The Erskine family have been involved with golf since its inception.
Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie, was brought up with James V1 and it is known that there were 'golf sticks' in the house, so he will have played with them with the young king.
The 9th Earl of Kellie, also Thomas Erskine, bought the St Andrews Links in 1795 for £800.00 but sold it once he had to a rabbit farming tenant to pay him £100.00 per year rent. He was one of 10 members of the family to be captain of the R & A in St Andrews.
Their most notable contribution was the reduction of the penalty for a lost ball from 5 strokes to what it is today.
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