Renfrew Golf Club's founders were a group of businessmen from Renfrew and Govan.
They discussed the feasibility of establishing a golf course in the Royal Burgh and decided to approach a Mr A A Hagart Speirs of Elderslie Estates, one of the local landowners. Enough land for laying out a nine-hole course was granted.

A meeting for all those interested in joining the new club was advertised, and on Friday 28 September 1894 a constitution and rules were laid down and approved. This is regarded as the official founding date of Renfrew Golf Club.

The initial enrolment consisted of about 40 gents. Unlike many Scottish golf clubs, ladies were accepted at Renfrew within its inaugural year.
Mr W Herron was appointed Club Captain and Mr Anderson the Secretary/Treasurer. The first committee included Messrs: Smith and Buchanan. The entrance fee and annual subscription was £2.00 for the first 200 members.

The course was to be officially opened by Mr Hagart Speirs but come the day - 22 October 1894 - that function was carried out by the Provost of Renfrew, Mr Andrew Brown, before a large attendance.
It seems almost unbelievable that a golf course of sorts could be laid out in less than one month.

Following the construction in the 1920s of the King George V docks at Shieldhall, the course was re-designed to form an 18-hole course.
Sufficient land was negotiated through Elderslie Estates and, with the expertise of the famous James Baird, the new course was laid out. The extended course was now the longest in the West of Scotland with a Par of 73.

As well as a golf course architect of great standing, Baird was one of the world's top golfers, winning the Open Championship no fewer than 5 times between 1901 and 1910.

On 20 May 1925 Mr Hagart Speirs opened the new clubhouse at the eastern end of Haining Road. The clubhouse architect, Mr Graham Glen was a club member. He offered his services free of charge, as did William Still who provided the electric lighting.

In the same year the Club was granted a liquor licence, and members and visitors have been celebrating the decision ever since. Some 146 members voted in favour with 84 against.