'˜Putting' his name on hole

There cannot be many golf courses with holes nicknamed The Coffin which are sponsored by a funeral director.
The Fraser family on the infamous 8th hole The Coffin at West Lothian Golf Club. Picture: Michael GillenThe Fraser family on the infamous 8th hole The Coffin at West Lothian Golf Club. Picture: Michael Gillen
The Fraser family on the infamous 8th hole The Coffin at West Lothian Golf Club. Picture: Michael Gillen

And there will be even fewer where the funeral director/sponsor is one of three generations of the same family who regularly play the course.

Thanks to undertaker Ross Fraser, who runs his business in Corbiehall, Bo’ness, West Lothian Golf Club has now created this quirky precedent.

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The keen golfer, who has been a member of the club on and off for over 20 years, jumped at the chance to sponsor the 300-yard Par 4 eighth hole when it became available and hopes his decision will be taken in the good humour it was intended.

Ross (43) said: “They contacted me and asked if I was interested and, of course, I said yes. The name came from the green, which used to be coffin-shaped.

“Sometimes its hard to give things back to the community when you are in my business, but this was one way I could do that.”

The sponsorship deal was a natural fit for Ross due to his business and his strong family connection with the club.

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“My dad Tom is an honorary president of the club and has been a member there for 60 years. We have played the course with my son Ruari.”

Although star golfer of the future Ruari (10) is a junior member of Falkirk Golf Club, he can often be found with his dad and granddad Tom (72) enjoying a round at the stunning Linlthgow-based course.

“We go out when we can,” said Ross. “It’s special for us all to be able to play the course together.”

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