ALL-IMPORTANT CLUB

The Duddingston Curling Society lays claim to being “the most important curling club in the world.” Formed in 1795, the club was the haunt of choice for curlers in Edinburgh, who used the Duddingston loch as their venue. The most distinguished curlers from all over Scotland joined the Duddingston with the fee being three guineas. There were also medals struck, which members wore to “distinguish the members from other gentlemen.” There were also rules for the new group, which included a fine for talking politics.

Perhaps the society’s main contribution to the game was the establishment of curling’s first set of rules. The document, which still exists, is dated January 6, 1804. Many of the rules in that code still exist in some part today, such as No. 10: “A doubtful shot is to be measured by some neutral person whose determination shall be final.”