North Berwick Golf Club was founded in 1832. There were ten founding members, only one of whom (Captain Brown, a Waterloo veteran) was resident in North Berwick. The others for the most part were drawn from what might have been described in those far-off days as “gentry and nobility” living in the surrounding area.

In 1879 the question of acquiring a clubhouse was raised – not for the first time, but this time it was addressed more seriously than it had been previously. (Remarkably the club had up to then contented itself with marquees for its meetings and subsequent dinners). When the decision was taken to proceed with the clubhouse project a considerable increase in the then club membership of about 60 was thought desirable. To bring this about a new club was formed and designated the North Berwick New Golf Club, and commonly referred to as the New Club. The initial membership target for the clubhouse project’s financial viability was set at 120. Most members of the existing Club joined, many more came in from other clubs, and the membership mounted steadily, reaching 143 by 1883.