Crail Golfing Society
Encyclopedia
The Crail Golfing Society is the seventh oldest golf
club in the world, instituted in February 1786 in the Golf Hotel, Crail. Their oldest course, Balcomie, was formally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1894, but competitions were played there since the 1850s.
The courses are 2 miles north east of the fishing town of Crail
, and the land upon which golf is played straddles the easternmost promontory of Fife, known as Fife Ness
. The East Coast of Fife is particularly dense in links courses and is popular for golf tourism. Crail is 10 miles south of St Andrews
and 4 miles from Kingsbarns
. To the South West are the links of Elie, Anstruther
, Lundin
and Leven
. Within an hour to the north are Scotscraig, Carnoustie
, Monifieth
and Panmure
.
Crail differs from its neighbours. It is secretive, away from the main road. It is exposed, with the sea a more prominent feature than for its neighbouring courses. The wind is often brisk, giving the greens a tendency to be very fast, although conditions change continuously. As with the other courses in the area, Crail appeals to many tastes. In particular, the undulating links of Balcomie are a favorite for golfers touring the region.
Crail Golfing Society owns and operates two courses, Balcomie and Craighead, which differ in character. Balcomie is a traditional links, retaining original holes, and a diverse and distinctive set of Par 3s. The 14th is the most photographed hole, a Par 3 with an elevated tee high above the beach dropping down to a heavily bunkered green. Longer holes, such as the 4th and 5th, feature doglegs around the sea edge. Craighead, designed by American architect Gil Hanse is longer, a modern links, with rolling greens, native walls and wildlife typical of the Fife coast. The two links are on north and south edges of Fifeness, respectively, and have different views. Craighead allows views to the Forth Estuary and beyond, with the Bass Rock
, Edinburgh and St Abbs Head (60 miles beyond) visible, and borders a nature reserve.
From Balcomie, on the north of the promontory, can be seen the mountain Lochnagar
in the Balmoral
estate, in addition to the Tay estuary, and much of eastern Scotland.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
club in the world, instituted in February 1786 in the Golf Hotel, Crail. Their oldest course, Balcomie, was formally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1894, but competitions were played there since the 1850s.
The courses are 2 miles north east of the fishing town of Crail
Crail
Crail ; ) is a former royal burgh in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.-History:Crail probably dates from at least as far back as the Pictish period, as the place-name includes the Pictish/Brythonic element caer, 'fort', and there is a Dark Age cross-slab preserved in the parish kirk, itself...
, and the land upon which golf is played straddles the easternmost promontory of Fife, known as Fife Ness
Fife Ness
Fife Ness is a headland , forming the most eastern point in Fife. It is situated in the area of Fife known as the East Neuk, and forms the muzzle of the dog-like outline of the latter when viewed on a map....
. The East Coast of Fife is particularly dense in links courses and is popular for golf tourism. Crail is 10 miles south of St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
and 4 miles from Kingsbarns
Kingsbarns
The village of Kingsbarns lies on eastern coast of Fife, Scotland, in an area known as the East Neuk, 6.5 miles southeast of St Andrews and 3.6 miles north of Crail....
. To the South West are the links of Elie, Anstruther
Anstruther
Anstruther is a small town in Fife, Scotland. The two halves of Anstruther are divided by a small stream called Dreel Burn. Anstruther lies 9 miles south-southeast of St Andrews. It is the largest community on the stretch of north-shore coastline of the Firth of Forth known as the East Neuk,...
, Lundin
Lundin
-People:* Adolf H. Lundin , Swedish independent oil and mining entrepreneur* Andreas Petrus Lundin, Swedish marine engineer* Anders Lundin , Swedish television host* Augusta Lundin , Swedish fashion designer...
and Leven
Leven
-Surname:* Earl of Leven a title in the Peerage of Scotland* Jackie Leven, a Scottish singer / songwriter* Narcisse Leven, a lawyer.* Peter Leven, association football player for Milton Keynes Dons-Places:* Leven, Fife, a town in Scotland...
. Within an hour to the north are Scotscraig, Carnoustie
Carnoustie
Carnoustie is a town and former police burgh in the council area of Angus, Scotland. It is situated at the mouth of the Barry Burn on the North Sea coast...
, Monifieth
Monifieth
Monifieth is a town and former police burgh in the council area of Angus, Scotland. It is situated on the North bank of the Firth of Tay on the East Coast...
and Panmure
Panmure
Panmure may refer to:Places*Panmure, New Zealand, a suburb of Auckland*Panmure , a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate*Panmure, Victoria, Australia*Panmure Island, Prince Edward Island, Canada...
.
Crail differs from its neighbours. It is secretive, away from the main road. It is exposed, with the sea a more prominent feature than for its neighbouring courses. The wind is often brisk, giving the greens a tendency to be very fast, although conditions change continuously. As with the other courses in the area, Crail appeals to many tastes. In particular, the undulating links of Balcomie are a favorite for golfers touring the region.
Crail Golfing Society owns and operates two courses, Balcomie and Craighead, which differ in character. Balcomie is a traditional links, retaining original holes, and a diverse and distinctive set of Par 3s. The 14th is the most photographed hole, a Par 3 with an elevated tee high above the beach dropping down to a heavily bunkered green. Longer holes, such as the 4th and 5th, feature doglegs around the sea edge. Craighead, designed by American architect Gil Hanse is longer, a modern links, with rolling greens, native walls and wildlife typical of the Fife coast. The two links are on north and south edges of Fifeness, respectively, and have different views. Craighead allows views to the Forth Estuary and beyond, with the Bass Rock
Bass Rock
The Bass Rock, or simply The Bass, , is an island in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. It is approximately offshore, and north-east of North Berwick. It is a steep-sided volcanic rock, at its highest point, and is home to a large colony of gannets...
, Edinburgh and St Abbs Head (60 miles beyond) visible, and borders a nature reserve.
From Balcomie, on the north of the promontory, can be seen the mountain Lochnagar
Lochnagar
Lochnagar or Beinn Chìochan is a mountain in the Grampians of Scotland, located about five miles south of the River Dee near Balmoral.-Names:...
in the Balmoral
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located near the village of Crathie, west of Ballater and east of Braemar. Balmoral has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Queen Victoria and her...
estate, in addition to the Tay estuary, and much of eastern Scotland.
See also
- North CarrNorth CarrThe North Carr Reef is a sandstone reef northeast of Edinburgh, on the headland between the Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay. There have been many ships wrecked on the reef, which lies on the busy shipping lanes into the Forth ports and the River Tay.A buoy was first placed on the reef in 1809...
- a notorious reef extending out from the golf courses, on which many ships were wrecked - North Carr LightshipNorth Carr LightshipNorth Carr is the last remaining Scottish lightship. She is in length, in beam and 250 tons.The purpose of the vessel was to warn mariners by sight, light or sound of the dangers of the North Carr rocks which are situated 1.7 miles off Fife Ness at the turning point for vessels entering...
- could be seen off the reef until 1975, now being restored in Dundee
External links
- Golf History, at Scotland.org - the official online gateway to Scotland
- Sport - Golf, at the Gazetteer for ScotlandGazetteer for ScotlandThe Gazetteer for Scotland is a gazetteer covering the geography, history and people of Scotland. It was conceived in 1995 by Bruce Gittings of the University of Edinburgh and David Munro of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, and contains 15,500 entries as of January 2008, making it one of...
- Scottish Golf History, at www.scottishgolfhistory.net