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The Secret of St. Andrews podcast is for golf enthusiasts, history buffs and patriots.
This special edition of The Secret of St. Andrew's podcast explores how members of the earliest golfing societies wagered on the golf course. The world's first golf clubs, rooted in Scotland, were heavily influenced by Freemasonry. These clubs, known as societies, conducted all business with the traditional masonic rituals of ceremony and structure.
Primarily, these were social clubs that happened to revolve around golf, and harmony among members was paramount. Admission and governance practices were highly structured, and customs were established for activities on and off the course. These customs were strictly enforced across all aspects of club decorum, including the wagering that became popular among members.
In 18th-century Scotland, betting was a fundamental part of the golfing culture, albeit much different from today's game. Wagering was a collective activity sanctioned by the society rather than an individual pursuit. In fact, private wagers outside the club’s oversight were prohibited.
Each club maintained a “bet book” to record the agreed-upon matches among members. These records were separate from official club records but were kept with equal care. Many wagers originated at club dinners, where, with claret in hand, members would begin the evening with toasts honoring those present and often include a touch of Scottish patriotism.
Then the challenges would commence. Wagering involved both principals (the challenger and acceptor) and backers. Though handicaps did not exist, strokes were often awarded to level the matches. Once agreed upon, the wager would be recorded in the bet book, setting the match.
In addition to the bet books, clubs used “bet boxes” where a nominal sum was deposited to secure each wager. This registration fee, required for each match, helped fund club festivities. Following the 15-minute process of issuing challenges, recording matches, and making deposits, the captain or appointee would read aloud the recorded matches. Backers would then declare their intentions, which were added to the record.
A small fee for backing a wager promoted broad participation. Although bettors sometimes attempted to increase stakes, clubs set limits to prevent this. For instance, in 1766, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers capped wager amounts, a practice adopted by other clubs.
After each match, the losing side deposited their losses in the bet box, funding the club's next social event. If a player couldn't cover their losses, they were obliged to contribute wine. Large wagers, especially those with popular backing, could significantly boost club funds. Suspicious behavior, like sandbagging, was discouraged, as challenges from suspected sandbaggers were rarely accepted or backed.
To encourage commitment, the Royal Burgess implemented an “all matches pay or play” rule, ensuring that even canceled matches kept the registration fee in the bet box. Guests could join as principals or backers, with no private matches permitted. If a guest failed to pay, their sponsor covered the losses. Private, unsanctioned matches outside of club rules were discouraged, with fines typically paid in claret.
These rituals promoted group cohesion over individual profit, funding many of the dinners and bottles of claret enjoyed by members. Such traditions, spanning the 18th and 19th centuries, became integral to the social fabric of private golfing societies.
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