Duke of York visits Royal Montrose Golf Club this afternoon

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ROYAL MONTROSE GC
The Duke of York is the Royal Patron of Royal Montrose Golf Club, which is currently celebrating its 200th anniversary year. On Wednesday, July 14, His Royal Highness will be welcomed to the Club by Club Captain Brian Ritchie, who will escort His Royal Highness to the nearby Junior Coaching session at the Putting Green, where local youngsters are provided with golf tuition by the Club throughout the summer.
“As Patron of The Golf Foundation, whose initiatives make golf more accessible to children from all backgrounds and abilities, The Duke of York is very supportive of schemes which introduce young people to the game of golf,” said Brian Ritchie, Club Captain of Royal Montrose Golf Club.
The Duke of York will then return to the Club House, where he will unveil a plaque marking his historic visit to Royal Montrose Golf Club during its bicentenary year, before entering the clubhouse to join club members as guest of honour at a private lunch.
“It is a great honour for Royal Montrose Golf Club to be visited by the Duke of York,” continued Brian Ritchie. “His Royal Highness is a keen golfer and we hope he enjoys watching our young golfers, hearing about the fascinating 200-year history of our golf club and meeting our members.”
The Duke of York continues Royal Montrose Golf Club’s line of Royal Patrons sretching back to 1845, when Montrose Golf Club, as it was then known, became the third golf club in the world to receive Royal Patronage. It was in 1845 that the Club’s council, with the assistance of future Prime Minister William Gladstone (whose family stayed locally at Fasque Estate), approached Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert, who readily agreed to become its Royal Patron. In recognition of this honour, the name of the Club was changed to Royal Albert, a name which it retained until 1986 when it merged with Montrose Victoria and the North Links Ladies golf clubs and was renamed Royal Montrose Golf Club.