The Golf House Club, Elie

Delightfully situated near Earlsferry Beach in the town of Elie, on the East Neuk of Fife, around twelve miles south of St Andrews, and less than an hour from Edinburgh Airport, The Golf House Club, Elie, hosts one of the most highly regarded courses in Scotland. The historic links terrain effortlessly combines undulating fairways with large, fast and firm greens. Offering sensational views towards Edinburgh, Gullane, North Berwick, and swathes of East Lothian, across the Firth of Forth for golfers to enjoy, and a wonderful layout consisting of sixteen par fours and two par three holes, Elie is known as a jewel amongst Scotland’s elite courses. With an open and friendly welcome guaranteed to visitors at the clubhouse, and with excellent practice facilities on offer, the links at The Golf House Club, Elie, is a magnificent venue to play at while enjoying a Scottish Golf Break. Golf Scotland. Play on the links at The Golf House Club, Elie. Golf St Andrews and Fife.

 

History: 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. It has been confirmed in a Royal Charter that golf was played over “the golfing tract” in Earlsferry from the 1500s and the charter was subsequently renewed by King James VI of Scotland reconfirming the right for the villagers and visitors to play golf there. The golf links at Earlsferry are arguably amongst the oldest in the world. The first mention of an official course layout comes around 1770, when both a Short Course and Long Course are mentioned in official documents. These two courses were situated on land now occupied by the 4th, 5th, 8th, and 17th holes, although there is little to suggest the sort of formal course layout we would recognise today.

In more recent times, The Golf House Club was established in May 1875 and takes its name from the golf house, or clubhouse, that was begun in the same year and completed in 1877. However, The Golf House Club is not the only club that plays over the links at Elie and other clubs with playing rights include the Earlsferry Thistle Golf Club and the Elie and Earlsferry Ladies Golf Club. In 1974, through a mixture of good fortune, generous gifts and astute purchases, the Golf House Club finally took ownership of the land on which the course lies. Elie has hosted many notable tournaments over the years. These have included: the British Seniors Championship, the Scottish Professionals Championship, the Scottish Ladies Championship and qualifying rounds for the Open Championship.

James Braid, Earlsferry & Elie: James Braid was born in 1870 in Earlsferry, which is the adjoining village to Elie, and he is arguably its most famous son. Braid took up the game as a young child and won his first local tournament over the Elie links at the age of eight. In the ensuing years his game developed dramatically, along with an interest in club making, and in 1893 he took up a position as a club maker in London. Braid then turned professional in 1896. During his career, he won the Open Championship five times. His victories came in 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1910. He retired from competitive golf in 1912, joining Walton Heath as its club professional, where he remained until his death. Braid’s great passion after his retirement was course design, and although he learned his golf over the links course at Elie, it is not actually a course he himself designed or re-modelled. However, it is estimated that his influence was felt by more than 200 courses around Great Britain and examples of his work include Carnoustie, Troon, Prestwick and Ballybunion.

Elie & Earlsferry Links Golf Course: A unique course, brilliantly in tune with the landscape, Elie is not a venue that gives up good scores easily, and will suit the patient player who crafts their way around these cultured links. With several blind shots to contend with, including the drive on the first, where a periscope salvaged from the submarine HMS Excalibur in 1966, situated in and above the starter's hut, enables you to see the lie of the land, it is wonderfully quirky, great fun to play, and a challenging test of golfing ability. The course is not long by modern standards, but its network of bunkers are beautifully placed to catch those that stray offline or misjudge their distances. This can be all too easily done, especially as the prevailing south westerly breeze slackens or stiffens during the course of a round. The quick and contoured greens add a further layer of protection and the manicured putting surfaces rank comfortably alongside the best in the country. Elie & Earlsferry Links is an eighteen hole, par 70 (men), par 73 (women), course. It has tees ranging from 5,768 to 6,327 yards.

