12 Aug Scotsman’s Day: Celebrating Our Scottish Heritage
For more than four decades, McLeod Country Golf Club has built a proud tradition of celebrating its history, its people and the heritage behind its name. Few occasions capture that spirit quite like Scotsman’s Day, an annual celebration that brings together members and guests for a day of golf, fellowship and a proud nod to the club’s Scottish roots.
This Saturday, 15 August 2026, McLeod Country Golf Club will once again celebrate Scotsman’s Day, continuing a tradition that has been part of the club’s history for more than four decades. It is an opportunity for members to enjoy a memorable day on the course while recognising the Scottish heritage and traditions that have helped shape the identity of McLeod.
The origins of Scotsman’s Day can be traced back more than four decades, with the event already an established tradition when it was celebrated in 2011. What began as a way of recognising the club’s strong Scottish connections grew into one of the most distinctive events on the McLeod calendar, combining golf with the customs, character and camaraderie associated with Scotland.
The connection between McLeod Country Golf Club and Scotland is more than simply a name. In the club’s early years, permission was sought from the McLeod clan in Scotland to use the McLeod name and tartan. This connection helped establish a strong sense of identity for the club and provided a link between the young Queensland golf club and its Scottish heritage. With a significant number of Scottish members among the club’s early community, celebrating that heritage became a natural part of McLeod’s identity.
Scotsman’s Day became the perfect opportunity to bring that heritage to life. Over the years, the event has featured many of the traditions associated with Scotland, including bagpipers, kilts, Scottish-themed food and entertainment. The sound of pipes leading the President to the first tee became a particularly memorable feature, setting the tone for a day that was as much about celebrating the club’s history as it was about playing golf.
The story of Scotsman’s Day is also closely connected to the remarkable women who established McLeod Country Golf Club. The club’s foundations were laid in the late 1960s when pioneering women, including Kathleen Atherton and Hilda Reid, sought to create a golf club where women could enjoy the game and, importantly, have the opportunity to play on Saturdays.
Their determination ultimately led to the purchase of the land on which McLeod was established in 1968, reportedly for just $1. From those modest beginnings, a club was created that would go on to become an important part of the local golfing community.
The early members were not simply building a golf course. They were creating a community, establishing traditions and developing a sense of belonging that would endure for generations. Scotsman’s Day is one of the traditions that has survived as a tangible reminder of those early years and the diverse people who helped shape McLeod.
A 2011 celebration highlighted just how much the event had grown. Around 180 players took part, with some of the club’s original founders among those attending. The day included a mixed golf competition, Scottish lunch, dinner and entertainment, with members embracing the occasion by dressing in kilts and celebrating the club’s Scottish connections.
By the following year, participation had grown even further, demonstrating the enduring popularity of the event and the affection members had developed for this unique McLeod tradition.
This year’s Scotsman’s Day continues that proud tradition, with the celebration proudly sponsored by the generous support of Brian Keenan, Stewart Dowie, Andy Bruce, Colin McAree, Richard Liddle, Graham Fairweather and Gillian Hoy. Their contribution helps ensure that this important part of McLeod’s history continues to be celebrated by current and future generations of members.
Members are encouraged to come along, dress up and celebrate in true McLeod style, while embracing their own Scottish ancestry and the wonderful 50-plus years of Scotsman’s Day celebrations. The evening will continue the Scottish theme with dinner served from 6pm to 7pm, offering two traditional choices: pie, mash, peas and gravy, or fish and chips served with peas and tartare or lemon.
Today, Scotsman’s Day represents much more than a themed day of golf. It is a celebration of where McLeod came from, the people who established it and the traditions that have helped shape the club over the years.
As members gather this Saturday, 15 August, they will be continuing a tradition that connects the present-day McLeod community with the pioneering spirit of those who came before them. From a small group of determined women and a piece of land purchased for $1, McLeod has developed into a thriving golfing community while retaining a proud connection to the Scottish heritage that helped give the club its name and character.