Legacy & Vision

Our Mission

To position Swanston Golf Academy as the number one Golf Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland.

A Message for Swanston Golf Club Captain, Graeme Millar:

I remember like it was yesterday the day I joined Swanston Golf Club. It was in the April of 1968 and I remember mostly the smokey atmosphere of the clubhouse and the noise reverberating around the main lounge area as members discussed their performances on the golf course that morning. A set of my Dads old clubs were cut down by the Professional at that time, Tony Gilbert and off I went. No tuition and could only play after 3pm at the weekend! School holidays were the best time particularly the summer where we had so much freedom to play (before 4pm). It was wonderful and whilst we only had a junior section of 20 or so we all played and we all played all the time! Most of these junior members became friends for life and a few of them remain members of Swanston today. 

Since Colin and Alastair McClung took over the reigns of running Swanston Golf Club the improvements have been immense. A new clubhouse/Brasserie was built which we can all enjoy, 10 new golf holes have been integrated into the original 18 holes, the beautiful 9 hole par 3 Templar course was added and practice facilities including two putting greens and a short game area were included. A driving range area was prepared but a driving range with bays and coaching facilities was not considered at that time purely down to cost. 

When Colin McClung asked me to take over as Captain and a Director of the company my first thoughts were in relation to the stabilisation of the finances of Swanston Golf Ltd. Bringing in someone with a financial background and a golfer to boot was vital all to augment my golfing and business background. Mike Robson was available and we are still here today 6 years later having travelled a turbulent but immensely enjoyable path together. 

Quite by chance when I was considering building driving range bays I met Scott Gourlay and we decided very quickly to enter into partnership where I would finance the building of the range bays, an area for Scott where he could build on his excellent club fitting facility business. Scott Gourlay's excellent business model continues to grow and prosper despite recent issues with the Covid-19 shut down and I for one am delighted with his contribution to the facility and to the growth of Swanston Golf Club which is a natural by-product of the enthusiasm shown by everyone in this project. 

We then had to incorporate the coaching element into creating a properly organised and professionally run Golf Academy. Peter Arnott was the person I turned too, to supervise and bring his international reputation to the fore. Peter has now invested in the double bay and has brought in another coach under his experienced wing, in Mike McNally from Murrayfield Golf Club. Pete and Mike will bring different methods of teaching and personality to the Swanston Golf Academy. From the seasoned professional to the absolute beginner Peter & Mike will cater for everyone that comes through the doors of a studio which is kitted out with all the modern equipment associated with the improvement and therefore the enhanced enjoyment of this truly wonderful sport.

The legacy that the has been left for Swanston Golf Club through hard work, significant investment and a clear vision of the future path of this great game will not be fully realised in my lifetime. It will be for others to build on what has been achieved just as Mike Robson and I built on the platform created by the McClung brothers. I just hope and trust that in the future the same values are followed where the club is run solely for the benefit of the membership and without profit to those that administer it, all within the fine traditions of this Royal and Ancient game. 

As we work towards the centenary of Swanston Golf Club in 2027 we must all work together to create the lifeblood of the club which is our junior section now numbering 172. We could not have this number of juniors without the 9 hole Templar course which is a place for the young ones, including 27 girls, to learn and build there games for their inevitable promotion to the “big course”. 80% of the junior section are under 14 which is the most exciting statistic of all. 

The beautiful surroundings of Swanston is a very safe place for our junior members to be as it was for me in my young days. I am proud to say that I am Captain of Swanston Golf Club and I very much hope that one of our junior members goes on to win at least 12 Club Championships and therefore finally Jimmy McLagans and my 11 wins will be beaten. I hope to see that in my lifetime. 

Good luck to Peter and Mike from the Swanston Golf Ltd board members and we all look forward to a successful partnership. 

Yours in Golf,

Graeme Millar, Captain of Swanston Golf Club & Academy Facility Owner