aesthetics of the wooden heads stamped with his name stand out.

At least during 1923 and 1924 he gave golf lessons through the Sports Department of the large Wyllie & Lochhead store in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street.

In 1940 he completed 25 years’ service with the Cardross club and was presented with a cheque, silver cigarette box and cigarette case to mark the occasion.

He was certainly still professional during the Second World War.

S B Wallace died in Cardross in 1955. From at least the 1980s, perhaps earlier, Cardross members compete annually for the S B Wallace Memorial Trophy.

With thanks to David Gall, former Head Greenkeeoer and Course Manager at Cardross for the photograph.

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