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Crail Golf Society was founded on 23rd February 1786 with an inaugural meeting of eleven members.
The original links were at Sauchope on the coast just north of Crail. The layout of the nine-hole course, which developed there, was five holes out on the landward side and four back along the coast.
Sauchope Links Click on the picture for larger image After matches, members would dine at an inn, now called the Golf Hotel, shown below, whose landlord, Mr Daniel Conolly, was a founding member of the club.
In the early 19th Century, like many other clubs, Crail went into decline. By 1813 there were only eight members, when the decision was taken effectively to dissolve the club. By the end of the century, it was revived and flourished in the great boom of golfing which the new prosperity and the railways brought to many parts of Scotland.
Balcomie Links 1895 Click picture for larger image In 1895, the Crail club officially left Sauchope to play over the Balcomie Links. The members had been playing there before then evidenced by a record of a society competition held at Balcomie in September 1857.
First fairway and thirteenth green of Balcomie Links, Crail It is believed that Old Tom Morris, who was based at St Andrews, ten miles away, laid out nine holes at Balcomie in 1892 and returned later in 1896 to add another nine. Maps of the subsequent development of the course in 1900, 1904, 1994 and 1995 are on display in the Crail clubhouse, seen below, which has incomparable views over the North Sea.
Crail Balcomie Clubhouse A second 18-hole course, the Craighead Course, was added in 1995. This site gives more information about Crail Golf Society, which welcomes visitors and societies. |
