Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland: Clubmakers

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Clubmakers

A W McDonald
Whitby/Carlsbad etc
Born in Montrose, Alexander Whyte McDonald was the son of Edward McDonald and began his career as an assistant to his father in Whitby. He spent three years at Plymouth (though the 1912 newspaper article does not specify which club and two seasons at Carlsbad (now Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic) before becoming professional at Kirkby Moorside in 1907. From 1910-12 he was professional at the Crafthole course in Cornwall. 1912 saw him become the first professional at Trafford Golf Club.

At some point in his career hew was tutor to the Duchess of Marlborough and Lady Catherine Somerset at Reigate Priory in Surrey.

He broke the course record at Montrose with a 69 during a holiday in his birthplace in 1906.

Shortly before the advent of the First World War he became professional at the Boltob club in Lostock. In the early days of the war he played charity matches to raise funds for the Red Cross, for example in foursomes with George Duncan, C H Mayo and Harry Simpson in September 1915.

However, the time came when McDonald went to the war too, with the 1st/7th Bn Gordon Highlanders. His father came out of retirement to manage the Lostock club in his absence but Alex was not to return. He was killed on Chrismas Eve 1916 and buried in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery in France, just north of Boulogne, II. B. 12A. In addition to his grieving parents he left a wife, Minnie.

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