Gordon Lockhart 36 Hole “Iron Man” Challenge. Saturday Aug 8th. King’s & Queen’s.
The Gordon Lockhart Trophy – A Century of History Comes to Life at Gleneagles
This Saturday sees Dun Whinny members take on one of the most demanding and historically significant challenges in the club calendar — the Gordon Lockhart Trophy, a magnificent 36-hole competition played in a single day over both the King's and Queen's courses from the white tees.
It is not a competition for the faint-hearted, the weary-legged, or those who skipped their pre-season fitness regime. Two full rounds of championship golf in one day, across two of Gleneagles' finest layouts, will test every aspect of a player's game — physical endurance, mental resilience, course management and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to maintain one's composure after a difficult front nine on the King's when there is still an entire round of the Queen's still to come.
For those who prefer a slightly less Herculean challenge, entries are also welcome from members wishing to play a single round. It is, in every sense, a day to be savoured.
A Trophy Steeped in History
The Gordon Lockhart Trophy is no ordinary piece of silverware. The magnificent silver rose bowl was donated to Dun Whinny in 1978 by the son of Gordon Lockhart — the very first professional at Gleneagles Hotel. But the trophy's story stretches back considerably further than that.
The rose bowl was won by Gordon Lockhart himself in competition at Turnberry in 1912 — a fact proudly inscribed on the trophy itself. When Lockhart later emigrated to Australia, the cup travelled with him among his most treasured possessions. Upon his death, his son felt there was no more fitting home for it than Dun Whinny, the club most closely associated with his father's remarkable legacy at Gleneagles. Council agreed that the trophy should be awarded for a 36-hole competition played on a single day — a format entirely in keeping with the professional standards Gordon Lockhart himself embodied throughout his career.
The trophy, therefore, is not merely a prize. It is a piece of living golfing history, connecting the modern members of Dun Whinny directly to the golden age of Scottish professional golf.
The Man Behind the Trophy
Gordon Lockhart's reputation as a golfer of the highest calibre is well documented. In May 1922, the Perthshire Advertiser reported on a fourball match at the opening of the extended course at Biggar, where Lockhart — playing alongside David Adams of Glasgow against Peter Robertson, the Scottish Professional Champion, and W. Wilson of Kirkintilloch — carded a magnificent 67. His outward half of 34 featured two 5s, three 4s and four 3s, while his inward half of 33 comprised six 4s and three 3s. It was, by any measure, a round of exceptional quality.
His influence extended well beyond Gleneagles. In May 1925, Lockhart designed the original layout of Bonnybridge Golf Club, a nine-hole course at Roughmute — one of several contributions he made to Scottish golf during a distinguished career. A man of considerable talent, generosity and vision, Gordon Lockhart left a legacy that endures to this day every time a Dun Whinny member lifts his trophy.
Adding to the legend of the man, Gordon famously recorded a hole-in-one on the 14th hole of the King's Course. At the time, the hole was measured at a formidable 250 yards, and one can only imagine the precision required to find the cup in a single stroke during that era of hickory shafts and gutty balls.
The Challenge Ahead
Saturday's competition will demand the very best from everyone in the field. The King's from the white tees has already demonstrated this season that it is an unforgiving examination — as several members discovered during last week's Summer Meeting, where double figures appeared on scorecards with alarming regularity and the 1st hole alone accounted for two 11s.
The Queen's, while slightly more forgiving in length, has its own subtle cruelties — as anyone who has watched a ball trickle back off the front of a green and into a bunker will readily confirm.
The player who manages both courses with patience, avoids the catastrophic holes that can derail a 36-hole card, and arrives at the 18th green of the Queen's with something left in the tank will be a worthy champion.
A Day to Remember
The Gordon Lockhart Trophy is more than a competition. It is a celebration of the club's heritage, a tribute to the man who helped put Gleneagles on the golfing map, and a reminder that some of the finest golf is played not in pursuit of ranking points or prize money, but simply for the love of the game and the honour of having your name on a trophy that has been part of Scottish golf history since 1912.
Whether you are playing 36 holes or joining for a single round and food between, Saturday promises to be one of the highlights of the Dun Whinny calendar.
Good luck to all competitors. May Gordon Lockhart's spirit guide your irons, steady your putts, and ensure that the 1st hole of the King's is considerably kinder than it was last week.
The draw will follow in due course.
The Draw Is Set for Saturday’s 36-Hole Test
The draw is confirmed for Saturday’s Gordon Lockhart Trophy, with competitors facing the full 36-hole challenge: the King’s Course from the white tees in the morning, followed by the Queen’s Course from the whites after lunch.
It is a proper test of both game and stamina. A respectable opening score on the King’s will count for very little if concentration deserts a player late in the afternoon on the Queen’s. The eventual winner will need sound ball-striking, a patient temperament and, ideally, legs that still work after lunch.
The Champion Cannot Defend
Reigning champion Rob Crockart leads the field away at 7.00am on the King’s alongside Scott Williamson and Thomas McCulloch. However, with Rob not appearing in the afternoon Queen’s draw, he will be playing the single-round event and cannot defend the Gordon Lockhart Trophy.
That leaves the historic silver rose bowl very much available to the rest of the field.
The Leading Contenders
Colin Campbell must be among the foremost names. His season-long consistency, particularly in the Strokeplay Championship, makes him a natural candidate for a 36-hole competition. He starts the King’s in a formidable 8.00am group with Daley Smith and Ken Marshall, before being joined by Paul Wadsworth and Billy Z McNeill for the Queen’s round.
Marshall has repeatedly placed himself in contention this season and will feel that a long-format competition could play to his strengths. The ability to remain patient and minimise costly errors over two rounds is precisely what this event requires.
The 7.30am King’s group of Jon Cooper, current Club Champion David Logie, and Tom MacKenzie is another that catches the eye. Cooper has already shown he can produce excellent golf around the King’s, while Logie’s class and experience make him a threat whenever he tees it up. Dr MacKenzie will be hoping that the day includes fewer visits to the bunkers than some of his recent adventures, but has more than enough ability to challenge if he settles quickly.
Mark Higham is also an obvious contender. He has been consistently near the top of leaderboards this year, has the temperament for medal golf, and tees off alongside Bill Sexton and Tariq Ali in the morning before joining Marshall and Ali on the Queen’s. A steady opening round could set Higham up nicely for a serious afternoon challenge.
Keep an eye, too, on Kevin Beattie, who is drawn with Paul Wadsworth and Sandy Grant at 8.10am on the King’s. Beattie has the game to cope with the white-tee challenge and will be keen to turn a good morning's work into a strong single-round performance. Although he is not in the afternoon draw for the trophy itself, his group contains plenty of competitive experience and could produce some excellent scoring.
Other potential challengers for the full 36-hole crown include Paul Lewis, Jonathan Fletcher, Robert McLeary, Andreas Lingnau, Steven Yule, David Watt, and the quietly capable trio of Ross MacNish, Jonathan Dickson and Rob Simpson.
A Trophy Worth Winning
By the time the final Queen’s putts fall, one player will have earned the honour of lifting a trophy first won by Gordon Lockhart himself at Turnberry in 1912. It is a prize with a remarkable history, and Saturday’s winner will have fully earned their place alongside it.
Good luck to all those tackling the full 36 holes—and to those playing a single round. Pace yourselves, enjoy the lunch, and remember: after the King’s has had its say in the morning, there are still 18 holes left for the Queen’s to deliver her own verdict.
