Lining up a putt could be tricky

Earlston Golf Club was formed in 1906 but has not had its own course since before WWII.

Its course - closed during WWI to plant crops - reopened between the wars but was closed again after 1945 due to lack of money and equipment.

The club, however, has continued through the years despite having no course and now has more than 70 members who play at different venues across the country.

In 1992 members were given fresh hope when the owner of the land on which the course was situated applied for planning permission to reopen it, but nothing came of this and the land was eventually sold again in 2000.

Search for stars

Not to be deterred, members voted at a committee meeting last year to go ahead with the purchase of the land on the moon from MoonEstates.com.

Mr Hunter said: "You say we will never play there - well never is a long time, you just don't know."

Mr Hunter said although membership of the club was restricted to those who were living, or who had lived, in Earlston, the club was on the lookout for associate members who lived outside the parish.

Club secretary Brian Thorburn said: "We are over the moon about this venture. We hope it will not be too long before we have lots of new stars in the club."