Mr J T Ireland was appointed Secretary in 1883 succeeding Mr James Kerr, and in 1903, when he resigned, he stated that when he took office "the roll of members was not more than 70 : it was now over 600."  He did not underestimate the membership of 1883.  At the annual meeting in 1884 he reported that there were 62 "good members on the roll."  The reader should not assume that the word "good" meant there were some bad members.  In addition to the 62, there were several members who could not consider Leven as a permanent abiding place and, being regarded as notaries of the ancient game who might resign their membership at any moment, they were not regarded as among the "good" members.

 At the opening of the new clubhouse in April 1900, Dr. Crole, the Captain, gave an interesting glimpse at the beginning of the Club.  He said:- "You may not be all aware that the Thistle Club had its beginning in such ancient history that no record has been kept of its formation.  So far as I can find, the Club took shape in 1867, when the members used to meet in a small place of entertainment down at Riverside.  From the Riverside, as the members increased, the Club gravitated to the more commodious place of entertainment, the Star Hotel.  At that time the membership stood at 30.  From the Star the Club found quarters in the old clubhouse, which    Mr Alexander Patrick. gave them the use of.  That was in 1883, when the membership was about 70.  The days went on until the Innerleven Golf Club built their palatial buildings.  The Thistle then reached what was said to be the summit of its ambition in buying the Innerleven Club's old clubhouse.  I am glad to say the Thistle has gone on increasing and lengthening its borders, and the membership is now 500 odds."

 From these reminiscences it can be seen that the club suffered for some years for want of a clubhouse.  The social side of the Club was strengthened by the meetings in the old alehouse by the waterside and the other inns of the ancient old town, but the Royal and Ancient game did not receive the attention it deserved.  In 1883, Mr Alex Patrick gave the Club the use of the hall in the old clubhouse, and in 1884 the question was raised of renting the hall as the headquarters if the Thistle.  The membership fee was low, and the members, men who struggled to make ends meet, rightly acted cautiously.  In the beginning of 1885 the proposal to rent the hall permanently took shape and the following minute finds a place in the Club records:- "28^th March 1887 - The meeting unanimously agreed to rent a golf hall at £3.10s a year, members wishing boxes requested to apply to Secretary for same."

 The boxes in the hall were largely taken up, and the comforts of a clubhouse were greatly appreciated.  So much so that in 1894, when the Innerleven clubhouse and the old clubhouse came on the market, it was agreed to acquire the properties.  At a meeting of the Council on 28^th March 1894, the Captain reported that they had been bought at a cost of £760.  The old clubhouse was bought from the Thistle Club by Mr James Neaves, the price being £200.  With a membership increasing by the month, the clubhouse was soon too small for the club, and it was decided to make an extension, which was built to plans prepared by Messrs.A & A C Dewar, architects, Leven.  At the annual meeting in December 1898 it was agreed to borrow £1,400 to meet the expenditure connected with the clubhouse extension.  The extended clubhouse was opened by Sir John Gilmour, Bart of Lundin and Montrave, on 29^th March 1900 which was fitting as he had the honour of presiding at the opening in 1880 of the Innerleven's first clubhouse, and in 1900 he found himself asking the members of the Thistle Club "to toast the monster that he had swallowed the wee house."  In the course of the proceedings, Dr Crole stated that the extensions had cost £1,700, and adding this to the sum paid for the old clubhouse brought out a total of £2,400.