TWO keen golfers have chipped in to pen a book celebrating 125 years of an Inverclyde course.

David Mason and Victor Weldin have charted the ups and downs of Kilmacolm Golf Club to tie in with the special milestone.

The pair have been associated with the Porterfield Road course for decades and wanted to mark the 125th anniversary two years ago by educating members past and present, villagers, golf fans and the public in general about the early years right up to the present day.

The club opened in 1981 and a book was produced to mark the centenary.

Long-time members David and Victor have now updated the text to include the last quarter of a century up to the special anniversary in 2016.

Victor, who joined in '84 and was secretary from 2001-13, said: "An awful lot has happened for a small, village club.

"Someone said to me that we punch above our weight because within our membership we've had a fair number of international players and the course is reckoned to be one of the best in Scotland but we still consider ourselves a very friendly and sociable club."

Among the biggest changes, particularly in the last 25 years, has been the reduction in the amount of leisure time people have to play the sport, which has affected membership levels at courses all over the country, and the integration of women.

But the Kilmacolm course is still performing well above par with a healthy number of players, a thriving junior academy and a successful ladies' section, which produced the club's first-ever female captain, Jane McDonald, earlier this year.

Co-author David, who has been a member since 1958 and was captain in '76, said: "The club had a model that worked very well in that we always had people wanting to join golf clubs and therefore there was no shortage of members looking to come in, clubs didn't have to look for new members.

"There were also financial challenges in the '90s and the credit crunch in 2008 that meant family incomes couldn't go to golf clubs.

"Clubs like ours have had our problems but we have had to respond to that."

The book also celebrates the many players - male, female and juniors - who have gone on to achieve success locally, nationally and internationally.

Kilmacolm councillor David Wilson, who was club captain in '98, said: "I've sent copies of it abroad, including to my son in Brisbane, Australia, and it's been well received in other parts of the world.

"As a past captain, I'm extremely proud my name is in this edition."

Proceeds from the sale of the book, which costs £10, will be donated to the club's junior development fund.

Copies are available from the clubhouse, by emailing vrweldon@outlook.com or by calling 07900482869.