The Fife Tour

Day 1 – Sept 23 at Golf House Club, Elie, Golf Club Lane, Leven, KY9 1AS

Day 2 – Sept 24 at Lundin Golf Club, Golf Road, Leven, KY8 6BA

Day 3 – Sept 25 at Lundin Ladies Golf Club, Woodielea Road, Lundin Links, Leven, KY8 6AR
and The New Club, 3 – 5 Gibson Place, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9JE
and St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club, (The Himalayas) The Links, St Andrews, KY16 9JD

Please click on each GC for the link to the club.

The course at Golf House Club Elie, founded in 1875, has evolved over the centuries from a simple golfing tract across the historic Elie links in the 1500s, to the fine 18 hole course it is today. The golf links are the feature that join the beautiful villages of Earlsferry and Elie and the local population are justifiably proud of their ancient course. Given the panoramic views and superb setting it is little wonder that GHC has established itself as such a firm favourite for visitors over the years. Elie is one of the finest links courses in Fife, tucked away in the beautiful East Neuk of Fife (Neuk is the Scots word for corner), it offers a warm welcome and an honest test of golf played over classic links terrain. The Club has a fine display of golf clubs made at Elie in the late 1800s – at the same time when James Braid was learning the game on the links at Earlsferry, where he was born. Sir Michael Bonallack, OBE, perhaps sums it up best saying: “If you love links Golf, you will love Elie. Close cut running fairways with firm, fast, true greens. A memorable and enjoyable test for golfers of every ability.” It is 6273 yds off the white tees and 5569 off the green ones.
This is a match against the GHC Seniors. Meet at 12 noon. The event fee is £70 and includes: drinks and a 2-course lunch (jacket and tie), followed by an 18 holes golf match, finishing with tea and scones after the match.   The match is limited to 16 golfers a-side.

The Lundin Golf Club was founded in May 1868 when the Leven Clubs extended their links. It is a fascinating challenge with open burns, an internal out of bounds and strategic bunkering. The Lundin end was described as ‘benty, tussocky and ripe with whin’, with which the errant driver of today might still agree. In 1908, Braid visited and work began on laying out a new course which was completed in 1909. The railway line running through the middle of the course was closed in the 1960s but to retain the design and challenge of the course, the internal out of bounds running along both sides of the old railway line was retained and is present to this day. The course remains largely as it was some 100 years ago. The first five holes are in classic links tradition by the beach. Players then cross the now extinct railway line and play nine holes which are a cross between links and parkland turf. Back across the railway, the last four holes revert to the classic links tradition. Lundin presents a challenging and fun test for the thinking golfers of all abilities. It is 6371 yds off the white tees and 5671 off the green.
This is a match against the Senior club members. Meet at 10.30am. The format of the match will be a Fourball Better Ball. Match fee £65 to include bacon roll on arrival, golf and a two-course meal. The match is limited to 16 golfers.

This is a JBGS Society Day in 3 parts and is limited to 16 golfers.
The day starts at Lundin Ladies Golf Club which was established in 1891 and is a beautiful 9 hole James Braid designed parkland golf course and is thought to be among one of the oldest ladies clubs in the UK. Since 1896 the Club, its buildings, course and staffing have been fully managed by its Council of lady members. It enjoys both countryside and sea views and is well known for its Standing Stones on the 2^nd fairway. which attract many visitors throughout the year. The present-day course, laid out by Braid, originated in 1908/1909 and the original clubhouse was moved to its present site in late 1909/ early 1910. Over time it has changed little in design. The 9 hole course measures 3217 yds from the white tees, and 3089 yds from the yellows.
Meet at 9.30am for coffee and a bacon roll followed by 9 holes of ‘social golf’ with members of the Lundin Links GCs.

Then on to the The New Club to enjoy a 2-course lunch at The New Club overlooking the 1^st and 18^th fairways of The Old Course, and the R&A clubhouse.

Finishing at the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club which is probably better known to visitors from around the world as The Himalayas which is an apt description for this unique facility found in St Andrews, the home of golf. Before 1860 the caddies had laid out a small putting area near where Rusacks Hotel now stands. They would play to pass the time while waiting for a bag. When the course was quiet a few young ladies would play. There were very few recreations open to respectable young ladies at this time; croquet, battledore and archery were some of their pastimes. Many of these young ladies’ fathers and brothers were members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club who came to spend the summer in St Andrews or who were home from Colonial Service. As there was some tension between the caddies and these adventurous ladies, a piece of ground to the north of the Swilcan Burn was identified so the ladies could play out of the public gaze and away from the caddies. It was rough with whins, pitted with rabbit holes and used by local washerwomen to dry clothes. A fifteen hole “miniature links” course requiring a cleek and a putter was laid out by Old Tom Morris and so the St Andrews Ladies’ Golf Club was formed in 1867. Old Tom gradually smoothed out the surface and cut back the whins so that over time only putters were needed. One of the main obstacles on the course was the fishermen’s path which was frequently flooded and planks had to be laid to allow the ladies to play. This path still runs through the green but is now tarred over and is still referred to as “Jordan”. In 1893 more ground was acquired to the north. This area was very hilly and as a result the course acquired the name ‘Himalayas’!
The final event of the day is a JBGS putting competition on the Himalayas. The event fee for the day is still TBC. You will be notified when final details are known and tickets are available.