On 29 June 1894 the Berwickshire News reported that a meeting had taken place in Duns at which it had been decided to form a Golf Club.  On 9 November 1894 the same newspaper carried another article stating that, at a meeting in the Working Men’s Institute, it was decided to go ahead with the formation of Duns golf Club.  The course was to be laid out on land at the Castleknowes, Hawthorn Park and Rulesmains to the east of the town.

In 1898 one of the landowners would not allow further play on his ground and the course had to be reduced to six holes.  In May 1916 the Club decided to recommend to the members that, in view of “the present crisis”, the course should be closed for the duration of the war.  

At the end of the war the land at Castleknowes was no longer to be available for the golf course.  Colonel Gavin of Langton Estate was approached and said that he would be prepared to let the field to the west of the Target Field, known as West Woolforland Park.

Entry to the land was given on 20 September 1920.  An approach was made to Miss Jamieson, tenant of Wellrig Cottage (now the ruin to the left of the first fairway), for the use of a room in the cottage for a clubhouse.  Miss Jamieson agreed to act as a caretaker and to make tea for the members at an extra charge.

The members authorised an approach to Mr Ben Sayers of North Berwick to layout the new 9 hole course.  However, Mr Sayers’ demand for a fee of £15 plus expenses was thought to be “exorbitant”, so an approach was made to Mr A H Scott of Elie.  Mr Scott came to Duns for a single day on 28 October 1920 to lay out the course for a fee of £2.10/-, and work commenced in readiness for the 1921 season.  

Colonel Gavin allowed the Club to have part of what was called the Target Field, including the area alongside the Clubhouse at Wellrig Cottage.  The extra land is the site of the present first and last holes, and the course boundaries remained the same until the extension to 18 holes opened in 1997.

After the Second World War the Clubhouse at Wellrig Cottage had fallen into disrepair so an old wooden Army Hut was purchased and placed near the entrance gate.  This served as the Clubhouse until it was demolished in 2006 to make way for the final stage of the Clubhouse development.

The original 9 hole course was purchased from Duns Castle Estate in 1971.  Clubhouse improvements began in 1974 and then in 1994, as the club prepared to celebrate its Centenary, land on the other side of the Hardens road was purchased to allow for another 9 holes.  In 1997 the new course was opened for play and in 1998/99 the clubhouse was further extended to provide a kitchen and dining area.  In 2006 the old wooden changing rooms were finally demolished and the clubhouse extended to provide ladies’ and men’s changing rooms.