Minto Golf Club has lost its entire trophy collection after thieves broke into the clubhouse, hours after the club had staged its Captain’s Charity Day.
Police Scotland received a report of the break-in at the Roxburghshire club at around 10.45pm on 15 August. Access was gained to the clubhouse and a number of trophies were taken, including the Stewart and Paula Aitchison Memorial Trophy.
The club, founded in 1928 and set on the lower slopes of Minto Hill between Hawick and Jedburgh, said it was “devastated”.
“These trophies are far more than pieces of silverware,” it said in a statement. “They represent almost 100 years of history, achievements, friendships and treasured memories of generations of members. To see that history taken from our club is absolutely heartbreaking.
“These trophies belong to our club, our members and our community. They are irreplaceable, and we desperately hope to see them come home.”
Reports suggest around 60 pieces were taken in total, with glass removed from the trophy cabinets before they were emptied. Among them were trophies no longer competed for but retained for their historical significance.
Police appeal
Detective Constable Bruce Dodds of Police Scotland said enquiries were ongoing.
“A number of trophies of sentimental value were taken and we are keen to recover them as soon as possible,” he said. “I would ask anyone who was in the area and who may have dash cam or private CCTV footage that could assist to get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference 3962 of 15 August 2026.
The club thanked officers for their response. “We sincerely hope that these irreplaceable pieces of our club’s history can be returned,” it said.
Warning to other clubs
Minto has used the incident to urge other sporting clubs in the region to look at their own arrangements.
“We would also like to highlight this incident to other sporting clubs across the Borders,” the club said. “Please be aware of the potential threat and consider taking whatever additional security measures you can to protect your own clubs and their history.”
Trophy cabinets are a recognised weak point for golf clubs, typically sited in publicly accessible areas of the clubhouse, often glass-fronted, and rarely alarmed separately from the main building. Silverware of this kind carries limited scrap value relative to its significance, which makes recovery a realistic prospect if the pieces surface — clubs that hold photographs, hallmark details and engraving records of their collections are considerably better placed should the worst happen.
Minto is a par-69 parkland course a mile and a half from Denholm, and a long-standing participant in the Scottish Borders’ Freedom of the Fairways scheme.
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