Crail Golfing Society
Established 1786
Echoes of a Storied Past
One of the World’s oldest clubs
Crail Golfing Society, one of the world’s oldest clubs, was officially founded on 23 February 1786. The earliest minutes record that several gentlemen from Crail formed a society “fond of the diversion of golf.”
In 1830, a silver medal was introduced for open competition. Notably, it was won in 1855 by Allan Robertson, widely regarded as the world’s first professional golfer. This remains the only trophy in the world to bear his name.
Lindesay Medal: In 1830 David A. Lindesay, Esquire of Wormiston after expressing his surprise and regret that a Golfing Society of such long standing, was still without any honorary distinction, presented the Society with a silver medal and proposed that is should be gained by any gentleman whether a member of the Society or not.
In 1855 the medal was won by Allan Robertson, which to our knowledge was the only trophy ever won by the world’s greatest golfer at that time. He and his family were master club and ball makers. Robertson was an early user of iron clubs, and the first to design double greens on the Old Course. In 1858 the medal was played for over Balcomie and won by a William Ayton of St Andrews with 65 strokes. In 1872 it became a closed competition to Society members only.
Initially based at Sauchope Links, the Society also played at Balcomie from the 1850s. Overcrowding prompted the Town Council, with Society support, to lease Balcomie and, in 1895, they hired legendary course designer Old Tom Morris. He laid out a nine-hole course which he called “one of the best in Scotland.” He returned five years later to expand it to eighteen holes. The Society assumed the lease in 1905, and following World War I, the Council purchased the land in 1924.
"one of the extraordinary clubhouse vistas of the world."
— Renowned golf author, James W. Finegan
Golf's Cultural Tapestry
At 5,867 yards, Balcomie is not long, but challenging greens and coastal winds demand skill and strategy. Every hole offers spectacular sea views, contributing to a memorable links experience.
In 1995, the Society acquired land to build Craighead Links, which opened in 1998. Designed by Gil Hanse—now a renowned course architect—the layout ensures no two consecutive holes face the same direction. Historical features discovered during construction, such as Danes Dyke (a 1200-year-old Viking wall), were carefully incorporated into the design.
Craighead is a true championship course at 6,722 yards, par 72. It has hosted many elite competitions, including the World Junior Open (2000), Scotland vs. Spain International (2006), British Senior Women’s Open (2018), and the Scottish Amateur Championship (2019), won by local member George Burns. More recently, it served as a final qualifying venue for the AIG British Women’s Open.
Danes Dike: Danes Dike is known locally as a 1200 year old defensive wall built by Viking marauders to keep out the local Pictish tribes. More importantly, the wall comes into play on four holes of Craighead Links. The wall extends from the farm of Craighead south-eastwards down to the shore.
At one time the north end terminated at a rock in the north face of what is known as Constantine's Cave. Although popularly ascribed to Danish invaders, the monument is probably early medieval in origin, is built of revetted flat stones, and is now mostly covered in grass. Parts of the wall are about 4ft high and over 10ft in width.
Our Heritage
"Balcomie Links immediately became one of my favourite courses in Scotland. I felt the true Scotland playing this beautiful course, the way a historical course should feel."
— World Golf Hall of Fame member, Nancy Lopez
The Heart of the Game's Traditions
There is evidence that golf was played in Crail long before 1786. Two years before George Washington was elected the first President of the United States and three years before the storming of the Bastille in Paris, a group of eleven gentlemen 'fond of the diversion of golf' met at the Golf Inn and formed the Crail Golfing Society.
The records of 1786 are still preserved; indeed the Society still possesses a complete set of minutes from the date of its inception. Crail Golfing Society is the oldest golf club in the world that can make that claim.
Mark of a Legend: Old Tom Morris lived from 1821 to 1908 and is rightly viewed as the father of the game as we know it. In 1894 Crail Town Council acquired the lease of land at Balcomie and sought Old Tom’s opinion ‘as the representative of the game of golf’. His view was that the ‘links were very suitable for a nine hole course, and I am bound to say that there is not a better in Scotland’.
This was an era of course design which owed more to the natural features of the land than giant earth movers. At the opening of the course in 1895 he offered this sage advice which is worth noting – ‘when ye’re in difficulty tak’ your niblick’. Today Balcomie has the unusual combination of three par fives, six par threes and nine par fours, producing a tough par of 69.
