Mr Alan J Gardiner
The word 'legend' is branded about frequently, but the word truly describes Mr Alan J Gardiner of Cupar Golf Club.
The dictionary defines legend as "an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field". This could simply be replaced by a picture of Alan Gardiner.
Alan first tasted victory at Cupar Golf Club in 1977 securing his first junior club championship title. He followed that victory with two successive defences of the title.
Junior Club Champion - 1977, 1978, 1979
Progressing to adult golf saw Alan success continue but it wasn't until ten years later that his name would appear on the winners’ board again. 1989 saw him crowned Club Champion for the first time.
Two further titles in the early nineties, took his overall tally to six club championships at Cupar Golf Club.
There was five years gap until his next success in 1998 followed by successful defence in 1999. Alan has the distinct achievement of being the last club champion before the new millennium. Two more titles followed in 2002 and again in 2003.
Alan remained on seven Gents Club Championships for nine years until 2012 when another title found its way into his trophy cabinet.
The next ten years saw Alan miss out on the title as the younger generation comprising of Smith, Rickard, Sutherland and Spence shared the championship between them.
On the hunt for more silver way, Alan secured his ninth title in 2023. A victory that meant he had won the Gents Club Championship in five different decades.
A successful defence in 2024, saw Alan crowned Gents Club Champion for the 10th (TENTH) time. A staggering achievement.
Gents Scratch Club Champion – 1989, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2012, 2023, 2024
In 2015 Alan got his hands on his first Senior Club Championship. A brace of titles followed in 2019 and 2020. No title for Alan in 2021 but that didn't deter him as he started the championship quest again in 2022 and managed to bag another Senior Club Championship title that summer.
They often say defending a trophy is hard, but Alan continued defeating all those that tried to wrestle the trophy from him. Another Senior Club Championship followed for Alan in 2023 and again in 2024.
Senior Club Champion – 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
Alan is the only member to have won both the Gents Club Championship and Senior Club Championship in the same year. An impressive feat, even more so as Alan has done it twice (2023 & 2024).
Alan has also represented Cupar Golf Club regionally and nationally with great distinction as well as serving as Junior Convenor in the 1990s.
Alan success also included the lowest scratch score at the Cupar Gents Open in 2023.
If you ever want to hear about Alan's golfing prowess then just ask him or even ask Scott Douglas, Club Captain. In the late 80s, Alan had his golf clubs stolen while at the Belfry, on his return to Cupar, Scott offered Alan a replacement putter that was similar to the stolen club. Who knows..........if Scott hadn't given that putter away then this story could have been about a certain Mr Douglas.
Mr Alan Gardiner, 19 time champion of Cupar Golf Club. Will he get his 20th and 21st title in 2025?
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Scott Douglas, Club Captain (left) presents Alan Gardiner with Gents Club Championship on 16 June 2024.
Scott Douglas, Club Captain (left) congratulates Alan Gardiner after winning the Seniors Club Championship on 21 June 2024.
