[1][2] The course was founded by the land owner of the Erskine Estate, William Arthur Baird.

Leslie Balfour-Melville, Robert Maxwell and Norman Mitchell Innes helped layout the course at Erskine in 1901.

Baird then encouraged Willie Fernie (open champion 1883) to develop the course into 18 holes between 1903-4.

Later in the year a meeting was held in Bishopton Primary School and the club was established.

The club managed to carry on through World War I and in 1920 enlisted the help of Dr Alister MacKenzie to redesign the 12th and 13th holes.