Cupar Golf Club
The Peripatetic Cup – History
The Peripatetic Cup was first played by Cupar Golf Club in 1873, and apart from the years 1915 to 1919 and 1966, has been played for annually, always at an away course. At the time of inception Cupar golfers were playing, on 2 days a week at Tailabout Farm, on a 6 hole course rented from the farmer, and grazed with cattle on the other days. The idea was almost certainly a chance for the members to play on an 18 hole course at least once per year.
Play was often on Queen Victoria’s Birthday Holiday, generally in April or May, but in more recent years has been the first Friday in September. Prominent winners have been R W Peattie who was Midlands Champion in 1924, British Boys Champion 1924 and 1925; C M Todd who won the Victory Cup and Duke of York Cup in the St Andrews Eden Tournament; and J P Coulter who was runner up in the Ulster Amateur Tournament in 1954.
It has been won most times by William Watson of Dura Den, and Charles M Todd who each triumphed 5 times.
The “Peri” is always a highlight of the fixture list for Cupar members.
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The Peripatetic Cup, dating back to the last century, is currently on display in the World Golf Museum, St Andrews.
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In modern times, the Peri Outing has evolved into a full-day golf event featuring an 18-hole competition for the Peripatetic Trophy, the Tailabout Cup for the best scratch score, as well as prizes for the longest drive, closest to the pin and fewest putts. After lunch, the day continues with a 9-hole Texas Scramble. Players then enjoy a dinner, drinks and prizegiving before heading back to Cupar.
Tradition dictates that the winner of the Peri is entitled to choose the venue for the following year.
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From Cupar Golf Club Minute Books
19th October 1872
Dr J B Tuke, Captain in the Chair – The Chairman proposed that an additional medal or piece of plate be raised, by Subscription, with addition of one pound from the funds of the Club, to be played for by members of the Cupar Golf Club over the links of St Andrews, Elie or Leven, which was seconded by Mr Morrison and agreed to. A Committee was appointed to arrange details consisting of the Captain, Mr Morrison, Treasurer and Secretary.
5th April 1873
Dr Tuke, Captain of the Club in the Chair – The report of the Committee appointed at the general meeting held on 19th October last to arrange details for the competition for the additional medal or piece of silver plate to be played for over the Links of St Andrews, Elie or Leven was received and approved of. The Report bore that the Committee in implement of the duty devolved upon them had purchased a Silver Cup, value seven guineas and recommended the following as the conditions under which it should be played for, viz
1st That the place and date of the competition be fixed by the standing Committee of the Club unless otherwise provided for at the Annual General Meeting
2nd That the Standing Committee of the club if a quorum (3) be present shall have the management of all details connected with this Competition not provided for herein. If a quorum be not present then the players may appoint three of their members to act as a Committee.
3rd That the play shall be regulated by the Rules of the place at which the Competition is held.
4th That the Expenses of these Competitions shall be paid by the parties present at them, and no part of the same shall be defrayed from the funds of the Club.
5th That a Referee resident at the place of Competition, well acquainted with the ground and rules of the game shall be appointed by whom all disputes as to the play shall be decided.
6th That the players shall be handicapped, and it shall be the duty of the Committee that this be done so that the Competitors be placed as nearly as possible on a par.
7th The Cup shall be handed over to the winner to be retained by him until the day of Competition in the following year, on which day at the latest, he must return it to the Treasurer of the Club. In case it should be lost, he should be liable to pay its value, or if damaged the cost of repairing the damage. The winner shall also be bound, at his own expense, to affix to the Cup, in such manner as the Committee may appoint, a small medal of any shape he pleases but not exceeding in size three quarters of an inch in any direction, upon the one side of which his name residence and the date shall be inscribed, and on the other the place where won and the number of strokes. The Cup must also be produced at the Club dinners to be used as a loving Cup.
8th That no member of the Club shall be entitled to compete for this Cup if his subscription be in arrears.
Captain Maxwell proposed and Mr Hogarth seconded that Cupar be added to the number of places at which the Cup should be played for, which was agreed to.
Mr Taylor proposed that the Cup be played for this year at Elie on Saturday the 10th day of May next which was seconded by Dr Tuke and agreed to.
At Elie, the 10th day of May 1873, the day fixed at the Annual general Meeting for the competition for the Peripatetic Cup at 12 o’clock noon.
Three members of the Standing Committee of the Club, The Captain, The Secretary and Mr Morrison being present the handicapping was arranged by them and the Competitors started. Fifteen in number. Mr Hodgson honorary member of the Club being also on the ground.
Mr Reid after deducting the odds had the lowest score and was declared winner of the Cup which was presented to him at the dinner table by Sheriff Bell and being filled with claret was duly passed round as a loving Cup.
The Earlsferry and Elie Club gave the Cupar Club a hearty welcome to their beautiful Links and the weather being very fine a very pleasant day was spent.
William Reid
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Press Reports
From Strathearn & Clackmannanshire Advertiser 10th April 1873.
Cupar Golf Club. The 18th Annual Meeting of this club was held on Saturday. Mr Reid, Madras Academy was chosen Captain for the ensuing year and 3 new members were elected. The conditions were arranged under which a new cup, to be called the Peripatetic Cup should be played for, and it was decided that the competition for it, should this season take place at Elie on Saturday, 10th of May.
From St Andrews Gazette, 4th May 1878
Cupar Golf Club. The annual competition for the Peripatetic Claret Cup, which originally was the thought of Dr Tuke, late of the Counties Asylum here, took place according to the terms of the competition over the Leven Links on Saturday.