The efforts to purchase the course fell through but the owner Mr Derek McAdam had re-fenced the whole course rendering it stock proof. The club were unable to get a lease of any length and therefore a degree of uncertainty existed. It was at the beginning of this season John Wilshire our present green-keeper was appointed. It became obvious that we had a very talented junior in our midst when the Presidents Cup was won by a 13 year old. Willie MacAllister had been spotted by Jake Backus while he was coaching the juniors. He got encouragement and further coaching from the Captain David Howitt.

At the A.G.M. the Secretary reported a good working relationship with the proprietor and it was proposed to increase the length of the 2nd hole by 110yds and realign the 3rd by building a new tee. The Greenkeeper was congratu­lated on his good work. The Ladies Captain was to be an Ex Officio member of the council. Willie MacAllister won both the Presidents Cup and the MacBrayne Cup.

The club joined the Sports Turf Research Council which lead to a long term improvement plan. Young Willie MacAllister won the MacBrayne Cup for a second time and then left us to become an Assistant Professional.

The Ladies Section joined the SLGU and got an official SSS of 66.

It was agreed at the A.G.M. that the club should revert to its original name "The Tobermory Golf Club" with effect from Jan. 1 st 1988 as the running of the club and management of the course had been in the hands of the club and not the hotel for many years.

It was at the A.G.M. that the meeting gave the council approval to proceed with the purchase of the course. This was achieved with grants from the District Council and the Highland Development Board. The purchase was concluded in September. In June the Club celebrated Tobermory 200 with a 24 hour golf match between the Captain's and Vice Captain's Team. The match was closely fought and in the darkest hours mist and rain added to the difficulties of the players and finally the result was lost in a passing cloud of whisky vapour.

As soon as the contracts were signed it became an urgent matter to rearrange the course. The 6th hole became the 1st and a new road was hastily made to the course from Erray Road.

On the 21st of December we heard that Willie MacAllister and his fiance had been killed in the Lockerbie air disaster.

The road was completed and a Tractor shed erected by the members and this major undertaking was completed within one week. The plans for the new clubhouse were put out to tender by October. The Grant Aid for this second stage development was again supplied by the District Council and the High­lands and Islands Development Board. Members and friends donated the "William MacAllister Trophy" for the best handicap score in the MacBrayne Competition.

The new clubhouse was completed but not furnished. The death of Alasdair Brown who had been the driving force behind the final purchase of the course and the securing of grant aid was a severe blow to the club.

The clubhouse was opened by Mrs Olive Brown on the 27th June. A programme of improvements to the course started with the building of two new tees.

A grant of £5,000 from the R & A enabled us to purchase a Tractor with turf wheels, a flail rough cutter and a verticutter greens mower. With the extra mechanical aid our greenkeeper made great improvements, particularly in reducing areas of penal rough. This has had the effect of increasing the number of members and visiting golfers. Because of the increase in active playing members the new clubhouse was becoming too small.

Further improvements were made to the course and plans were laid for a Centenary Extension to the clubhouse.

Plans were drawn for a simple extension. Applications for grants were supported by the District Council. Numbers of members playing in competitions continues to increase and a general fall in handicaps is noted. The local Rules were appraised by Mr Graham Ewart of the S.G.U. and changes made.