A GOLFER has teed up a place in the history books by becoming the first woman to take the reins at an Inverclyde club after more than 120 years.

Norma Ramsay will make history when she becomes captain of Gourock Golf Club, which was established in 1896.

She will take over in two years at the end of her current term as vice-captain.

She is the first woman to hold that role too.

The Gourock resident was overwhelmingly backed to take charge at the club's recent annual general meeting.

Norma told the Tele: "I'm honoured and privileged to be the first lady captain here and it went down well with members at the agm.

"It was a bit daunting at first and I didn't make the decision quickly, I took a few days to go over it.

"But I've been a member of the club for 20 years, been captain of the ladies section in the past and I've been on the committee for a number of years as well, so I know what's involved in the background.

"I'm also social convener and child protection officer so I'm involved with the juniors as well."

Norma, from Larkfield Road, was welcomed by new captain Neil Beaton, who will oversee the running of the club for the next 24 months, which takes in the 125th anniversary of the Cowal View course in 2021.

General manager Allan Warwick said: "We're delighted that Norma will be the first female captain of this club in 2022 as we prepare to celebrate this special milestone next year.

"People might say it's 124 years too late but at last we are into the modern world.

"It's not that Norma is going into the unknown, she has a great understanding of many different aspects of the club.

"It's great that Neil and Norma are now a double act for managing this club."

As well as taking charge of the anniversary celebrations next year, the pair will be at the helm of a £200,000 modernisation of the clubhouse, which also received the backing of members at the agm last month.

Captain Neil said: "We're very much looking forward to it. "It's a challenge for both of us but there's lots of positive things happening at the moment, notwithstanding the clubhouse development.

"When the clubhouse is redeveloped, it will be an even greater benefit for the community, particularly for those who are disabled with the addition of lifts. "We're an all-inclusive club and that should be the way forward for other golf clubs that are suffering at the moment.

"Here at Gourock, we're bucking the trend and opening this club to the community and doing really well as a result."