SGB Signature Hole: Name: Croupie. Number: Hole 13. Measuring 380 yards (M) and 355 yards (W) this brilliant par 4, was the favourite of James Braid, five times Open Championship winner, and prolific course designer, who proclaimed it to be, “The finest in all the country.” From the tee, the ideal drive should be aimed to the right of centre of the fairway, leaving you to contemplate your second to the angled, long but narrow raised green that rests underneath the steep cliffs behind. The approach into the green is one of the signature shots at Elie as you have to carry it all the way to the putting surface, if you do not want to end up in the hollow that lies in front. Everything then gathers to the front and left when putting across this large and fast green. Croupie is a Scots word for Ravens or Crows, such as those that haunt the cliff behind the green. A glorious golf hole, that may or may not leave you haunted as the crows croup in the gallery.

Clubhouse and Practice facilities: An historic clubhouse completed in 1877, it has recently enjoyed a £1.25m refurbishment and offers excellent facilities for members and visitors to enjoy. The clubhouse is shared by both The Golf House Club and The Elie & Earlsferry Ladies Golf Club, which each have their own locker room, where visitors are most welcome to use changing and shower facilities, and each have their own members’ lounge. The members’ lounge for The Golf House Club overlooks the 18th green and sitting in the bay window, discussing your round over a drink, is a well-earned pleasure. There is also a shared mixed lounge, overlooking the first tee where players can enjoy a tea or coffee before they head out or an alcoholic beverage, after a round or whilst watching others teeing off. The clubhouse offers full catering services, (see food and dining section). Pro shop: The pro shop, situated beside the tennis courts and putting green, is fully stocked with a selection of current clothing and the leading brands in golf clubs and golf equipment. While the shop also provides for your day-to-day golfing needs selling balls, tees etc., and providing club hire,  trolley and buggy rentals. Practice facilities: The practice facilities at Elie & Earlsferry Links include a driving range, and a practice putting green. There is also a nine hole course nearby, if you would like a full warm up before enjoying eighteen holes on the links.

Food & Dining: The Golf House Club has earned a justified reputation for the quality of its catering with an elegant Dining Room overlooking the 1st tee. The friendly and attentive clubhouse staff are well used to the demands of feeding hungry golfers either before or after their games and have a wide range of options to offer. The standard menu provides for hot filled rolls and tea/coffee before a morning round or, alternatively, soup and sandwiches for a casual lunch. However, If you have more time, there are options for a two and three course lunch. By arrangement with the clubhouse and dependent on the number of golfers involved, dining options can be arranged with a menu to suit your individual choice. Such occasions can be given exclusive use of the Dining Room. Scottish Golf Breaks will be delighted to organise this in conjunction with the club on your behalf. The well stocked bar in the clubhouse offers a wide range of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, for visitors to enjoy before or after a round on the links.

Accommodation: We partner with a number of hotels across Fife, such as the Fairmont in St Andrews and The Bank in Anstruther. Our letting agency partner in the region is Premier Stays Fife. With accommodation options situated across St Andrews & Fife, we have access to their range of luxury lodges and holiday cottages. All of their properties can be rented for holidays or used as a short stay base, whilst you visit and enjoy the golf in St Andrews & the Kingdom of Fife. Whether you want to stay on a country estate, in a hotel, a luxury lodge with a hot tub, an apartment or a signature villa, Scottish Golf Breaks can arrange it for you. 

 

Featured deal: 

 

Typical packages include:

• Accommodation in a hotel, lodge or signature villa
• A round on Elie & Earlsferry Links, at The Golf House Club
• A round on Leven Links
• A round on Dumbarnie Links
• Dinner Reservations
• Full Scottish Breakfast
• Access to changing & locker-rooms, clubhouse and practice facilities 

 

Golf packages in Scotland can be designed to your specification and group size, and can include alternative accommodation, additional courses across St Andrews & Fife, and or other regions within the country.

 

Additional services:

• Airport or train station transfers (all sizes of groups catered for)
• Executive travel
• Caddie service

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