The conception and birth of Irvine Golf Club must be credited to a young man called Robert Adam who in 1884 came to work in Irvine. Originally from Leven he joined the Ardeer golf club at Stevenston. However it seems he encountered problems transporting himself and his clubs to and from Ardeer and in the main was restricted to playing on an area of land known as "golffields" to the East of Irvine.

Robert Adam looked around for a suitable site on which a new golf course could be laid out and he saw the potential in the land at Bogside which then formed part of the estate of the 14th Earl Of Eglinton.

Adams inspiration was the causative factor in the creation of Irvine Golf Club but it was the experience, authority and leadership of a fellow golfer James Stewart which would turn this dream into reality.

The club which was still only in the minds of these two men, was to owe everything to this leadership.

On Friday 18th March 1887 thirteen men gathered at a meeting in the Kings Arms Hotel, Irvine, convened and chaired by Adam and from this gathering Irvine Golf Club was established.