Talk by James Scanlon

The eighteenth century was an exciting time in Edinburgh, recovering from the devastation of the ’45 a group of influential men gathered in the city to discus the issues of the day. From a variety of professions they were to change, the law, medicine, art, architecture and influence politics and the way that people thought about the world. It wasn’t all hard work though and they took their time to appreciate leisure and friendship and with Leith Links on their doorstep they traveled down from the city for a game of golf.

These ‘Enlightened Men’ included Andrew Duncan pioneer of mental health, painters Alan Ramsay and Henry Raeburn plus Judge Duncan Forbes of Culloden to name but a few,

Their games were played using the ’13 Rules of Golf ‘written by John Rattray in 1744 which are still the core of the rules used today.

What did these men talk about on the course and did Andrew Duncan really get a hole in one?

James Scanlon is a retired Civil Servant with a keen interest in golf and history. He is a member of the Leith Rules Golf Society and regularly plays golf with hickory clubs. Chair of Leith Local History Society he is keen to promote the preservation of Leith and celebrate it’s place in golf history. He was involved in the campaign to commemorate John Rattray, the author of the original 13 Rules of Golf by a statue, which just happened to be erected outside his house!

James received an MBE in 2020 for his work on Leith Links Community Council.