102-year-old Scottish man is world's longest serving golf member

Nearly a century on, twinkle-eyed Willie still plays with the same swing and enthusiasm that he had as a boy - and still uses a rare handmade driver he bought for one guinea before World War Two.

By the time Willie was an adult, his membership fees rose to two Guineas and he went on to gain an impressive handicap of two.

Now, because of his age, he only plays one or two rounds a year but still loves every minute of being out on the course.

But thanks to being aged 90 or more, he gets his membership for free - and his impressive swing has won him praise from golf greats Gary Player and Paul Lawrie.

When he first joined he had to walk or cycle to the course from his home in Kirkintilloch due to a lack of public transport.

He said: "There were no cars or transport back when I first joined the club - ,except on Saturdays when there'd be a bus,

"I'd cycle up to the course and park it against the hut before playing a round."

Speaking at the club as he hit a few practice shots, he said: "When I first started as a child, I'd play with wee short clubs but there used to be a greenkeeper here who would pick up clubs on the course left behind by folk who didn't want them.

"I was quite lucky, I could naturally swing a golf club very well from a very young age.

"In golf you get what you earn. When you miss-hit a shot at golf you get punished for it but it's great when you have a good game.

"I was never much of a competitor, I'd only ever really play golf for fun.

"It's a fantastic course here and you always notice something new every time you go.

"I've never seen it look as good as it did today."

Willie has one son, James, who lives in London.

Proud husband Willie was married to wife May for over fifty years. She died ten years ago.

A video of a recent practice session was posted online by his son - and the video caught the attention of golfing great Gary Player and former Open champion Paul Lawrie, who comes from Aberdeen.

Asked if he would like a swing as strong as Willie's at the age of 102, Player said: "Wow, I certainly hope so. All my best to Mr Cuthbert."

And Scots hero Paul Lawrie was so impressed with the video that he re-tweeted it to his 35,000 followers so they could all see Willie in action.

Willie's niece Moira Forman, 64, a retired teacher and keen golfer herself, thinks that Willie would still have a good chance at beating her.

She said: "He would love to be at the golf course every day and play a round but it's a lot trickier for him to get here now since he can no longer drive.

"You can see that he's still got it in his swing and he could probably still beat me, especially on his short game which is incredible for someone of his age."

Willie caddied for arguably the club's other most famous player Donald Cameron, and enjoyed a long friendship with the former Scotland international.

Willie, who was a phone engineer before he retired, still plays with a rare handmade wooden driver bought before World War Two for a Guinea. The driver has never even been re-gripped.

It was specially made for him by professional clubmaker Cuthbert Butchart, whose clubs were well loved by golfers across the world including America, Germany and the UK.

Willie added: "I still play with the same pre-war handmade two wood that I've had since 1938. It's never been re-gripped but it can still hit a good shot.

"You had to know a prominent golfer to get a club made especially for you and your grip.

"In those days it was a much sought after club and would set you back at a Guinea a go. Younger people just don't appreciate these sort of clubs now."

Hazel Cunningham, 65, is the first ever female club captain at Kirkintilloch Golf Club and says Willie - whose dad was one of the founding members of the club - is a huge inspiration to older players.

She said: "It's been a great honour talking to him, and it's been one of the highlights of my year hearing all of his stories of the club since he's been a member. He's a pleasure to be around.

"Willie is a font of knowledge and he had great stories to tell. We are so lucky that Willie is still around to pass this history on to us.

"He's a huge inspiration to other older players to get out and play."

Earlier this month, 94 year-old golfer Geoffrey Crosskill was recognised officially as the world's longest serving golf club member.

He has been a member of Eaton Golf Club in Norwich for 82 years since being enrolled by his father Alec who had been club captain at the time.

But that record is easily bettered by modest Willie.

A spokeswoman for the Guinness Book of World Records yesterday asked Willie and his family to lodge an application to officially recognise his achievement.

The spokeswoman said: "This is an incredible story and what an achievement!

"We would invite Willie to make an application and submit his evidence in order for this to be ratified."