Sign up for our daily newsletter

Want latest news, reviews, analysis, deals, and events, and offers from our commercial partners? We’ve got you.

• History made at Spey Bay GC with mother/son captains
• Gordon Bowie was made Men’s captain – joining mum Ann
• “I’m confident he’ll do a tremendous job,” she said

SPEY BAY GOLF CLUB

The Ladies’ captain at a Speyside golf club has spoken of her pride after her son was recently announced as the Men’s captain – with both having been members for 40 years.

Ann Bowie, 72, joined Spey Bay Golf Club in 1975 after moving up from Glasgow and, currently in her second spell as Ladies captain, was overjoyed to hear the news that her son Gordon, 49, had been elected unopposed to become Men’s captain for the first time.

“With both of us having been members since shortly after we moved up to the area, I was absolutely delighted to hear the news and he follows in a line of some excellent captains that we’ve had recently,” said Ann.

“I’m confident that he’ll do a tremendous job” – Ann Bowie

“I never really expected a situation like this at all to be honest. The owner told me that it was a first for Spey Bay – a mother and son being the two captains – and we wondered whether it had happened in Scotland before. But I’m very proud of him and I’m confident that he’ll do a tremendous job as he has the club very close to his heart, just like his father did.”

Ann’s husband Jim sadly died in 2003 but was a key influence on Gordon in his junior golfing days as he took him to and from Junior Opens, while he also helped to revitalise the club’s faltering junior section in the early 2000s in his role as junior convener, a position he had also held some years earlier.

CONTINUES BELOW…

Gordon and Ann Bowie1

And Ann believes Jim would also be immensely proud of the positions the pair now find themselves in at Spey Bay, before recalling an emotional story which illustrates why the family has such a close association with the club.

“He would be hugely proud,” said Ann. “He was still alive when I was first selected as lady captain and he’d be very proud of Gordon now and would’ve been very supportive of him. He was a huge influence on Gordon throughout his golfing years.

“I’ll always remember the junior team, which included my grandson Grant, played in the final of the Pennant League the day after Jim died and, although it was hard for Gordon, he took the boys along to play in that match. They ended up winning it against all the odds which was a fantastic achievement and I can remember them saying afterwards: ‘We did it for Jim’.”

CONTINUES BELOW… 

Gordon and Ann Bowie2

Now in their respective roles as captains, both have clear aims on what they’d like to see at the club during their tenures.

“We’d like to see the club grow,” said Ann. “Our ladies section at the moment is very small so we’re always trying to encourage young ladies and girls to join the club.”

With a thriving junior section once more, Gordon is focusing more on the upkeep of the course, which is located right on the coast, to the east of the mouth of the River Spey.

“Being right along the coast, a lot of shingle has come over onto the par-3 greens and tees so we’re going to have to make quite a few changes,” said Gordon. “The owner Colin Murray has totally transformed the club since he came and I’m looking forward to being involved with the improvements that have been planned for the course.”

Mother and son :: Captains

Comment below if you know of a club in Scotland which has had a mother and son as its two captains!

topics

More Reads

Image Turnberry green

The bunkered Golf Course Guide - Scotland

Now, with bunkered, you can discover the golf courses Scotland has to offer. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.

Find Courses

Latest podcast

The PLAYERS Championship